Five striking bags for summer travels

Thai start-up Mince uses predominantly recycled materials – such as canvas scraps, bottle caps, and food containers – to make colourful bags for everyday use. Our pick is ‘The Forest Recycler Half Bag’, sturdy and bright for trips to the beach, with pockets for your paraphernalia. After use, these bags can be melted down, recycled, and made into other products.

Now based in Spain, Surarquía’s founding duo developed a passion for leather goods in their native South America. After studying architecture and product design, they acquired the practical skills of sewing, pattern-making and entrepreneurship to turn their designs into reality. Each of their bags is an exercise in hand-cutting, seam precision and masterful paint finish on the edges. Our Surarquia pick for R Finds is the brand’s ‘masterpiece’, ‘The Bucket’ bag – a sophisticated choice for city strolling. Handcrafted in bovine leather, its cylindrical shape features a silk lining that delicately extends beyond its body to create a floral effect.

A modern take on the classic coal tote, the J Stark ‘Woodbine’ is sized to fit what you’ll actually need and use – nothing more, nothing less. A wife-and-husband-led team of makers and craftspeople, J Stark handcrafts everything in a workshop at the back of its retail space on East Montague Avenue, Charleston. We’re going away with the ‘Woodbine’ in sunshine orange, a cheerful bag to carry on our flight or one to fold away in our luggage and later fill with the items we can’t help buying while we’re away.

The seed of Hemp Oi was planted in the heart of the Vietnamese highlands, where brand founder Phuong Thao Tran discovered lush hemp fields and a remarkable, versatile and sustainable material that could be made into clothing, bags, hats and accessories. We’ll be shouldering Hemp Oi’s ‘Khmer’ bag on summer-vacation evenings out – it’s light, sculptural but practical.

Montreal-based maker Lambert specialises in practicality, spacious storage and contemporary style. This backpack has space for a tablet, water bottle, phone and headphones. Perfect for flying or urban adventures.