Mulberry
City Backpack, £1,050
Mulberry’s City backpack is a showcase for the beautiful modern leather work that the brand is renowned for. We love its contemporary colourway and matte finish to create an understated future heirloom. The deep khaki green is a great alternative to black or navy for autumn and will look stunning with a classic camel coat. Buy it..
Rains
Logo-Embossed Shell Backpack, £95
With the dimensions of a classic day sack, this smart cream canvas and tan combo ticks the boxes for roomy dimensions and yet stays safely on the stylish end of the practical spectrum. With padded shoulder straps and an ergonomic top-carry handle, it would make a cool commuter or cabin bag for the avid traveller. With top handle, twin padded adjustable shoulder straps and a laptop pocket, this is a wallet friendly option with bags of style. Buy it.
Senreve
Midi Maestra, £605
When is a backpack not a backpack? When it’s a clever convertible bag from Senreve that you can wear as a cross-body or a tote, too. The beautiful Italian textured leather in a modern blush shade elevates it out of dreary workwear territory and the midi size is the perfect not-too-big, not-too-small scale for your everyday needs. Buy it.
LPOL
Small Arlington Rucksack Natural, NOW £195.50
Independent north London design brand LPOL is run by husband-and-wife team Katy and John Maskell Bell who, after meeting at Central Martins, embarked on pioneering a zero-waste production method in their east London factory. Using natural and reclaimed materials in their design-led bags, the Arlington is refreshingly devoid of blingy hardware. With a smart, matte clay-toned leather, its quiet curves and streamlined design feels minimal and understated. A bag you would never tire of and will just get better with age. Buy it.
Rains
Mini Nylon Backpack, £79
The roll-top, monochrome design of Rains’ mini nylon backpack is as smart and stark as it is functional. The pleasingly minimal lines look crisp and utilitarian against winter khakis and sports-luxe looks. Buy it.
Ralph Lauren Collection
Straw Wellington Backpack, £1,330
Rattan has been basking in the fashion spotlight for a while now – and this perfect straw backpack demonstrates precisely why. Chic yet earthy, slick yet textural, the smooth-as-butter vachetta leather oozes luxury and contrasts beautifully with the woven straw. It’s not cheap – but it’s built to last and it will never go out of style. Buy it.
Tiba & Marl
Elwood Backpack, £150
Amongst in-the-know parents of small children, Tiba & Marl has long been the nappy bag brand for those far too hip to be carrying a generic bottomless pit of diapers and dummies. Since successfully owning the cool parent corner of the backpack world, they’ve branched out into other realms, including gym bags, commuter rucksacks and just straight up good-looking yet well thought out design. Multi award-winning, the Elwood is the brand’s bestselling number; a beautifully lustred silver number, made from vegan faux leather, has a detachable wet pouch (for small people’s clothes, or your swimsuit at the gym), enough space for a laptop, as well as plenty of pockets and space for stylish day-to-day living. Buy it.
By Lydia Mansi
Updated August 2022
