16 Brands Like Something to Hold for Artisan Handbags
You found a bag that actually felt like you. The leather was soft, the shape was interesting without trying too hard, and the whole thing looked like someone cared when they made it. That is the pull of Something to Hold, a brand built on the idea that a handbag should feel personal and intentional. But once you have fallen for that kind of quality, you start wanting more options in the same lane.
The hunt for artisan handbags that balance real craftsmanship with wearable design is not always straightforward. Mass-market brands churn out trendy shapes that fall apart in a season, while big luxury houses charge thousands for a logo. If you sit somewhere in between and want a bag made with genuine skill, original design thinking, and materials you can actually feel good about, this list is for you. We tracked down 11 brands that share Something to Hold's spirit of handcrafted quality and thoughtful design.
Mlouye
Founded in 2015 by Meb Rure, a former industrial designer with a background in interior architecture, Mlouye treats handbags like small-scale sculptures. The brand draws heavily from Bauhaus design principles, translating geometric forms into block-shaped, expandable bags that look nothing like what you will find on a typical accessories wall. Each piece is constructed from high-quality Italian leather, and the focus is always on structure and proportion rather than hardware or embellishment. Fans include the Hadid sisters, and the brand has built a loyal following among women who want their bag to be the most interesting thing in the room.
Where Something to Hold leans into understated warmth and organic shapes, Mlouye goes bold and architectural. Their Helix Bag and Naomi Bag have become recognizable silhouettes in the contemporary accessories world, and the brand produces in limited runs to maintain quality control. If you love handcrafted leather but want something that reads more like a modern art object than a classic carryall, Mlouye deserves a serious look. The price point sits comfortably in the accessible luxury range, and the construction holds up to daily wear far better than its sculptural lines might suggest.
Best for: Design-forward shoppers who want a wearable statement piece rooted in architectural thinking.
Senreve
Senreve was born in San Francisco in 2016 when co-founders Coral Chung and Wendy Wen realized they could not find a luxury bag that was genuinely functional for a busy professional life. The name combines the French words for "sense" and "dream," and that duality runs through every design. Their bags are handcrafted in Italy from full-grain leather, and nearly every style converts between multiple carrying positions. The Maestra, their signature bag, shifts from a handheld satchel to a backpack to a crossbody depending on what your day demands. Chung and Wen actually surveyed hundreds of women before launching to understand exactly what features were missing from the market.
What sets Senreve apart from Something to Hold is that structured, polished versatility. These are bags designed to move from a morning meeting to an evening dinner without looking out of place in either setting. The leather develops a beautiful patina over time, and the interiors are thoughtfully organized with pockets and compartments that make sense. Senreve has shown up on the arms of Priyanka Chopra and Brie Larson, and the brand is stocked at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. If you want the artisan-quality leather of Something to Hold paired with a more tailored, go-anywhere functionality, Senreve is a strong match.
Best for: Professional women who need a beautifully made bag that adapts to a full schedule.
Cuyana
Karla Gallardo and Shilpa Shah launched Cuyana in 2011 around a philosophy that has since become a kind of quiet fashion movement: fewer, better things. Every bag in their collection is designed to be a long-term wardrobe anchor rather than a seasonal impulse buy. They work with family-run workshops and tanneries across Argentina, Turkey, Italy, and other countries, sourcing premium leathers and sustainable materials that meet strict quality standards. Their Classic Leather Tote and System Tote have developed cult followings, and the brand runs a Lean Closet program encouraging customers to donate items they no longer use.
Cuyana's design language is closest to Something to Hold in terms of that understated, goes-with-everything appeal. The silhouettes are clean and minimal, the color palettes tend toward neutrals and earth tones, and nothing feels overdone. Where Something to Hold brings more artisanal texture and character, Cuyana offers an almost architectural precision in its construction. Both brands reward the customer who values quality leather over logo recognition, and Cuyana's pricing keeps real craftsmanship accessible to a broader audience. If your personal style leans toward quiet luxury, this is one of the first places to look.
Best for: Minimalists who believe in investing in fewer, well-made pieces that last for years.
Staud
Sarah Staudinger and George Augusto launched Staud in 2015 after noticing a gap between throwaway fast fashion and prohibitively expensive designer goods. The brand quickly became known for bags that are playful, well-made, and genuinely original. The Moon Bag, a crescent-shaped mini bag, became an instant cult classic and has been spotted on Kendall Jenner and Selena Gomez. Staud produces each collection in limited quantities from quality materials, including Italian leathers and innovative PVC constructions for their transparent Shirley and Moreau styles.
