The Best Black-Owned Luxury Handbag Brands to Own

Luxury handbags have traditionally been dominated by a relatively small group of European fashion houses. But some of the most compelling design stories in contemporary accessories are coming from Black designers and Black-owned brands around the world. We’re excited to share 10 of the names that should be on your radar. We’ve tested the bags, looked closely at the craftsmanship and considered what makes each brand stand out within the broader luxury market.

From Italian-made leather handbags to handwoven designs by African artisans, these designers are expanding the vocabulary of luxury through distinctive silhouettes, exceptional craftsmanship, cultural storytelling and a more personal approach to design.

For shoppers looking beyond the usual luxury names, there is now an impressive range of Black-owned luxury handbag brands to discover. Whether you’re searching for an elevated work bag, an everyday leather handbag, a travel-friendly crossbody, a beautifully made woven tote or a statement piece for evening, there is a brand on this list worth knowing.

We’ve curated the brands below based on factors including design identity, craftsmanship, materials, cultural influence, manufacturing, celebrity recognition and overall luxury positioning.

____

1) REE PROJECTS ▪ When actress Mekia Cox arrived at the 2026 Disney Upfronts, her stylist's credits included Tom Ford, Jennifer Miller and a Ree Projects handbag. It was a fitting accessory for a label whose bags tend to make their impression through shape rather than branding. Founded by Desiree Kleinen, Ree Projects came out of Kleinen's two decades working within the luxury fashion industry. She launched the brand in 2016, bringing that experience to a collection built around sculptural construction and everyday function.

The brand's signature folded gusset has become one of its most recognizable details, giving otherwise straightforward shapes an unexpected turn. The current collection Includes totes, hobos, shoulder bags, crossbody styles, mini bags, clutches and laptop-friendly designs across collections including Ann, Clare, Elieze, Florencia, Helene and Nessa.

The bags are handcrafted in Italy from Italian leather including pebble grain, soft calf, suede, croc and soft croc variations.

Why own one: The shapes are distinctive, giving even an everyday handbag a point of view.

This may appeal to you if: You're looking for an elevated work tote, a polished everyday bag or a smaller crossbody or clutch.

Best for: The polished professional, the understated fashion girl, and the woman who wants her handbag to feel distinctive without being flashy.

Bag shown, the Ann Tote - Pebble Grain - Deep Moss - $995. Available directly at www.reeprojects.com.

2) SILVER & RILEY ▪ If you are looking for a Black-owned handbag brand that combines luxury, craftsmanship and functionality, Silver & Riley should be at the top of your list.

Founded by Lola Banjo, Silver & Riley grew out of her experience as a frequent international traveler and her search for bags that could keep up with the demands of work, travel and everyday life without looking overly utilitarian. That practicality remains central to the brand, but the collection has expanded well beyond travel to Include fashion handbags, work bags, executive styles, totes, crossbody bags, belt bags and travel pieces, with options for both women and men.

The bags have been carried by Vanessa Simmons, Deborah Cox, Blake Lively, Tasha Campbell, Keri Hilson, Ari Lennox and Naturi Naughton, among others.

They use materials including full-grain calfskin, cowhide and Saffiano leather. Across the collection, functionality is built into the design through compartments, multiple carrying options, structured interiors and room for the things that tend to accumulate during a workday or a trip, but the collection doesn't stop at practical. Alongside executive bags and larger carryalls are polished crossbodies, belt bags and fashion handbags serving very different parts of your wardrobe.

The current collection ranges from approximately $395 for smaller leather styles to $1,000+ for select handbags.

Why own one: Silver & Riley makes functionality feel considered with polished leather bags designed around the realities of work, travel and everyday life.

This may appeal to you if: You're looking for a polished work bag, a travel bag, an everyday crossbody or a well made luxury handbag.

Best for: The accomplished professional, the frequent traveler, and the woman who wants her handbag to work as hard as she does without looking like a piece of luggage.

Signature styles to explore: The New Yorker Bag, Convertible Executive Bag, Milan Crossbody and Beverly Hills Carryall.

Bag shown, the Classic New Yorker Bag in Soho Red - $1295. Available directly at www.silverandriley.com.

3) KÓNE ▪ Founded by Yvonne Koné, whose design background informed a collection built around leather, proportion and Scandinavian restraint.

KÓNE's collection is built around clean lines and a deliberately restrained approach to hardware and branding. The collection extends includes totes, shoulder bags, crossbody bags, smaller handbags and evening styles, with the same pared-back design language running through the range.

