Which is why we asked Emily Blumenthal, the founder of the Independent Handbag Designer Awards, to pick the 10 best new designers to keep an eye on. And these newbies know a thing or two about trends — the backpacks below are giving established brands a run for the money. Check them out now, you never know when today’s unknown is tomorrow’s Marc Jacobs.
Handbag Designer 1
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Campos
Campos, a collaboration between Hayden-Harnett founder Toni Hacker and Brooklyn-based manufacturer Roy Campos, gives you another reason to shop American-made. This backpack in particular has three exterior zip pockets to cure the chaos of any girl on-the-go. Its leather is soft to the touch and can work with any daytime outfit with its tricolored exterior.
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Erica Harel
Israeli-based designer Erica Harel is an organizational fanatic’s dream designer. The interior pockets ensure that carrying a backpack doesn't mean that all of your valuables will get lost in the abyss. Plus, her use of metallics ups the chic factor; you can wear this just about anywhere.
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Jenny N.
Jenny Nemlekar started designing while getting her biomedical engineering degree. She fuses her personal artistic aesthetic with her engineering principles to make sure each bag can be worn comfortably and strategically. Science and design come together, and we all win! Handcrafted in her studio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this backpack in gray and chestnut is made of full-grain upholstery leather and water-resistant canvas and can hold even the biggest of laptops.
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JINAMMI
JINAMMI is something of a celebrity in Korea. She has captivated the market with her interpretation of modern Korean culture and has fused it into every one of her bags. This Ammi backpack is special not just because it was made of vegan Italian leather, but also, the straps are detachable, morphing it into a top handle or shoulder bag.
JINAMMI Ammi Backpack, $790
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Maria Lamanna
Awarded the Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design at the 2013 Independent Handbag Designer Awards, Maria Lamanna’s Miss Manu has become a blogger favorite. Made with Italian calfskin leather, this red bag is a fun update to the classic backpack silhouette.
Maria Lamanna Miss Manu Burgundy, $1,223
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Mary + Marie
Mary + Marie is a brand that has yet to be discovered here in the United States and the Apocalypse Now backpack is the perfect bag to kick off its arrival. This lightweight black woven treat is not only a backpack, but also morphs into a shoulder bag.
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Nord
This Travis backpack was originally for men, but its utilitarian design has appealed to a more unisex audience. With pockets that hold everything from laptops to magazines, this little bag, made from soft, tumbled nubuck leather, is modern and chic.
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Elezar
There is more to this backpack than meets the eye. All Elezar bags are made in the USA and are eco-friendly with non-leather, biodegradable, non-PVC material by design duo Julie Lazarus and Esther Barron. Which basically means vegan leather has finally gotten the fashion treatment it needed.
Elezar Lisbeth Backpack, $375
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Pilar Tarrau
Pilar Tarrau uses her Venezuelan roots when designing her collection — her bags use bold colors and aren’t for shrinking violets. This BP Orange Tassel Backpack is incredibly constructed with calfskin and leather, and can also be worn as a drawstring bucket bag. We love options!
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STANFIELD
Designer Janice Stanfield makes each of her bags with a water-repellent coating, so they’re extra durable. This backpack in particular has sturdy shoulder straps for carrying heavier items, so be ready to throw in your sneakers for that hike and your heels for drinks after.
STANFIELD Backpack, $265
