The Dictator | Where to buy beaded bags, this summer’s must-have accessory

Plus, wide-legged white jeans might sound impossible to pull off, but with the right tailoring – and a stain remover stick in hand – you can join the social media stars in this daring trend

Reading Time:2 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

From high street to high end, beaded bags are all the rage right now. Picture: Twitter / Stylist Magazine

The Dictator

Published: 12:16pm, 24 Jul 2018Updated: 12:16pm, 24 Jul 2018

On Instagram, I’ve seen these bags made of beads strung together. Where do they come from?
Beady Eyes, Mid-Levels

The Dictator rules:Do you mean what brand is selling bags made of beads woven in a kind of macramé, or from which culture did they originate? I’m guessing the former. Not Impressed. That’s the name of the New York label associated with this micro trend. Its Tulipa bucket bags (HK$2,551 to HK$2,708), with hexagonal bases, are woven from acrylic, wood and even glow-in-the-dark beads.

Hannah Weiland, of Shrimps, the London-based brand that makes colourful faux-fur coats and jackets, has been offering retro, boxy-shaped Antonia bags woven in grids of faux pearls since 2016. For HK$5,376, you can get one for yourself in cream; cream and clear; gold; or pink. The one in black goes for HK$5,690. Believe it or not, high-street brand Mango has an equally covetable assortment ranging from small, clear bead purses to shoulder bags, and even shopper size in solids or multicoloured combinations (HK$459 to HK$659).

For imaginative bead bags, try New York label Susan Alexandra whose handmade designs incorporate watermelon, strawberry, cherry or abstract themes on everything from clutches to large totes (HK$392 to HK$2,708). Also worth a look are the elevated bead bags by Accra, Ghana-based designer Adubea Jensen (HK$942 and up). If you’re feeling like a bit of DIY, head to Sham Shui Po to pick up beads by the gram, and possibly some tips on how to make yourself one. You can go to the internet for instructions if the shopkeepers are too grumpy to help. Naturally, the artisans selling their wares on Etsy.com have lots to offer, too.