When you think of luxury handbags, names like Chanel and Louis Vuitton probably come to mind. But the fashion industry is far more diverse than the mainstream gives credit for. Black-owned handbag brands are creating serious heat—blending heritage, innovation, and high fashion with unapologetic flair.
These designers aren’t just making bags; they’re shifting culture, building legacies, and demanding space on the global stage. If your collection could use more soul, style, and statement energy, it’s time to meet the creatives behind the brands you probably didn’t know were Black-owned. Warning: you might want to clear some room in your wardrobe.
1. Telfar
You’ve definitely seen the Telfar Shopping Bag, whether on Instagram, a subway seat, or hanging off a celeb’s arm. Dubbed the “Bushwick Birkin,” this vegan leather staple is the brainchild of Liberian-American designer Telfar Clemens.
His mission? “It’s not for you—it’s for everyone.” That means luxury without the snobbery and inclusivity baked into the brand’s DNA. Prices are accessible, launches sell out in seconds, and the cultural impact? Unmatched.
Telfar isn’t just a bag—it’s a movement that flipped luxury fashion on its head and made it way more interesting. If you don’t have one yet, good luck with snagging it.
2. Brandon Blackwood
Brandon Blackwood blew up after the release of his viral “End Systemic Racism” tote, but his brand had been building quietly since 2015.
Now? It’s anything but quiet. His bags are bold, structured and come in everything from buttery leather to iridescent shearling. Celebs like Saweetie and Kim Kardashian have carried his creations, and his designs are as unapologetic as his activism. Whether you’re into mini top handles or crossbodies with bite, there’s a Brandon Blackwood for you. He’s proof that purpose and polish can—and should—coexist in fashion. Honestly? His bags do all the talking so you don’t have to.
3. Vavvoune
Created by self-taught Haitian-American designer Valerie Blaise, Vavvoune is where art school meets edgy elegance. Based in Brooklyn, the brand serves up sculptural, buttery leather handbags with rich color palettes and smart design details. Think asymmetrical flaps, curved silhouettes, and unexpected textures. It’s luxury for the cool girl who doesn’t need logos to flex.
Each piece is handmade in NYC and feels more like wearable art than a typical accessory. And because Blaise believes deeply in ethical production, you know your bag isn’t just beautiful—it’s built right. Vavvoune is for those who want to carry culture, not just a trend.
4. Anima Iris
Modern, bold, and drenched in African influence, Anima Iris is the brand you need on your radar. Founded by Wilglory Tanjong, a Cameroonian-American entrepreneur, the line is handcrafted by artisans in Dakar, Senegal.
Each piece is made in small batches and screams individuality. The signature Zaza bag? A structural dream that’s already been seen on Beyoncé. What makes it better? It’s slow fashion done right—sustainable, ethical, and full of soul.
Tanjong named the brand after her mother and best friend, giving it roots as deep as its design is sharp. It’s the kind of bag that turns heads and sparks conversations.
5. Homage Year
Say hello to the bag that looks like a fruit, feels like a statement, and wears like a dream. Homage Year was founded by Antoine Manning, who describes the brand as a celebration of “Black existence, Black joy, and Black grief.”
The Ova bag, with its egg-like shape and bold hues, is its signature style—and a fan favorite. What started as a tribute to the founder’s late father has turned into one of the most recognizable indie bags in the fashion underground.
Homage Year is playful, powerful, and deeply rooted in storytelling. It’s weird in the best way—and proudly so.
6. Ashya
Ashya (pronounced “agh-shya”) is a unisex accessories brand built for the modern nomad. Founded by Ashley Cimone and Moya Annece, both Black women and best friends, Ashya reimagines utility through a luxury lens.
Their belt bags and crossbody styles are minimalist yet unmistakable—perfect for travel or just looking like you travel often. Inspired by global aesthetics and committed to slow fashion, Ashya creates with intention and functionality.
Beyoncé even featured their collaboration with Barneys in her 2020 directory of Black-owned brands. This is fashion that moves, literally. It’s effortless cool for people who treat the TSA line like a runway.
7. Agnes Baddoo
Agnes Baddoo doesn’t design “just bags”—she designs lasting objects. Based in Los Angeles, her handmade leather goods have a cult following among fashion editors, artists, and minimalists with taste.
Each piece is created with raw edges, intentional simplicity, and timeless structure. The Carryall and Sac1 are her standout styles—modern heirlooms that are as functional as they are beautiful. With a focus on organic materials and spiritual inspiration, her brand feels more like a lifestyle than a label.
If your aesthetic leans earthy, elevated, and unfussy, Baddoo’s pieces will fit seamlessly into your life—and age better than a bottle of Bordeaux.
8. Luar
Founded by Raul Lopez, the co-founder of Hood By Air, Luar is a Bronx-born label bringing avant-garde energy to luxury handbags.
His signature Ana bag? Architectural, compact, and already iconic. It’s been spotted on everyone from Dua Lipa to Solange, and it comes in bold colors that pop like neon signs. Lopez infuses Dominican heritage, gender fluidity, and street-style grit into every piece. Luar doesn’t whisper—it struts.
The brand sits at the intersection of art, identity, and high fashion, proving that the future of luxury is inclusive, experimental, and unapologetically loud. In short? You need one. Like, yesterday.
9. CISE
CISE is all about making a statement—literally. Their “Protect Black People” bags went viral for a good reason: they fuse activism with fashion in a bold, beautiful way.
Founded by Blake Van Putten, the brand focuses on community, justice, and empowerment, all while delivering sleek, structured handbags made from sustainable vegan leather. The clean aesthetic, impactful slogans, and unisex appeal make CISE one of the most relevant handbag brands of the moment. It’s a wearable protest, and every purchase supports social justice causes.
So yes, you’re supporting Black-owned fashion, but you’re also helping push the culture forward, one bag at a time.
Carry Black Excellence
These Black-owned handbag brands aren’t just disrupting the fashion space—they’re redefining it. They bring culture, purpose, innovation, and identity to the table, blending style with substance like pros.
Whether you’re into minimalist slings or sculptural showstoppers, there’s something here for every taste (and budget). Investing in these brands isn’t charity—it’s fashion with deeper value. So the next time you’re ready to splurge, skip the mega labels for once and carry something that means something.
Real style isn’t just about what you wear—it’s about who you’re supporting when you wear it.