Compared to Something to Hold's earthy, handcrafted warmth, Staud brings a more trend-conscious energy to the artisan space. You will find unexpected color combinations, bold shapes, and design details that feel distinctly Californian in their optimism. But the quality commitment is real. Staud bags hold their shape, the hardware is solid, and the brand pays close attention to interior finishing and stitching details. If you gravitate toward Something to Hold's quality standards but want a bag with more personality and pop, Staud delivers that balance at a price point that does not require a second mortgage.
Best for: Style-forward women who want quality craftsmanship wrapped in bold, personality-driven design.
Boyy
Started by creative partners Wannasiri Kongman and Jesse Dorsey, Boyy grew from bags hand-assembled in a New York apartment into an internationally recognized label with operations spanning Bangkok, Milan, and beyond. The brand's defining feature is its oversized buckle hardware, a bold design element that has become instantly recognizable without relying on a visible logo. Their bags are crafted from premium leathers in rich, saturated colors, and the construction emphasizes clean lines with just enough edge to stand apart from the minimalist crowd. When Wannasiri returned to Bangkok to manage production, the brand gained access to skilled Thai leather craftspeople who bring a meticulous attention to detail.
Boyy occupies a unique position for fans of Something to Hold. Both brands care deeply about the quality of their leather and the integrity of the construction, but Boyy adds a slightly tougher, more downtown sensibility. The Buckle Bag and the Bobby Soft are standout styles that work with everything from a linen dress to a leather jacket. The color range is also worth noting. Boyy regularly releases shades you will not find anywhere else, from deep burgundies to unexpected pastels, all in leathers that feel luxurious in hand. If you love artisan quality but want a design edge that reads confident rather than precious, this is a brand worth bookmarking.
Best for: Shoppers who want a recognizable signature look built on quality leather rather than a logo.
Cesta Collective
Co-founded by Courtney Fasciano and Erin Ryder, Cesta Collective makes bags that begin their journey in Rwanda and are finished in Italy. Female artisans in Rwandan cooperatives hand-weave each basket using sustainably harvested sisal dyed with organic vegetable pigments. The woven forms are then sent to Italian workshops where leather handles, closures, and finishing details are added. The result is a bag that feels genuinely luxurious while carrying a meaningful story. Cesta Collective has trained over 1,400 female artisans, paying wages four to five times the Rwandan national average and helping these women invest in land and build financial independence.
This is a different lane from Something to Hold's leather-focused aesthetic, but the underlying values overlap significantly. Both brands put artisan craftsmanship and the maker's hand at the center of the product. Cesta Collective's bags are particularly beautiful in warm weather and travel contexts, with their textured weave offering a natural, relaxed sophistication that pairs well with linen and cotton. Their Lunchpail and Crossbody Panna styles have become favorites among editors and stylists who value originality. If you believe that where and how a bag is made matters as much as how it looks, Cesta Collective is one of the most compelling brands working in the artisan handbag space today.
Best for: Ethically minded shoppers drawn to handwoven textures with a luxury finish.
Liebeskind Berlin
Founded in Berlin in 2003 by Semih Simsek and the Rellecke brothers, Liebeskind Berlin channels the German capital's creative, no-nonsense energy into leather accessories. The brand is known for working with exceptionally soft, sometimes intentionally distressed leathers that feel broken in from the first wear. Their color range is one of the widest in the category, with everything from classic black and cognac to unexpected seasonal hues. Each bag prioritizes wearability and everyday function, with designs that feel relaxed and cool without sacrificing quality construction.
Liebeskind sits in a different aesthetic space from Something to Hold, bringing a more urban, streetwear-influenced vibe to the artisan leather world. Their bags are for the person who wants genuine leather craftsmanship but prefers a look that reads effortlessly casual rather than carefully polished. The brand has maintained its commitment to quality materials and thoughtful construction for over two decades, which is reflected in how well their bags age and wear over time. If you love the genuine leather feel of Something to Hold but want something with a bit more metropolitan grit, Liebeskind's Berlin-born sensibility is worth exploring.
Best for: Urban creatives who want soft, well-made leather bags with a laid-back, Berlin-cool attitude.
Mansur Gavriel
Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel met at a concert in Los Angeles in 2010 and founded their namesake brand in 2012 with just two silhouettes: a bucket bag and a tote. That restraint turned out to be their superpower. The Mansur Gavriel Bucket Bag became one of the most important accessories of the 2010s, generating waitlists and sparking a broader industry shift back toward clean, logo-free design. Every bag is made in Italy from vegetable-tanned leather, and the brand's use of contrast interior colors has become a defining detail. Rachel studied textiles at RISD, and Floriana earned her fashion design degree at the University of the Arts Bremen in Germany.
