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There have been days in the not-so-distant past where I have considered scrapping my 10-year plan, moving to Italy, and opening a one-woman tannery — if only to bring one perfect work bag into existence.
Those days typically landed on the ones where I was trying to fit a change of clothes for the gym, sneakers, a water bottle, wallet, notebook, and a 13" laptop into a bag that didn't invite outright hatred from other public transportation riders.
It was much harder to find a stylish, affordable, and smart work bag than I thought it should be. I wanted versatility of design and color, high-end materials, and a compact design. Due to its ability to markedly improve five out of seven days of the week, I was even willing to spend a considerable chunk of money on the right one.
I realize now, after working at Insider Picks for a little over a year, that it wasn't so much that these companies and bags didn't exist as much as it was that I simply had not discovered them yet. I had been fishing around at my usual haunts and in department stores, and I was underwhelmed by the selection or overwhelmed by the price.
But thanks to feedback from coworkers and the high-volume of inventive startups that Insider Picks reviews, I've been able to cherry-pick five brands that are making the kind of bags I wish I had known about. The list ranges from cult-favorites like Everlane to Instagram sensations like Senreve to trailblazers like Dagne Dover, and hidden gems like Leatherology. Hopefully, you'll be happy to have a smaller, better list to browse, if you know one or none of the startups below.
Below are 5 companies making the best women's work bags on the market: