Prada’s S/S 2026 show was about a collision of elements, oscillating between the working uniform – a perennial reference for designers Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons – and eveningwear, the latter conjured in colourful protrusions of satin, sequin surface embellishment, and colourful opera gloves. The co-creative directors called it a ‘new elegance’, where clothing was liberated from its traditional hierarchies. ‘There is the license to combine different elements, to compose,’ said Simons post-show, noting that it was the pair’s freest collection yet.
This juxtaposition might have been best captured in one of the collection’s handbags: the humble dustbag, usually used to store accessories to protect them while in storage or in transit, here reimagined in colourful satin and leather (rather than its usual cotton canvas). It made for a contemporary riff on the evening bag, at once functional, elegant, and a little playful – not unlike Miuccia Prada’s embrace of nylon in the 1980s, where with her 1984 ‘Vela’ backpack, she convinced that the manmade fabric could be just as luxurious as leather.
And now, the drawstring pouch has a strong case for being the accessory of the summer – simple in construction, but surprisingly practical in carrying the necessities (iPhone, credit cards, a little make-up). This is particularly true of warm days and evenings, when you no longer want to be weighed down by heavy handbags or sweaty straps – with the pouch, you simply pick up and go (in the Prada show, models grasped them in the hand, but you could equally use the drawstring cords to sling it over the wrist).
Here, we select eight of the best drawstring pouches, from Prada’s ‘Wish’ bag (here in satin and suede iterations) to Celine’s rainbow-hued leather offerings, or – for the more adventurous – a Loewe cotton pouch adorned with Louis Wain’s eccentric illustrations of cats.
First appearing on the Prada S/S 2026 runway last September as part of a show which mixed up working uniforms and eveningwear to propose a ‘new elegance’, this pouch reimagines the humble Prada dustbag in silk duchesse satin. It makes for a playful alternative to the stuffy evening bag, though it can also be worn with a T-shirt and jeans, slung over the wrist for a daytime wander.
This Celine pouch also takes a humble silhouette and reimagines it in bold blue lambskin with the house’s signature ‘Triomphe’ motif becoming the bag’s hardware. Befitting American creative director Michael Rider’s preppy-inflected vision for the house, it comes in a multitude of vivid hues, from ‘ultra’ yellow to lime green.
Arriving as part of the house’s ‘Days of Summer’ collection, this second iteration of the Prada ‘Wish’ pouch is crafted from suede with top-stitching around the edges. With a strap long enough to be worn over the shoulder, it makes for a handy summertime companion – whether for day trips to the beach or while exploring a new city.
Los Angeles designer Sophie Buhai is best-known for her jewellery, though a new range of accessories proves she is just as adept when it comes to handbags. Case in point, her drawstring ‘Teardrop’ pouches, which are handcrafted in LA from soft satin and adorned with tiger’s eye beads on each of the cords – a flourish which recalls her signature beaded necklaces.
This Burberry pouch is a two-in-one: entirely reversible, on one side is protective black nylon, on the other, Burberry’s signature check in its traditional ‘sand’ colourway. Completing the accessory is the Burberry knight logo, an archival motif from the 1980s, which current creative director Daniel Lee has revived during his tenure.
This delicate Miu Miu tote bag is crafted from white lace, capturing the mood of girlish femininity that runs through the Miuccia Prada-run label’s collections (albeit with an undercurrent of subversion). It fastens with delicate leather drawstring straps, allowing it to be worn on the shoulder or grasped in the hand.
A dustbag might traditionally be used to protect accessories from damage while in transport or storage, but Bottega Veneta’s ‘Dustbag’ (with a capital D) is made to be displayed. Like the original, it features a simple drawstring design, though it is crafted from soft strands of leather, woven using the house’s signature intrecciato technique.
This Loewe cotton pouch is the spoils of a collaboration between the Spanish house and the estate of Louis Wain, an eccentric Brits artist known for his illustrations of cats. A series of his more futuristic depictions of the animal appear on this bag, motifs which also appeared across wallets, charms and sweaters.