How nylon became designer: 12 functional and fashionable bags for you

Real chic can come from artificial fabrics

nylon luxury designer bags
Credit: from left to right, Prada, Longchamp and Kate Spade
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While high-end brands usually feature luxurious materials like lambskin, the pedestrian nylon has been a surprisingly popular pick — brands like Prada are inseparable from their nylon collections, while Kate Spade and Longchamp have also become famed for iconic nylon designer bags.

How nylon began

First intended as a silk substitute, nylon was patented in 1938 by the DuPont chemical company. Almost immediately, it found itself roped (literally) into the United States’ war effort. The low-cost material proved its resilience and versatility in ropes, parachutes, tents, and even aircraft fuel tanks. Post-war, DuPont’s focus on popularising the fabric proved successful—too successful. Excessive demand even caused the Pittsburgh Nylon Riots in 1946. Part of that effort involved giving samples to designers, and by 1955, nylon found itself used by designers like Christian Dior.

From there, its ubiquity only increased—by 1965, synthetic fibres made up 63% of the world’s production of textiles. But that overexposure also meant it soon began being perceived as tacky, and it soon became a maligned material.

Nylon and designer bags

Enter Miuccia Prada, the first to bring nylon into luxury bags. 

She had just entered the family business, specialising in leather bags. “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,” she would recount in an interview to 10 Magazine. “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.”

Beginning with iconic nylon backpacks, nylon became synonymous with the Prada brand. Miuccia Prada bravely forged ahead with her disruptive experiments with the material into the 1990s. These bags became popular, their functionality, minimalism and bold colours meshing well with the times.

Nylon bags today

Today, nylon bags have seen a resurgence with the revival of 1990s fashion. Nylon bag videos have accumulated over 164.7M views on TikTok. The practicality and versatility of nylon, as well as how it can be recycled and be vegan-friendly, has seen a new generation of adherents.

Your next bag could be nylon too: these bags are lightweight, yet strong and malleable. They’re water-resistant, mould-resistant, easily-washed and durable—making them the perfect everyday bag, suitable for both weekday work and weekend relaxation.

Here are some of the best nylon designer bags of different sizes and functions, all curated for the perfect combination of pretty and practical.

Prada Re-Edition 1995 Chaîne large Re-Nylon bag (S$3700)

Credit: Prada
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We had to start with Prada, the original purveyors of the nylon designer bag. A modern reinterpretation of its iconic 1995 bag, the bag is part of their Re-Nylon line, which features products made with regenerated nylon recycled from the ocean. Stylish and with vintage charm, this shoulder bag is both luxurious and iconic.

25cm H x 35cm W x 9cm L

Longchamp Le Pliage Original M Handbag (S$220)

Credit: Longchamp
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Longchamp is another brand famous for their nylon bags. Their iconic Le Pliage bags, taking inspiration from origami, are designed to be lightweight and foldable. Available in numerous colours, and made from recycled nylon canvas, this versatile bag is perfect for the fashionable yet practical amongst us.

30cm L x 20cm W x 28cm H

Colours: Orange, Sage, Paper, Navy, Steel, Ebony, Black

Dourney & Bourke Nylon Carry All (S$647.80, currently on sale at S$485.90)

Credit: Dourney & Bourke
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Dourney & Bourke is known for their sturdy and durable nylon bags. This roomy bag comes in numerous colours, making it the perfect stylish choice for weekend travels. It also comes with an attachable shoulder strap.

32.4cm H x 24.1cm W x 49.5cm L

Colours: Black, Black with black straps, Red, Khaki, Navy

Kate Spade Sam KSNYL Nylon Convertible Backpack (S$500)

Credit: Kate Spade
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Both a tote and a backpack, this bag has the perfect mix of fashionability, functionality, environmental conscience and historical legacy. A reimagining of the iconic black nylon Sam tote bag that launched the Kate Spade brand into stardom in 1993, this versatile bag has an outer shell made up of 100% recycled nylon (which they call a KSNYL shell). It even comes with a back luggage sleeve, making it a perfect travel companion.