The Filippo remains one of the brand's most recognizable designs. The larger versions have the proportions to work as office or everyday bags, while smaller styles offer a more compact option without losing the clean lines that define the collection. Across the range, KÓNE works with materials including smooth calf leather and suede, giving the understated silhouettes different personalities depending on the finish.

Production takes place in Italy, while the design remains rooted in Copenhagen's preference for simplicity and function. There is very little unnecessary decoration, leaving the leather, shape and construction to carry the design.

Why own one: The collection offers beautifully made handbags with enough structure and refinement to feel luxurious without relying on prominent logos or hardware.

This may appeal to you if: You're looking for a sophisticated work tote, an understated everyday shoulder bag, a practical crossbody or a smaller evening handbag that can work across seasons.

Best for: The minimalist, the design-conscious professional, and the woman who prefers her luxury to be recognized through quality rather than branding.

Bag shown, the Large Filippo Bag in Leopard Suede - $1052. Available directly at www.koneofficial.com.

4) PERYTON ▪ Founder Gina Feldman Love spent five years developing PERYTON while working as a lawyer, taking night and weekend classes at Parsons and the International Center of Photography before turning her attention to leather goods.

PERYTON makes structured handbags, shoulder bags, crossbody bags, totes, bucket bags, clutches, weekender bags and travel pieces, alongside bespoke designs. The construction is deliberately hands-on. PERYTON's leather goods are made in New York by a small number of artisans, with one artisan responsible for a piece from laying out the pattern and cutting the leather through stitching. The brand works with calfskin and goatskin from French tanneries as well as exotic skins including alligator, crocodile, ostrich and python.

Each piece is made upon receipt of an order, with production beginning after a 50% deposit has been received. The brand then charges the remaining balance when the bag is ready to ship.

The designs move between structured and relaxed. The Skyrah, for example, combines the proportions of a hobo and bucket bag, while the larger Peregrine Max is designed with travel and weekends in mind. 

Prices vary considerably depending on the leather and design, with the collection reaching into the several-thousand-dollar range for bags made in exotic skins. Because PERYTON produces each piece to order, the price reflects the materials and the small-scale, highly individual production process.

Why own one: The combination of small-scale New York production, exceptional leathers and a broad range of silhouettes makes PERYTON feel genuinely special.

This may appeal to you if: You're looking for a beautifully made everyday shoulder bag, a structured handbag for work, a distinctive bucket bag, an elegant clutch or a weekender.

Best for: The discerning professional, the independent-label devotee, and the handbag collector who appreciates exceptional materials and craftsmanship more than a familiar name.

Bag shown, the Insouciante in Purple Croc. Made Upon Order: $28,890(Deposit: $14,445). Available to order directly at www.peryton.com.

5) BRANDON BLACKWOOD ▪ Few independent Black-owned handbag brands have achieved the kind of celebrity visibility Brandon Blackwood has. Cardi B, Doja Cat, Kim Kardashian, Olivia Rodrigo, Chlöe and Halle have all carried Brandon Blackwood handbags, according to the brand, alongside more recent celebrity and fashion-world appearances.

The ESR Tote, short for “End Systemic Racism,” changed the trajectory of Brandon Blackwood's business. Introduced in 2020, the simple leather tote carried a message, and after Kim Kardashian shared the bag on Instagram, demand surged. What began as a limited run grew into one of the defining moments of the brand's early history.

The ESR is still part of the Brandon Blackwood story, but the collection today spans top-handle bags, shoulder bags, totes, mini bags, crossbody styles, evening bags and woven pieces, with color, texture and embellishment playing a major role.

The Kendrick Trunk is the brand's current most recognizable style. Its compact, structured silhouette has since been produced in everything from smooth leather and croc-embossed finishes to ponyhair and more elaborate embellished versions. 

Blackwood has built a collection that can accommodate very different tastes, from someone looking for a polished everyday handbag to someone who wants crystals, bold color or an unusual texture.

Why own one: Brandon Blackwood brings a strong fashion point of view to familiar handbag shapes, with enough variety to build an entire collection around the brand.

This may appeal to you if: You're looking for a structured everyday bag, a colorful top-handle, a compact crossbody, an evening piece or a statement handbag with  personality.

Best for: The fashion-forward woman, the maximalist, the woman who loves color and texture, and the shopper who wants her handbag to say something about her personality.

Signature styles to explore: The ESR Tote, Kendrick Trunk, Bamboo B, Nia and Kuei.

Bag shown, the Kendrick Trunk in Cobalt Leather, $325. Available directly at www.brandonblackwood.com.

