If you’re on the look-out for a woven handbag and don’t know where to start looking, here are a few brands to consider. Bear in mind though, that you will also have to consider the amount you are willing to spend for this woven piece of accessory.

Bottega Veneta US$1500-Above

For those who are willing to spend, Bottega Veneta should be your first choice. This brand is quite famous for its Intrecciato line of bags. Intrecciato is a weaving technique used exclusively by the brand to create its highly coveted woven handbags that simply exude top-quality, hand-crafted, workmanship. This is also THE iconic brand for woven bags. A classic example is the Bottega Veneta Intrecciato Campana.

Bottega Veneta Intrecciato Campana

Rafe New York US$220-US$800

This brand offers a different take on woven handbags as the designer, Rafe Totengco, uses different materials to create covetable pieces that are a mix of east and west. Bags from Rafe New York look very distinct and finely made. A few examples are the following:

Latest release is the Rafe New York Mandy Medium Hobo

The Rafe New York Cristina Rattan Clutch

Francesco Biasia US$160 – US$600

Francesco Biasia offers unique and interesting woven handbags you will not find elsewhere. The designs from this brand are stylish but practical; the outcome is a line of versatile handbags that can be worn anywhere with anything. A few examples are the following:

Francesco Biasia Miss Allie Small Shopper made of woven lame fabric

Francesco Biasia Freedom Small Tote

Cole Haan US$190-US$450

Although more well-known for its quality footwear, Cole Haan also offers a good number of woven handbags as it expanded into this segment using its expertise in leatherwear. Take a look at these bags from the Prudence and Genevieve collections:

Cole Haan Prudence Soft Small Tote

Cole Haan Genevieve Small Carpet Bag

Elliot Lucca Handbags US$140-US$300

A brand that offers value-for-money is Elliot Lucca Handbags. Every season, this brand never fails to release a few woven handbag pieces to suit the needs of the budget conscious. A few examples are the following:

Elliot Lucca Handbags Neila Hobo

Elliot Lucca Handbags Casares Hobo

Shop for woven bags at Zappos.com and Bagsbuy.com to enjoy discounts on certain selections.

Spotted buying candy on a regular sunny day was Twilight Saga’s Ashley Greene (character: Alice Cullen). She was seen toting a black woven Cole Haan Prudence North/South Hobo.

Looking at the pictures, I have to admit that even in basic T-shirt and jeans, the actress looks stunning. Complementing the simple attire with a Cole Haan Prudence North/South Hobo bag certainly brightens up the casual look. Metaphorically speaking, if her outfit is a sentence, her bag is the dot at the end of it. The Twilight star apparently has a sweet tooth, but more importantly, she’s got good taste when it comes to bags.

From a distance, the Cole Haan Prudence North/South Hobo already looks eye-catching. The leather tassel hanging on one side of the bag, gives it a more stylish and trendy appeal. Unlike most woven handbags, this one uses large, soft grain leather strips to create the diagonal weaving pattern. As a result, the look offered is more casual and trendy, rather than formal and uptight.

A frontal view of the Cole Haan Prudence North/South Hobo

A view of the Cole Haan Prudence North/South Hobo from the side, showing the leather tassel.

It is the perfect statement accessory to complete your everyday casual look. Plus, it is roomy enough to accommodate more than just your wallet and blackberry.

A view of the inside of a Cole Haan Prudence North/South Hobo

The Cole Haan Prudence North/South Hobo also comes in two colors – Black and Zinfandel (a shade of maroon) so that’s more choices for you!

If you want to shop this look, just put on your sunglasses, your favorite white T-shirt, a pair of good-fitting skinny jeans, and purchase the Cole Haan Prudence North/South Hobo at Zappos.com.

Zappos.com offers free shipping anywhere in the US, both ways. And if you can’t make up your mind about what color to choose (sadly a very common dilemma among us girls), simply buy the first color of choice and if you don’t like what you see once it hits your doorstep, just return the item and have it exchanged with your second color of choice!

Just make sure the bag you are returning is in the same condition as it arrived, with its packaging and tags intact. That way, you’re guaranteed to get your replacement. Do visit Zappos.com and purchase the Cole Haan Prudence North/South Hobo now!

So what is it about woven handbags that make it such a great fashion accessory? Personally, I think it’s the pattern created by the meticulous weaving technique that makes the bag distinct and unique.

To give you a quick history, the weaving brilliance came from Bottega Veneta. It was the genius of the brand that started this “weave wave” among bags. In fact, the woven handbag has now become synonymous to the brand and vise versa.

Judging by the number of celebrities walking around with it, iconic is probably an understatement. To name a few celebs wearing the popular brand, here are a couple of pictures:

Miley Cyrus with her Bottega Intrecciato in hobo style

Cameron Diaz with her Bottega Montaigne Intrecciato