Women’s Handbag Demand Falls 5.5% as Briefcase Searches Rise 14%
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 25
Women’s Handbag Demand Falls 5.5% as Briefcase Searches Rise 14%
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 25
April 2026 demand for women’s handbags fell 5.5% from a year earlier, according to fashion search engine Lyst, signaling a shift after years of growth.
Briefcase searches rose 14% over the same period, while searches for clothes with pockets jumped 542% between January and April, pointing to a move toward more functional accessories.
The report frames the change as a fashion pivot rather than the end of handbags, arguing that the once-dominant “It bag” has splintered into niche status symbols tied to different tastes and identities.
That leaves handbags less of a universal marker of power or success, as some professional women increasingly favor pockets or briefcases instead.
As functionality trumps tradition, is the luxury handbag evolving for a new era or facing inevitable extinction?
What does the shift from 'It Bags' to pockets reveal about our changing definitions of female power and success?