Above: a bag on the runway at Chanel spring\/summer \u201926.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The long-discussed spring\/summer \u201926 runway season\u2014writ large with changes, including over a dozen creative director appointments at fashion houses\u2014is only just now arriving in stores.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Anyone on fashion TikTok might be acutely aware, for the platform has been inundated with users posting \u2018unboxing\u2019 videos of new shoes, and handbags from Matthieu Blazy\u2019s Chanel, seen by millions of people. Handbags have always been popular. But this time the buzz is largely driven by how new creative directors\u2014including Blazy, Jonathan Andersion at Dior, Demna at Gucci, Louise Trotter at Bottega Veneta and Michael Rider at Celine\u2014will introduce bags that excite in the present moment, and also have staying power.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Though the fascination surrounding handbags feels new, they also remain one of the most competitive categories in fashion. Per consulting and strategy company McKinsey, one in five Australians intend to still splurge on accessories, despite economic headwinds and the rising prices of luxury. \u201cThe global handbag category is projected to grow at around six per cent annually through 2028, reinforcing its position as one of fashion\u2019s most resilient segments,\u201d says Amanda Winchester, partner and consumer expert at McKinsey.\u00a0<\/p>\n