36.2cm H x 29.2cm W x 12.7cm L

Tory Burch Ella Printed Tote (S$565)

Credit: Tory Burch
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Tory Burch’s Ella tote bag, with their oversized double-T logo emblazoned across, has been an instantly recognisable part of their line-up since 2008. This version, made from recycled nylon and faux leather, is environmentally conscious and vegan friendly. With an interior laptop pouch, this tote is sturdy, chic and convenient for work.

33cm H x 13cm W x 43.5cm L

Burberry Leather Trim Nylon Baby Changing Backpack (S$1350)

Credit: Burberry
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Burberry, a brand known for creating the trench coat, prides themselves on their lightweight element-resistant products. They make extensive use of nylon for those properties, from their outerwear to their bags. Made from 100% recycled nylon, this roomy compartmentalised backpack is perfect for the busy parent, even including a fold-out changing mat.

29cm H x 17cm W x 44cm L

Tumi Adelaide Hobo Crossbody (S$720)

Credit: Tumi
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A luxury travel brand, Tumi is renowned for their long-lasting and durable nylon products—many fans online rave about how their products still look like new after years of use. Well-designed, with plenty of pockets for organising and the option to style it as either a shoulder bag or a crossbody, this resilient versatile bag is perfect for those constantly on the move. It even comes with the Tumi Tracer, an individualised barcode in any bag that enables it to be traced back to its owner should it be lost.

17cm H x 28.5cm W x 7.5cm L

Colours: Black/Gunmetal, Black/Gold, Halogen Blue

Caraa Cumulus Medium

Credit: Caraa
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A luxury fitness brand, Caraa aims towards sports bags that marry performance with poise. This spacious padded bag can fit up to 15” laptops, and show off the versatility of nylon as a material. Vegan-friendly, breathable and water-resistant, this bag is perfect for daily use. It even comes with a wet pouch for shoes.

31.75cm H x 28cm W x 55.88cm L

Colours: Clay, Black

Bottega Veneta Padded Tech Cassette (S$3470)

Credit: Bottega Veneta
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Bottega Veneta’s cassette bags are synonymous with their brand, and on top of their leather offerings, they also have an option made from nylon. Available in a range of colours, including one with their signature parakeet ‘Bottega Green’ for the interior, this crossbody bag promises to be trendy yet practical. It also comes with a detachable interior zipper pouch, for keeping all your finer items.

15cm H x 30cm W x 7.5cm L

Colours: Black/Parakeet, Cruise/Sesame, Deep blue/Pale blue, Thunder/Pool, White/Parakeet

Isabel Marant Darwen Tote Bag (US$270, currently on sale at US$135)

Credit: Isabel Marant
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This cute multicoloured woven bag is made from 100% nylon, and will be perfect for beach day, as a mommy bag or for more casual fits.

21cm H x 6cm W x 31cm L

Colours: Multicolor Yellow

Lo & Sons O.G. 2 (US$370, now on sale at US$321.30)

Credit: Lo & Sons
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This laptop bag has one central focus: travel. Lightweight, waterproof for any coffee spills, durable and roomy, it can even fit up to 15” laptops within its main compartment. It features numerous compartments for your packing needs, even featuring a separate shoe compartment. Available with gold or silver metal highlights, it fulfils all your travel needs without compromising on style.

Sizes: Available in Medium or Large sizes

Colours: Available in Grey, Black or Deep Navy, with a range of interior colour options

Anya Hindmarch Happy Eyes Pouch (US$310)

Credit: Anya Hindmarch
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Irreverent and tongue-in-cheek, this pouch made from recycled nylon echoes the material’s own disruptive history in high fashion. The leather eyes, leather tabs and gold-tone hardware add a touch of luxury to this quirky design, a trademark of Anya Hindmarch’s playful designs.

18cm H x 5cm W x 24cm L

Colours: Black

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