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As a 26-year old with tech-neck and shoulder pain, lugging my laptop to the office via shoulder bag wasn’t cutting it anymore. Luckily, I’m an avid doomscroller, and my algorithm presented me with my newest obsession and solution.
Meet Samo Ondoh, a Seoul-based contemporary bag brand with everything from small shoulder bags to big totes that perfectly fit your laptop in multiple colorways and patterns. The brand first popped up on my feed via countless K-pop idols sporting the bag. Those K-pop stars influenced many an influencer, who then influenced me.
Sizing is easy: small, medium, and large. Knowing that I intended to use this for work to carry my laptop, large was an absolute no-brainer. The hard part was choosing between the various styles the brand offers. After too much time considering, I’ve narrowed it down to the Pocket Mug Bag L in Nappa Black.
The bag fits my 13-in laptop, has a bunch of pockets in the front and sides, and the kicker was the adjustable strap. I could wear this on one shoulder with a shorter strap or make it longer and wear it as a crossbody.
The bag is made of artificial leather, and after a year of use commuting on subways and buses, traveling through planes and TSA lines, and criminally stuffing the bag, I’m happy to report no cracking or peeling to date. The strap itself is still in good condition even though I’ve switched between the short and long lengths many times. I love that I can fit my entire day in the bag – my lunch, charger, laptop, wallet, and makeup pouch stay comfortably in place.
Each design has the three sizes available in stylish colorways from a new vamp-y red, navy, chocolate brown, cheetah print, and suede browns. Customized with your favorite bag charms or make use of the brand’s mascot Tokiyom.
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More Korean Bag Brands to Discover
My Samo Ondoh rabbit hole turned into a full treasure hunt of Korean bang brands to add into holiday wishlists (read: treat myself). The best thing about the various brands to name is that they satisfy multiple moods and come in different prices without sacrificing quality. The common thread of all the brands? They speak to the girl who wants to look like she thought about it without looking like she tried too hard.
Stand Oil
Stand Oil is one of the brands that come across as “I really don’t need to try that hard, I just look naturally this good.” Think clean structures with a muted color palette. In the wild, it’s for the girls who love to physically annotate books in their favorite coffee shop.
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OSOI
The name OSOI comes from the Japanese word for “slow, unhurried” which is translated into their design philosophy of timeless style. The bags come in sleek, everyday colors, and fun hardware.
- OSOI Shoulder Brocle Bag in Shoulder Cream (Approx. $298)
- OSOI Shell Brot in Suede Navy ($560)
- OSOI Boat Wide Mini in Black Stud ($410)
Marge Sherwood
Probably the brand that started the hype around Korean bags, Marge Sherwood is the most notable of the few. Prices at Marge Sherwood hover around $300-$500, falling on the mid-luxury side of shopping. If you’re into subtle sophistication with a side of modern edge, Marge Sherwood is the one to go for.
- Marge Sherwood Soft Boston Bag ($458)
- Marge Sherwood Outpocket Hobo Bag ($375)
- Marge Sherwood Grandma Used Bag ($415)
Archivepke
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Playful shapes and thoughtful silhouettes define the brand, pieces that nod to trends without being shaped by them. The bags are feminine without leaning saccharine, minimal but with character. It’s reminiscent of wired earbuds-wearing art students who take a trip to the museum because it's a ritual not a show.
- Archivepke Mini Fling Twist Bag (Approx. $152)
- Archivepke Knotted Backpack (Approx. $250)
- Archivepke Ridge Shoulder Bag (Approx. $152)
After It Arrives…
Pack in your latest read, earbuds of choice, attach your bag charms and bows, and don’t forget your makeup pouch to touch up – these are about to be your favorites in your bag rotation.
