From Uniqlo to Prada, nylon bags will never go out of fashion – why the Fendi Baguette, Bottega Veneta Cassette and Longchamp Le Pliage are all available in the ‘utilitarian chic’ fabric
Miuccia Prada has long been the bellwether for what we’ll all want to wear next. You only need to look at a certain nylon utilitarian crossbody bag from Japanese retailer Uniqlo to realise this. The bag in question, crescent shaped with loads of storage, has notched up more than 109 million views at #uniqlobag on TikTok and keeps selling out.
When Miuccia Prada, queen of “ugly chic”, first launched her nylon bags for Prada in 1984, she shook up ideas of luxury and function.
“Back then, I didn’t really like anything I saw. It all just looked so old and bourgeois and boring. I just wanted to search for the absolute opposite of what was already out there,” Prada has said of decision to work with the utilitarian and decidedly not “luxury” fabric.
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“Suddenly, nylon started to look more intriguing to me than couture fabrics. I decided to introduce it to the catwalk, and it challenged – even changed – the traditional and conservative idea of luxury. I am still obsessed with it.”
Prada isn’t the only one. In addition to that viral Uniqlo bag, there’s a padded version from Swedish high street retailer Cos notching up clout (and some 23 million views on TikTok). Meanwhile, there are other luxury brands working with the material, such as Bottega Veneta with its padded Cassette in nylon while Fendi has a nylon Baguette. Both American label Tory Burch and French brand Longchamp, which is well known for its foldable nylon and leather Le Pliage bags, offer recycled nylon versions too.
Sinead Cutts, style director at online retailer The Outnet, says there are several drivers behind the resurgence, and desirability, of nylon bags.
“There’s still a 90s nostalgia moment when it comes to nylon bags, plus the durability of the fabric makes for a functional yet stylish bag option. Unlike structured leather bags, which might only slot into your working wardrobe, nylon bags can go from work to weekend seamlessly,” she says.
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“The oversized styles are perfect for everyday life, storing everything from your laptop, spare shoes and gym kit all in one! The nature of the fabric also means you can have fun with bold colours and prints, which I love.”
Cutts says the bags particularly suit minimalist dressing with a luxe sporty edge. Or you could also go all-in on the enduring 90s trend.
“You could fully embrace the 90s trend of cargo pants, a blazer and tank top finished off with a pair of sneakers,” says Cutts.
As for Cutts’ favourite brands for nylon bags?
“I love Ganni for their colour pop shoulder bags, Stine Goya for floral prints and supersized styles, and also Jakke which has some fun, on-trend padded styles for the season ahead.”
- Uniqlo’s TikTok-famous crescent-shaped crossbody – made from nylon and with acres of storage – keeps selling out for a reason, but high fashion isn’t immune to the most utilitarian and synthetic of fabrics
- ‘Ugly chic’ queen Miuccia Prada has been making nylon bags since 1984 – now storied brands from Fendi and Bottega Veneta, to Cos, Tory Burch and Longchamp, are all offering nylon options