So, where do you go to spot the next big thing? How can you tell which designers are just a one-hit wonder, and which will pass the test of time? How can you identify designers who will help you to make a favourable impression, and bags which are a good investment?
BagServant comes to the rescue, and we’ve done all the legwork for you by highlighting our pick of the emerging designers in the bag world. With help from our sister company, Sale Servant, we’ve selected some up and coming designers we think are the ones to buy now. These are our bets for the best bags to be seen with: Hemsley London, Anya Sushko, Robertson Jessel, Isla Rule, Marjorie Renner, Jane Goodchild, Mel Boteri, Maria Lamanna, Jaunt Accessories, Bizi Buenos Aires, Joanna Maxham, and V73.
Between them, these emerging bag designers offer a range of styles from fun and quirky through to elegant, trendy to classic. There’s something to suit every budget too, with prices from under £30 to over £1500. Remember, you saw them here first!
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Robertson Jessel Briefcase
ROBERTSON JESSEL £415 -
Isla Rule Hannah Laptop Handbag, Red Patent Genuine Leather
ISLA RULE £285 -
Mel Boteri Royal 'Sayde' Shoulder Bag
MEL BOTERI £499 -
V°73 BANDES RAFIA CLUTCH NAVY
V73 £169 -
Alvear Nahuala Collection Shoulder Bag
BIZI | BUENOS AIRES £300 -
Jane Goodchild Loren
JANE GOODCHILD £95 -
Hemsley London Buckingham
HEMSLEY LONDON £650 -
The Resort Clutch in Ersan
JAUNT £160 -
Joanna Maxham Nite Cap (Natural Raffia)
JOANNA MAXHAM £178 -
Maria Lamanna Handbags ML13 Così Burgundy
MARIA LAMANNA £705 -
Marjorie Renner White Leto shell bag
MARJORIE RENNER £543
We recently reviewed the Mel Boteri Tasseled Lauren Clutch and found it just ticked all the boxes. And this season, the woman behind the all-star American brand, Melanie Mueller, has brought us even more incredible designs for us to lust over. Kelly Rowland and other fashion-savvy celebs are big fans of Mel Boteri but if this isn’t enough to win you over, check out our Editor’s favourites from the collection, we are sure you’ll love them as much as us!
See Mel Boteri’s SS13 collection
And, don’t forget Mel Boteri and BagServant are giving you a chance to design your own handbag in our latest competition!
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Handbag Experience
Monochrome and simple white prints have been spotted making their way down the catwalks and into designer stores lately. From London Fashion Week SS13 to high-street shops, black and white handbags are becoming a huge hit everywhere, so once again Mel Boteri have got it right. This bag feels fashionable, comfortable and elegant to wear and the detachable strap means it will suit a range of different style. The bag can feel quite heavy, especially if overfilled, so be careful not to overload it and if possible carry it in your hand for optimised comfort. But don’t forget, Mel Boteri offer you, the customer, a chance to customise your handbag, so you can change the strap to a different material, length or position if you feel the need. An added bonus is that the bag comes in a cute and small dust cover, which will keep it safe and away from harm when you are not using it but makes is still easy to store.
When and Where is it Perfect for?
This clutch is ideal for Trendsetters and Glamourpusses that like to get out and about as it will certainly attract attention and is right on trend for next season. Additionally, Confident Classiques will love the luxury, simplicity and sophistication of the bag. Ideal for dinner parties, drinks, theatre and more, this bag will happily accompany you to any evening event. Or, if you heading out for lunch at the weekend or just feeling like dressing smart, the Mel Boteri Tasseled Lauren Clutch should be at your side.
Interior
The interior of this clutch is one of our favourite things about the bag. Lined with the signature Mel Boteri turquoise suede leather, the interior of this clutch just oozes luxury. There is also a slip pocket as well as a zipper pocket with key clip, how practical!
Material
Made from black calf-skin leather trim, the bag is certainly durable. The funky tassel adds dimension to a white calf-skin base for an overall classic yet fashionable finish. All Mel Boteri bags are 100% leather, handmade in Portugal for superior quality and craftsmanship.
BagServant’s thoughts
We love a clutch! Especially one that isn’t so itsy-bitsy that we can’t take out any of our evening essentials. This clutch is spacious, smart and undeniably fashionable. It also has the versatility factor. Not only would it look great with a black evening dress, it would also perfectly accompany a work suit. We can’t really fault this clutch and feel it really does tick all the boxes. Our tip would be to wear it without the strap as it can get heavy when full, but other than that, it is the ideal evening handbag perfect for any event.
