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Another year, another “it” bag and for 2026, we’re placing our bets (and our credit cards down) for a $40 bag from Uniqlo. 

From Clare Waight Keller‘s Uniqlo C collection of refined, everyday essentials, the Uniqlo Drawstring Bag is the most versatile everyday bag you’ll find this year. Carry this as a top handle bag, wear it as a shoulder bag, or hold it like a tote. Pull on the drawstring to create the desired look or shape you’re going for. You can gather the drawstrings together with the handle up top, or let the strings hang from the side of the bag for a more casual, unfussy look A snap button seals the top shut. This bag can be a dressy purse or daily commuter depending on how you carry it.

Waight Keller dressed celebrities like Nicole Kidman, Emma Stone and Rihanna during her time at Givenchy, Gucci and Chloé among others (the British artistic director also famously designed Meghan Markle’s wedding dress) and she’s applying her same eye for trends today as creative director at Uniqlo. This bag is an great example of Waight Keller’s signature aesthetic, at once elegant and breezy.

At just under 10 x 20 inches in size, it’s the ideal carry all for your wallet, keys, cell phone and makeup, with an interior pocket for your valuables and a roomy outer pocket for things you want within reach — say your charger or gum. The material is lightweight yet durable and Uniqlo says the bag is treated with a special water-repellent finish (though we don’t recommend dunking it in the rain).

The unstructured silhouette gives off big boho vibes while the minimalist design and earthy colors call to mind modern Scandinavian style. In short: this is a bag that works for multiple personality and wardrobe styles.

It’s not just for women either – we could totally picture Harry Styles or Jacob Elordi carrying this bag too (I personally just bought one in beige and one in black for myself). I like that this Uniqlo bag looks way more expensive than its under-$40 price point and it’s a piece I can see myself using for all four seasons — and for years to come. In fact, I’m already thinking of packing this in my suitcase for my upcoming summer travels.

This Uniqlo bag is already a bestseller online and is expected to sell through quickly so we recommend adding to cart while your desired colorway is still available. Worth noting: this was a Japanese exclusive until the retailer launched it on its U.S. website just a few weeks ago. Shop the $39 Uniqlo Drawstring Bag and see more details here.

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Meet the Author

Tim Chan is the VP of Commerce at Penske Media, overseeing fashion, lifestyle and streaming coverage across marquee brands like Rolling Stone, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and WWD, among others. Previously, Chan was the first-ever Lifestyle Editor at Rolling Stone, covering all things fashion, culture, and travel through an entertainment lens. In addition to PMC, his bylines over the years have appeared in L’Uomo Vogue, Vogue Italia, Vogue Korea, i-D and more. Chan has also consulted for a number of fashion brands, advising them on media and marketing strategy. He graduated from Columbia University with a master’s degree in journalism.