First there was K-Pop, K-Dramas, and K-Beauty. Well now there’s K-bags 😂. Since going to South Korea I have great respect for the fashion lines coming from that country. They tend to be on trend but also super affordable. Let’s just say these Korean brands make really good dupes without being an exact carbon copy (they usually make it just different enough). The construction also tends to be fairly solid, but the materials used can be a bit of a mixed bag. So far I’ve tried four different Korean brands and this is what I think of them:
Nothing Written Brown Classic Golf Bag
I originally fell in love with this Classic Golf Bag because it looks like something out of The Row catalog but at a tenth of the price (in the $300 range vs the $3000 range). And in fact this Classic Golf Bag that I picked up (but then returned) from Canadian retailer Ssense looks a lot like The Row India bag but with The Margux handles. It is canvas-lined with a zippered pocket inside so it’s very light to carry. The rolled handles are nice to carry and I like that the zipper opening goes down the sides so that when fully unzipped the bag opens up really wide (so it’s easy to get things in and out and easy to see what’s in there). But as much as I like the look I ended up returning it because 1) the handles can’t go over my shoulders (much like The Margaux bag unfortunately) and 2) the leather is quite plastick-y. The leather is probably quite durable since it has such a heavy plastic coating on it but I can’t see it aging well (once the plastic veneer cracks, it’ll probably start flaking). But if you’re looking for a bag for right now and not a heritage one to pass down to your kids, then this might work for you (as long as you’re ok with hand-carrying or crook-of-the-arm carrying).
Dunst Classic 28 Bag
This very classic looking bag looks a bit like The Row’s Domino bag but the Dunst Classic 28 Bag is smaller, lined in canvas, has a large exterior pocket, and is made of a super durable leather (instead of The Row’s super fragile saddle leather). This Dunst bag also looks like the Hermes Plume. But unlike the Domino or the Plume, this Classic 28 cost me $228 from Ssense (vs. the $5600 for the Domino or ) so I feel confident to put as many charms as I want (ala Miu Miu style). Sure the leather quality is not going to be on par with The Row or Hermes, but overall the leather is good enough and the construction is solid.
The bag itself is well-made with clean stitching and decent hardware. The leather is quite stiff and scratch resistant (probably a heavy coating on top of the leather), but it works for a simple bag like this. I like that the handles can easily go over my shoulders (and stay there). I really have no complaints about this bag thus far though I haven’t used it a ton yet (but of course I’ll update this review when I do). Also for $228 I don’t feel too bad letting this one sit in the closet for a bit (not like that Hermes Kelly I used once lol). Ssense no longer sells current Dunst bags, but you can find this bag at W Concept (at a lower price too). Right now they have this Classic 28 in a tan with contrast stitching that I’m tempted to get (edit: Ok after writing up this post I ended up getting it with a coupon code). And their Classic Bowling Bag with the crossbody strap is super cute too! Honestly the styling of their products is on point and their prices are reasonable.
Couronne Ruvo Bag
I first noticed this brand when I watched the K-Drama Hometown Cha Cha Cha (which also inspired my Hermes Roulis purchase, reviewed here). Ever since then I’ve had my eye on the brand. And then when I went to Korea last year I saw some of their items in-person at a department store. Overall I would say the quality of their bags were good, but they had some misses in there as well so I won’t say everything is top notch.
But the bag that caught my fancy was the Couronne Ruvo bag. I didn’t buy it then, but later I saw it on sale at W Concept and snagged it for less than what I would have paid in Korea (and it’s even cheaper now by $75 if you have a coupon code). I opted for the seasonal green color instead of another neutral (as beautiful as the neutrals are) because I thought I should branch out to other colors. However I have to admit I haven’t used it much because of the color. But the leather is quite nice for the price and the construction is clean and neat. Now that I’m getting into green bags I really need to add this to the rotation. I’ll update this review once I use it more.
Monorow Sara Bag
This Sara bag was an impulse purchase after seeing it on someone’s substack as a dupe for The Row’s Terrasse bag. I’m not sure why but I’m really into shoulder carry bags (as opposed to crossbody bags) and I thought this would be a simple yet lovely bag. I’ve heard of Monorow in the past because of their Margaux dupe, the Blanc bag, and haven’t heard any complaints of quality.
However I have to say I was pretty disappointed in the Sara bag. The leather quality was quite bad (something I would expect from Forever21). And for a bag that involved folding the flaps over the top, this meant the leather folds were wonky and wrinkly. To me it looked cheap, so I sent it back (there’s a $18 restocking+shipping fee with W Concept, but better that than to be out $149). Anyway I don’t think I’ll try anything else from this brand because of my first impressions with this bag.
Have you guys tried other bags from these brands and what did you think? What are some other Korean bag brands you’ve tried and what did you think? I asked this over on Instagram and I’ve heard back that Atelier Lumen and Facade Pattern are good ones.