Ratings : Stars 1-5 (5 being the best)
Value for money 4
Practicality 5
Wow Factor 5
BagServant loves 5
Shop Mel Boteri Black and White Tasseled ‘Lauren’ Bag
Shop Mel Boteri Cafe con Leche Tasseled ‘Lauren’ Bag
Don’t forget, luxury brand Mel Boteri and BagServant have teamed up to offer YOU a chance to design your own handbag and have it created for real. Check out our Design Your Own Handbag competition and get creative!
]]>The finished bag has now been made and delivered to Scarlett, so we take a closer look to see how handbag designer Mel Boteri turned Scarlett’s design into a real life masterpiece…
Size
Scarlett says: ‘The size is just perfect for all my needs.” A square tote with spacious front pocket, makes this the ideal bag for work, college or even travelling. Scarlett explains that she designed the bag in order to fit her laptop and other work essentials as she is always carrying so much around. With this fab tote, Scarlett will be able to carry around all that she wishes whilst remaining comfortable and stylish. Scarlett adds: ‘I choose to add a front pocket as it is ideal for keeping my travel card and other small items so I can find them quickly and easily.’
Quality & Colour
The bag looks sleek and classic in black, whilst the studs add an edgy touch to the bag. Black goes with everything, so this autumn/winter Scarlett won’t have to worry about accessorising every outfit. Additionally, the luxurious turquoise lining ensures the bag looks sophisticated both in and out.
All Mel’s bags are of an extremely high standard, and Scarlett confirms that the bag is fantastic quality and quite possibly ‘the best quality bag she has ever had.’
Scarlett explains that she has had endless compliments from her friends and work colleagues since carrying the bag, and we can see why.
This gorgeous bespoke bag is classic, stylish, versatile and super easy to wear. It would look great with jeans and a T or with a floaty summer dress like Scarlett is wearing below.
If you would like to find out more about Mel Boteri bags or discuss having your own design made please check out the following links:
Turn your design into a real bag
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Melanie will first send you a quote and a detailed sketch of the bag so you can see exactly what you will be getting and whether you want to make any adjustments. If you would like to have your design turned in to your very own bespoke dream handbag, please contact Lenka at [email protected], to find out more.
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Well done Scarlett, we love the design! The bag will now be made by top American handbag brand Mel Boteri and delivered straight to Scarlett.
But we have more good news for all the other entrees that missed out on this great prize. Mel Boteri, is offering anyone who designed their own handbag for our competition an incredible 20% off if they wish to have they handbag made for real. Using the finest leathers and always finished by hand, the Mel Boteri handbags are luxurious, unique and undeniably stylish. Melanie will first send you a quote and a detailed sketch of the bag so you can see exactly what you will be getting and whether you want to make any adjustments.
If you are interested in having your handbag design made for real, please contact [email protected], to find out more.
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The monochrome finish makes this bag versatile and suitable for almost any personality. From Confident Classiques to Trendsetter, the Lauren clutch has something for everyone. The leather trim and tassel make it stand out from the crowd whilst the sleek ivory leather keeps it sophisticated.
The perfect size for all your evening essentials, this clutch could also be used for more compact daytime looks, teamed with jeans and heels for a lunch date or even an afternoon shopping. Lined with Mel Boteri’s signature turquoise suede, it features an inside zip and slip pocket for your keys and phone to save to scrabbling around at the end of the night!
Shop Mel Boteri Tasseled Lauren clutch
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From zebra-style monochromes to turquoise and pink jewel tones, each Italian crafted bag is unique in its own way. A mock-croc theme runs through the range, with most of the bags embossed with the print as a further nod towards the nature-inspired theme.
Clutch bags Lola and Amber both come with detachable leather and chain shoulder straps, making them a versatile accessory for day to evening outfits. For office sophistication, the Shaina tote features outside zip pockets and enough space to carry all of your essentials plus enough room to fit a 13″ laptop.
For more casual occasions, the roomy Blake and Cynthia totes both transcend work to weekend, with versatile colour ways.
Mel Boteri’s SS’13 collection is available in March.
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Luckily for us, and you, we’ve found her exact bag, the Blake satchel by Mel Boteri. Crafted from tan calf skin, this bag is versatile and transcend every occasion from office sophistication to stylish shopper. With inside pockets and a detachable shoulder strap, this is the ideal bag to carry all your essentials in style -and after all, if it’s good enough for Kelly, it’s good enough for us!
Whilst we may not be having the weather to rock short shorts like Kelly, we can at least style her bag and pretend we’re the fourth member of Destiny’s Child!
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Shop Mel Boteri Everyday Black Boteri Tote, £524
In second place is the Chloé Marcie large leather tote, chosen by blogger Nicola McLaughlin. The large leather bag is ideal for office wear and is a timeless addition to your wardrobe. We love that this month’s winners are classic, sophisticated bags for simple winter wardrobes.
Shop Chloe Marcie Large Leather Tote, £1,145
Enter January Bag of the Month to win an amazing Anya Sushko bag worth £570
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