I have always been more of a handbag girl than anything else. I don’t get dressed up a ton as I work from home and pretty much live in athleisure and pajamas. But I LOVE a good handbag. I have quite the collection but so many of my bags are not designer labels you may be thinking of. I tend to prefer affordable leather handbag brands. I love a good everyday tote or crossbody and I want to share some of my favorites with you all!
Best Affordable Leather Handbag Brands
Cuyana:
Cuyana is one of my favorite brands. I got my first bag about 3 years ago and quickly got another. They have a ton of great items (not just bags) but I am drawn to their sophisticated simple leather bags. I got the Classic Leather Tote in camel. The Classic Tote is great for an everyday bag or work bag. The Medium Carryall is actually the one I prefer for travel since it zips and has a crossbody option. They do not carry it anymore but this is similar. They do have a Classic Leather tote with a zipper and I wish I had gotten that one instead just because I love the zipper feature. You can also have the Cuyana bags monogrammed. I also LOVE this style because you can wear it two ways.
Madewell:
Madewell handbags are some of the best quality handbags out there and prove that you do not need to spend thousands of dollars to have a great bag. If you are looking for a tote that doesn’t break the bank, the new Lexington Tote is your girl! The Maren bucket bag is a little more sleek than some other bucket bags I’ve seen but still looks like it holds a ton. Do not sleep on Madewell’s woven bags. They are so beautiful and a fraction of the cost of the designer ones.
Leatherology:
I am such a huge fan of Leatherology. I have two of their bags. This smaller crossbody and this tote. The tote is GREAT for every day but especially great for travel. It can hold a laptop, all the essentials, and more and it has a zip closure. The customer service of this company is also phenomenal! I use this tote on every single flight.
Mark and Graham:
One of my favorite places to buy leather goods! I have a few of their small pouches which I use every day in my bag. But when it comes to handbags I have one. I have the Zoe work tote which I have had for years and is a great bag if you are carrying your laptop and other items with it. I really LOVE the Elisabetta Slouch bag and if I had a reason to buy it I would!
Paris/64:
I have long admired Paris/64 bags and earlier this year they sent me their Prismatic bag in taupe and it quickly became my every day bag. The size is perfect to hold everything I need on a day to day basis and it comes in many many colors. You can wear crossbody or on the crook of your arm. It’s truly perfect. I also love the Studio Cuero bag which is a bucket bag style.
Maison De Sabre:
The newest brand in my obsession with mid range leather handbags is Maison De Sabre. Discovered when I saw a mom at Charlotte’s tumbling class with a version in blue and said “I need to know about this bag!” The mini bucket bag was exactly what I had been looking for. I mulled it over for over a month then got the white color because to me a white leather bag is timeless. It comes in a ton of colors too! But they have so many beautiful bags! This large zippered tote is gorgeous and currently on sale. This zippered bucket bag is on sale and comes in several colors. If you are looking for more of a sling bag this one comes in many color options- also on sale. Another gorgeous tote bag option– on sale.
Quince:
Quince is such a great place to try bag trends, or buy a quality bag that gives the same vibe as many designers- only for a small fraction of the price. This tote is $150 and looks similar to bags I see for over $2000. This bag is one of my favorite designer look-a-likes- $150. Comes in several colors. So chic! One of Quince’s most viral bags– $140 and tons of colors. This bag looks JUST like the Loewe puzzle bag which is several thousand dollars- $160 from Quince. This beltbag/sling bag is under $100 looks just like the Clare V one.
St Agni:
Truly may be the best handbag I have gotten in the last two years. This mini tote is perfect in size, holds so much, and I get compliments on it constantly!! I have had their crescent bag for a while and found it for a fraction of the price on Poshmark for you! I had been wanting something nicer crossbody but smaller for a while! Pro tip- they have TONS of St Agni bags on The Real Real and Poshmark!
The bottom line
I love that with these affordable leather handbag brands you know the quality is not something you are sacrificing. Their reputations speak for themselves. You can find beautifully made, great handbags for a fraction of the price of “designer” bags but still amazing quality.
Happy Shopping!
This post was written in 2021 and has been updated for 2026.
These are cute! I love the minimalist look of them! ❤️✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Go check out ‘In Blue’ bags – handmade in Asheville, NC, small business AND they give back to the community with every purchase. My husband got me one for Christmas and I ADORE it.
All of those bags are so pretty. I love the simple styling. They go with everytyhing.
The sad fact is, I have only heard of one of these brands! I bet they all have great things to offer, all for an affordable price
These bags are fantastic! I love how stylish they are without being too fancy to make them unsuitable for most occasions. Fantastic.
I don’t own any handbags from these brands, but they look great. I do have a vegan handbag from Matt & Nat that I like!
I have been looking for a beg bag, especially one that’sbig enough to fit my camera… do you think a camera of a bigger size would fit in the brown bag (nr3)?
You had me at beautiful but fraction of the price. A good handbag that is affordable is not easy to find.
I’ve considered getting one from Madewell because I really like their classic totes. However, I just can’t justify spending this amount on really any handbag because I’m not very gentle with them haha!
thanks so much for this list , i am a firm believer that a good leather bag if properly cared for will last a lifetime
They’re all so pretty!
what perfect timing! I was complaining to my daughter yesterday when we went to an appointment that I need a bigger purse. I have this little thing my husband bought me, and it is simply too small. I do not have a favorite brand, just something that works well, looks nice, and is affordable. I am going shopping today, lol – blessings!
I’m a huge bag collector. I have hundreds of bags. Now you really tempting me to get another one. This is a really great selection.
I love Madewell bags! They’re affordable but good quality. I like the bottom two bags the most!
wow thanks for the recommendation .I love leather bag but so expensive. Thanks for sharing more options.
Love your blog about affordable handbags. I like all of your handbags and really like the prices. It is irritating when you find a handbag you like and you can’t afford it. Thank you for your blog.
Perhaps I missed something. None of these are “affordable.”
Great post – I love a good handbag and consider them an investment piece but try not to break the bank. These are some great options – definitely looking into these pieces to add to my collection! Thanks!
LOVE this girl! Thank you for sharing!!
LOVE the Madewell Transport Tote! Such a classic bag.
Thanks so much for providing these affordable leather handbag options. That Brooklyn Carryall is so cute! So spacious too. Love them all!