6) AAKS ▪ With AAKS, the craftsmanship isn't hidden inside the bag. Akosua Afriyie-Kumi built the Ghanaian brand around weaving, working with artisans to create handbags from natural materials using techniques rooted in Ghanaian craft traditions.

The collection is built around handwoven techniques and the work of artisans in Ghana and the weaving is central to how the bags are made and what gives the brand its identity.

AAKS makes woven totes, shoulder bags, bucket bags, mini bags, clutches and crossbody styles, working with raffia and other natural fibers alongside leather details and, in some collections, brighter colors and more graphic patterns.

What makes the bags appealing is that the craft remains visible. The shapes are contemporary, but you can still see the hand of the maker in the weave. AAKS doesn't try to disguise where the bags come from or make the craftsmanship anonymous.

The brand was also included in Beyoncé's Black Parade Route, the directory created to highlight Black-owned businesses and African businesses around the release of Black Is King.

For someone who already owns the standard leather handbag wardrobe, AAKS offers something different. The bags bring texture, color and a sense of place.

Why own one: The craftsmanship is the point. These are handbags where the material and the making are as important as the finished silhouette.

This may appeal to you if: You're looking for a summer tote, a vacation bag, a woven crossbody or a smaller statement handbag that brings natural texture into your wardrobe.

Best for: The resort dresser, the globally minded fashion lover, the woman who gravitates toward natural materials, and anyone who would rather carry something with a story than another logo-covered handbag.

Bag shown, the Baba Berry Tote, £245.00 (around $325). Available directly at www.aaksonline.com.

7) ASHYA ▪ Ashley Cimone and Moya Annece started ASHYA with a problem that now seems almost obvious: the belt bag was useful, but most versions were not particularly sophisticated.

The collection now extends beyond the original belt-bag idea. ASHYA makes belt bags, crossbody bags, convertible bags and travel pieces, with many of the styles designed to be worn around the waist, across the body or over the shoulder. Leather, suede and other considered materials give the bags a more elevated feel than the utilitarian versions of hands-free bags that have become ubiquitous.

Travel remains an important part of the brand. The bags are designed around passports, phones, wallets and other small essentials, but the styling is intended to work just as well for every day, which makes it useful for city days, festivals, sightseeing and evenings when carrying a larger handbag simply isn't necessary.

ASHYA has also collaborated with Michael Kors, creating the Multi Bag and Bolo Bag as part of a capsule marking the brand's 40th anniversary. The collaboration incorporated a pattern inspired by West African weaving traditions.

Why own one: ASHYA makes hands-free bags feel like a deliberate fashion choice rather than a compromise.

This may appeal to you if: You want a polished travel bag, belt bag or crossbody that can hold your essentials without taking over your outfit.

Best for: The frequent traveler, the city girl, the minimalist and the woman who would rather keep her hands free than carry a traditional handbag.

Bag shown, the Slingback Mini Bag in blue, $1050. Available directly at www.ashya.co.

8) AGNESS BADDOO ▪ The Agnes Baddoo collection is built around a small number of shapes that all have a very clear point of view.

The Sac 1 is the style most closely associated with the brand, joined by the Sac 2, Sac .5, Sac Petit and Belt Sac, as well as larger CarryAlls and Market Sacs.

The collection utilizes vegetable-tanned leather, denim vachetta, canvas and vegan materials, with the same shapes appearing in different sizes and finishes. The larger bags appeal to everyday carrying, while the smaller Sac styles are easier to dress up.

Baddoo's background in styling and costume is worth noting. Her bags don't look as though they were designed in isolation from clothing. They have shape, but they aren't fussy, and the materials do a lot of the work.

The bags are made in Los Angeles in small quantities. That gives the collection a very different feel from the constant churn of seasonal handbag launches. A few familiar shapes return in different materials and sizes, and you can see the consistency from one collection to the next.

There is also something appealing about the fact that you can stay with the brand as your needs change. A Sac 1 can become an everyday signature; a smaller Sac works when you need less; the CarryAll and Market Sac take you in the other direction.

Why own one: Straightforward bags with enough shape and character to become part of your everyday wardrobe.

This may appeal to you if: You like beautiful leather, simple silhouettes and handbags that don't announce themselves with logos or excessive hardware.

Best for: The creative professional, the minimalist and the shopper who prefers independent labels to obvious luxury names.

Bag shown, the Sac 1 in Burgundy — $700. Available directly at www.agnesbaddoo.com.