For Something to Hold fans, Mansur Gavriel is a natural neighbor. Both brands believe a handbag should speak through its materials and proportions rather than through branding, and both attract shoppers who have moved past the logo-driven luxury cycle. Mansur Gavriel's designs tend toward the more minimal end of the spectrum, with extremely clean lines and an almost spare aesthetic that lets the quality of the Italian leather do the talking. Their bags age beautifully and develop distinctive character with use. If you have been looking for a brand where simplicity is the entire point and every stitch earns its place, Mansur Gavriel is one of the best in the game.
Best for: Minimalists who want Italian-made, logo-free leather bags designed to age gracefully.
Nannacay
Marcia Kemp left a career at IBM to build Nannacay, a brand named after a word meaning "sisterhood of women." Inspired by her travels and volunteer work in South American communities, Kemp set out to connect traditional artisans to the luxury market. Today, Nannacay works with over 120 families across communities in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. Each bag is handwoven from materials like braided straw, macrame yarn, or canvas, and finished with leather straps and signature pom-pom details. Every bag tag carries the name of the artisan who made it.
Nannacay is visually quite different from Something to Hold. Where Something to Hold works in leather with an understated palette, Nannacay brings color, texture, and a distinct bohemian energy. But the shared DNA runs deep. Both brands are built on a genuine reverence for hand-making and the idea that a bag should carry more than just your belongings. Nannacay's pieces are particularly wonderful for warm-weather styling, travel, and anyone who wants their accessories to reflect a commitment to ethical production. Their bags have appeared in Vogue and on Shopbop, and the price point remains accessible given the handcraft involved.
Best for: Travelers and warm-weather dressers who value handwoven craftsmanship with a vibrant, bohemian spirit.
Coccinelle
Giacomo Mazzieri founded Coccinelle in 1978 in the province of Parma, Italy, and the brand has spent over four decades refining the art of accessible Italian leather goods. Named after the French word for ladybug, Coccinelle builds its collection around versatile silhouettes crafted from soft, supple leathers sourced and worked within Italy's leather-making tradition. The brand maintains strong ties to the artisan workshops of the Parma district, where generations of craftspeople have developed specialized skills in leather cutting, stitching, and finishing.
For shoppers who love Something to Hold's quality but want a wider selection of everyday shapes, Coccinelle is a reliable pick. Their crossbody bags and structured totes are thoughtfully designed for daily use, with subtle hardware, well-organized interiors, and a color range that covers both classic neutrals and seasonal accents. The brand's Italian heritage means the leather quality punches well above its price point, and the designs have a polished, feminine ease that travels well between work and weekend. If you are after a brand where decades of Italian craftsmanship translate into bags you will actually reach for every day, Coccinelle belongs on your radar.
Best for: Women who want reliable Italian leather quality in versatile, everyday silhouettes at an accessible price.
Matt & Nat
Operating out of Montreal since 1995, Matt & Nat was one of the first fashion brands to go fully vegan and stay there. The name stands for MAT(T)ERIAL and NATURE, reflecting a mission to explore the relationship between materials and the natural world without using animal products. Their bags are made from innovative alternatives including recycled nylon, cork, rubber, and plant-based materials, with linings crafted from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Over nearly three decades, the brand has proven that cruelty-free does not have to mean a compromise on style or durability.
Matt & Nat appeals to the same kind of intentional shopper that Something to Hold attracts, but from a completely different material philosophy. If you love the thoughtful design and quality construction of artisan leather goods but prefer to avoid animal products entirely, this is one of the most established and trusted options available. Their designs lean modern and minimal, with clean lines and muted palettes that feel grown-up and put-together. The Brave backpack and Dwell collection have developed strong followings, and the brand continues to push innovation in sustainable materials. For the vegan shopper who refuses to sacrifice design quality, Matt & Nat has been leading the way for almost 30 years.
Best for: Eco-conscious shoppers who want modern, cruelty-free bags made from innovative sustainable materials.
Finding Your Next Artisan Handbag
The artisan handbag space has more depth and variety than it gets credit for. Whether you lean toward the sculptural forms of Mlouye, the Italian minimalism of Mansur Gavriel, the ethically woven designs of Cesta Collective, or the vegan innovation of Matt & Nat, these brands all share a belief that how a bag is made matters just as much as how it looks. Take your time exploring them. The right artisan bag is one you will still be reaching for years from now.
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Written by
Spencer Lanoue
