If you typed "chinese bag" into a search bar, here is the short answer: the Chinese bag brands worth knowing are ECODAY, 2TH DESIRE, SMFK, 13DE MARZO, CHAOSCHAOS, SUNSET PARK, PutOut and JYOSEI. Each owns one clear idea, from woven leatherette to printed DuPont paper. Below: what each label makes, which bag to start with, and how to choose. All of them sit in our bags for women edit.
ECODAY: woven hobos and star-shaped shoulder bags
ECODAY is the bag label our shoppers search for most. The Large Woven Hobo Tote Shoulder Bag and the Oversized Woven Suede Tote Shoulder Bag both come in L and S sizes. The Medium Woven Tote Shoulder Bag sits between them, and the Woven East-West Tote Shoulder Bag stretches the same idea horizontally. Each carries the brand's star charm. Beyond the weave, the Matte Star-Shaped Shoulder Bag builds a three-dimensional star into its structure, and the Stella Sculpted Shoulder Bag takes a zip-top cylindrical pen-case shape in vegan leather. Browse the ECODAY collection, or read our ECODAY brand guide.
2TH DESIRE: the vintage woven shoulder bag
2TH DESIRE earns its place with one bag: the Vintage Woven Shoulder Bag, the piece our customers ordered more than any other this fall. It is a soft-structured weave in a PU and viscose blend, offered in red, white or brown, with an adjustable strap for crossbody, shoulder or underarm wear. The large capacity suits daily use, and the textured weave gives it retro flair. The red version uses a slightly different PU-to-viscose ratio than the white and brown. Read our 2TH DESIRE woven bag story; the full range is in the 2TH DESIRE collection.
SMFK: Compass badge leather, chain bags and gym totes
SMFK is the serious leather pick here. Its Compass Badge Patina Leather Shoulder Bag has a hand-patina finish in caramel or brown for a worn-in depth, with a COMPASS cross metal emblem at the center. The Compass Badge Leather Chain Bag (Small) is washed horsehide on a chain that works crossbody or over the shoulder, and the Leather Chain Strap Bag adds a vintage stone-washed finish and a brass chain strap. Then the brand pivots: the FUTURE Gym Outdoor Sports Bag (Large) is a silver or black tote-style carryall for gym sessions and short trips. Shop the SMFK collection.
13DE MARZO: plush bear bags and character totes
13DE MARZO makes the most playful bags on this list. The Plush Bear Underarm Bag is a compact, fuzzy bear in khaki or white, and the Textured Bear Plush Handbag takes the same idea to a top-handle shape. The BabyBear Face Tote Bag is a small apricot bear-face tote for essentials, while the Oversized Plush Character Backpack scales the idea up for campus or travel. If the bears feel like too much, the Mini Boston Crossbody Travel Bag in brown or black, with clean, minimal lines, is the brand at its most restrained. See the 13DE MARZO collection.
CHAOSCHAOS: crystal-embellished and plaid large totes
CHAOSCHAOS builds big totes and then decorates them. The Crystal-Embellished Large Tote Bag carries an original deer motif in hot-fix crystals, finished with a detachable faux fur trim. The Crystal-Embellished Plaid Large Tote Bag pairs pink or blue plaid with a diamond-quilt layout, and the Crystal-Embellished Reversible Large Tote Bag mixes leopard and plaid patchwork with two sides to wear. The Plaid Wool-Blend Large Tote Bag comes in red plaid with a detachable fur trim. All are roomy enough for commuting, and loud enough that the rest of the outfit can stay quiet. Explore the CHAOSCHAOS collection.
SUNSET PARK: the bowtie Boston bag, crossbodies and backpacks
SUNSET PARK leans sweet and vintage. The Bowtie Boston Handbag is a structured top-handle bag offered in large and small sizes, and it carries by hand, on the shoulder or crossbody. The Butterfly Knot Handbag Crossbody Bag is a neat flap bag with a butterfly-knot detail for dates and casual outings. For practical days, the Black PU Leather Backpack, with vintage copper-tone hardware, and the Antique Bronze Leather Backpack, with an easy-clean surface, keep the same retro mood. The Bow-Accent Polka Dot & Floral Barrel Bag is the brand at full volume. Shop the SUNSET PARK collection.
PutOut: printed DuPont paper totes
PutOut has the most unexpected material story here. Most of its totes are made from DuPont paper (HYPAKT), a lightweight material the brand describes as water-, tear- and fold-resistant, covered in full-surface original printed artwork. The Printed Lightweight Large-Capacity Tote Bag comes in red or lemon yellow, the Printed Eco Paper Tote Bag features the Candy Girl character in three hair colors, and the DuPont Paper Oversized Carryall Bag is listed at 50 x 32 x 15 with a fixed strap for shoulder or hand carry. Light and roomy, they suit everyday city carry. Browse the PutOut collection.
JYOSEI: studs, fringe, denim and faux fox trim
JYOSEI goes for evening drama with a hard edge. The Glossy Studded Fringe Shoulder Bag is glossy black PU leather loaded with decorative studs, long fringe, fur and chain details, and it is big enough for a notebook and an iPad. The Vintage Washed Denim Bowling Bag is a compact Y2K piece in distressed denim, with a rhinestone star on the back and a detachable rhinestone chain strap. The Faux Fox-Trim Structured Tote Bag pairs champagne-gold PU with plush tri-color faux fox trim, gold-tone stud and rhinestone details and a magnetic flap closure. See the JYOSEI collection.
How to choose a Chinese bag
Start with capacity. For a full day, look at the large totes: ECODAY's L-size hobos, CHAOSCHAOS, PutOut or the JYOSEI fringe bag. For less, try the SMFK small chain bag or a 13DE MARZO bear. Next, check the strap. The 2TH DESIRE woven bag and SUNSET PARK's Bowtie Boston go shoulder or crossbody; PutOut's carryall strap is fixed. Finally, read the material line on each listing: hand-patina leather or washed horsehide at SMFK, a PU and viscose weave at 2TH DESIRE, DuPont paper at PutOut. For individual picks, our earlier edit of the best Chinese bags and handbags goes deeper.
Found your label? See what has just landed in our new arrivals.