9) MIFLAND ▪ Founded by Tobi Egberongbe, MIFLAND makes leather bags with a strong focus on construction, visible stitching and clean shapes.

Egberongbe started the company in 2011 after making a leather bag for himself based on a vintage bag he liked. People began asking where it was from, and he eventually decided to make more. In those early days, he was sourcing the leather, cutting and sewing the bags himself, photographing them and selling them online. One bag could take roughly two weeks to complete.

His background in photography remains important to the brand. Egberongbe has said that photography taught him to think about how an object is seen and how it might live with its owner. His interests also include architecture, contemporary furniture and vintage collecting, all of which have informed the visual language of MIFLAND.

The leather goods collection includes totes, shoulder bags, crossbody bags, backpacks and other goods. MIFLAND uses U.S.-sourced leather ranging from three to seven ounces, and its bags are hand-stitched using a figure-eight technique with heavy-duty waxed thread. The leather is chosen to develop a patina with wear.

What began with Egberongbe making individual bags has expanded into a larger design company spanning leather goods, clothing and accessories. The brand has also worked with Adidas, Nike and the Atlanta Falcons, while LeBron James, Tessa Thompson and Swizz Beatz are among those who have carried MIFLAND.

MIFLAND's aesthetic sits somewhere between luxury goods, contemporary design and streetwear. The bags are recognizable and the construction gives even the simpler shapes a strong point of view.

Why own one: For the leather, hand construction and design language that have defined MIFLAND since its earliest bags.

This may appeal to you if: You like architectural design, beautiful leather and functional bags, but want something with a connection to contemporary culture.

Best for: The design obsessive, the creative professional, the streetwear-meets-luxury dresser and the woman who likes discovering a brand with a story behind it.

Bag shown, the Jane Bag 1984 in Camel, $795. Available directly at www.mifland.com.

10) CHEYENNEKIMORA ▪ The Los Angeles-based designer Cheyenne Kimora is known for crystal-covered pieces, hand embellishment and compact accessories. 

She started her namesake label in 2008 while studying aerospace engineering, but fashion had always been around her. Her father worked with leather and screen-printing, both of her grandmothers were seamstresses, and her family in Trinidad had a strong tradition of making things by hand.

Crystals eventually became one of her signatures. Kimora began applying them to vintage denim, handbags, accessories and ready-to-wear, turning familiar pieces into elaborate, highly embellished designs. Her current collection includes crystal handbags, mini bags, embellished denim, accessories and the “You Are Adorned” durag, among other pieces. KiKi Layne has worn CheyenneKimora, including the designer's durag in an ELLE feature.

Her Trinidadian upbringing is a source of inspiration. Kimora has spoken about the influence of Carnival, the elaborate costumes and the sense of pride that surrounded her family. She has also cited the Baroque and Rococo periods, hip-hop and her family's photography as influences.

The handbags follow that same instinct toward embellishment. These are pieces designed to catch the light. The current collection includes small, hand-finished bags such as the Orange Mini Bag, alongside the brand's crystal-covered accessories and denim pieces. The Orange Mini Bag, for example, is a hand-constructed top-handle style currently priced at $325.

Why own one: The craftsmanship is the attraction. A CheyenneKimora piece can turn a familiar accessory into something closer to jewelry.

This may appeal to you if: You're looking for an evening bag, crystal-covered accessory or small handbag that can completely change an outfit.

Best for: The woman who loves embellishment, the collector of unusual accessories, and anyone who thinks an evening bag should be something you notice across the room.

Bag shown, the jellyfish bag, $1200. Available directly at www.cheyennekimora.com.

____

Beyond the Usual Names

The luxury handbag conversation has become bigger than the traditional list of fashion houses, but Black designers absolutely deserve a place leading those conversations. 

The variety is striking. Ree Projects and KÓNE approach the handbag from a European design perspective. AAKS puts Ghanaian weaving at the center of its work. ASHYA has made the hands-free bag its specialty, while PERYTON takes a small-scale, made-to-order approach to leather goods. Brandon Blackwood plays with color, shape and embellishment. MIFLAND is deeply interested in the construction of the bag itself. And CheyenneKimora takes embellishment somewhere entirely different.

For Black shoppers in particular, there is also something satisfying about seeing Black designers represented across so many different corners of the luxury market as designers with their own ideas about what a handbag can be.

So if you're looking for your next luxury handbag, don't stop with the names you already know. Take a closer look at these ten designers, explore their collections and consider adding one to your wardrobe. There is plenty here for the woman looking for something beautifully designed and distinctly her own.