Nestling in the commercial successful spot of accessibility and luxury, a slew of independent labels are dominating the market. With their coveted positions on the ears and arms of the style set, this new breed of IT-accessories have become insta-famous in their own right. Meet the new generation of on-the-rise accessory brands to name drop – and wear – all summer.
1 Cult Gaia
You might just associate the wooden bag with your favourite swimsuit, but introduce a little contrast by switching it up and pairing it with a blazer and jeans. Clogging up your instagram feed for the past few months is the every popular Cult Gaia bag, cult by name, cult by nature, its Ark bag has been seen on the arm of every influencer.
2 Apres Ski
It’s the era of the statement earring and there’s a new ear candy in town – plastic. Coined lucite, resin or acrylic, it’s all about chunky, geometric shapes in retro prints. Spanning vintage hues and contemporary forms, Barcelona-based brand Apres Ski is leading the resin revolution.
3 Trademark
Moving away from the maximalism of past seasons, there has been a shift towards pared-back designs and muted tones. Leading the practical but stylish direction is accessories brand Trademark. With a quirky but streamlined aesthetic, its mock-croc bucket bag in black, which is launching on Netaporter in August, has already been toted as the bag-to-hold for autumn.
4 Yuul Yie
While we’re not ready to retire our easy-going runners just yet, in reprisal to the comfort factor, designers are now upping the ante with aesthetic shoe styles. With walkable heel heights, quality leather and off-kilter details, like oversized buckles and pearl heels, Korean brand Yuul Yie is a guaranteed compliment-earner.
5 Susan Alexandra
Beaded bags you might have crafted in art class as a child have been injected with chic by New York designer Susan Alexandra. Evoking a vintage nostalgia with her pearl-adorned, hand-strung creations in all hues of the rainbow, you can add a jovial touch to a pared back T-shirt and jeans look, or the whimsical accessory will work just as well with wedding-guest attire.
6 Sansoeurs
If costume jewellery is too flamboyant for you and fine jewellery is too fiddly, enter demi-fine, a new category of jewellery that sits in between. Producing everyday wearable pieces, that are both dainty but geometrical, is Spanish brand Sansoeurs. Merging effortless cool with simple, beautiful jewellery, expect pieces to covet for the long haul.
