Nili Lotan: Stylish Bags to Cherish Forever
Exclusively available to NET-A-PORTER for a limited time, the New York-based brand’s latest collection of chic investment bags is a masterclass in timeless elegance, says GEORGINA LUCAS
When Nili Lotan launched her eponymous label in 2003, she started with just six designs: three pairs of pants, one top and two jackets. The goal? To create sophisticated, high-quality staples that will live in our wardrobes for years to come. More than two decades on, Lotan’s vision has never been clearer or more defined. Working from her in-house atelier on Duane Street in New York’s Tribeca (where she also lives with her family), the designer has expanded her business to include multiple product lines, including denim, shoes and, most recently, bags.
Following the same ethos that governs her wildly successful ready-to-wear collections, Lotan’s handbags are guided by an innate sense of what women want to wear, or in this case, carry.
Exclusive to NET-A-PORTER for a limited time, the FW25 collection is “an evolution for the brand – an exploration of refined luxury and exceptional craftsmanship,” says the designer. Each style is skillfully crafted by Italian and Spanish artisans using leather sourced from the finest European tanneries and comes in a timeless, wear-forever silhouette. Such is Lotan’s impeccable attention to detail that she even developed custom hardware specifically for the collection, which will soon become instantly recognizable to those in the know.
“At the heart of this launch is the ‘Lou’ bag – the bag I’ve been carrying for a year now. It’s the one I reach for every day,” says Lotan of the softly structured top-handle design that marries quiet sophistication with practicality and ease. Available in a variety of finishes, including buttery soft ‘Espresso’ suede and polished black leather, it exudes an understated, one-of-a-kind appeal that makes the brand catnip for legions of women, including its roster of celebrity fans – Rihanna, Emmanuelle Alt, Jennifer Aniston and Gigi Hadid, to name a few.
“I believe personal style should be an effortless and empowering part of your everyday life. It should feel expansive, not defining
”Nili Lotan
Beyond the ‘Lou’, you’ll find ‘Jerry’, a minimal croc-effect clutch with a ’90s feel that will look chic styled with love-worn denim and a blazer by day, and a cocktail dress by night; the bowling-inspired ‘Jacyln’ bag in three different finishes, complete with a coordinating pull-out pouch; and the everyday ‘Loren’ tote, available in statement zebra-print calf hair and suede. As one would expect from a brand whose designs are as functional as they are beautiful, the latter is available in two sizes that will easily fit your laptop and other workweek essentials, or a change of clothes for a night away. Last but by no means least is the ‘Joni’ shoulder bag in ‘Espresso’ suede adorned with hand-knotted fringing – a brand signature – for a touch of ’70s nostalgia.
As with all of Lotan’s collections, her handbags are designed to be a means of empowerment and self-expression: “I believe personal style should be an effortless and empowering part of your everyday life. It should feel expansive, not defining.”