April 05, 2022 at 05:00AM
There’s nothing quite like a basket bag for instantly transitioning your outfits from the depths of winter to spring and summer. I start using mine from early March, and it stays by my side until the first frost. Even then, it’s hard to tear it away from me. Not only are they great bags to throw everything into as you run out the door, but they inevitably add that French je ne sais quoi to any outfit, whether that’s a tracksuit or a wedding guest dress. A good basket bag is the marker of a polished summer look IMHO.
If you’ve opened Instagram in the last few years, you’ll probably be familiar with Loewe’s anagram raffia style, maybe even Celine’s Triomphe Panier. But there’s one, slightly more understated brand doing woven leather bags that all fashion people either own or want right now: Dragon Diffusion.
You won’t find any shouty logos here, just timeless totes, all handcrafted by skilled artisans using traditional techniques. These minimalist designs have been on our radar for a while now as they’ve grown in popularity and exposure over the past couple of years, but it’s not just us crushing on these beautiful bags. A quick scroll through the brand’s Instagram feed shows they count celebrities such as Ashley Olsen (surely the holy grail of fashion people), Alexa Chung and even Killing Eve’s Villanelle as fans—along with countless stylish influencers and editors. Who What Wear UK’s editor in chief, Hannah Almassi, has been wearing her Triple Jump style to the office recently and regularly declares her love for its versatility.
The best part? All of Dragon Diffusion’s bags come in under £400, even though they’re made from beautiful woven leather instead of wicker or palm leaves (which can often wear away and sag). So while they’re still an investment to save for, you certainly get a lot more bag for your buck compared to some of the more premium styles out there, as well as the fashion seal of approval.
Whether you’re looking for a city style to pop to the farmers market with or a beach bag that will age gracefully, keep scrolling to see how fashion people have been wearing theirs, and shop my favourite Dragon Diffusion styles available for 2022.
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Author Emily Dawes | Whowhatwear
Selected by CWC