unique purses

Multicolor stripes create a cheerful pattern on this pair of sky blue cosmetic bags. Presented by the Thai Tribal Crafts workshop, the bags are handmade by members of the Lisu hill tribe. Lined with polyester, each bag is made from a blend of cotton and rayon and features an open interior pocket.

A scarlet macaw flies through the azure sky, greeting his jungle neighbors. A yellow giraffe and a blue elephant enjoy the verdant landscape. By Balvina Huaytalla, this handcrafted cosmetic bag showcases the traditional Andean art of arpillería. Each tiny figure is crafted in three dimensions and embroidered by hand. The reverse side is solid black cotton.

If you love all things blue, then you’ll obsess over this gift set curated by the NOVICA team with gorgeous Thai-made accessories in your favorite shade. Embroidered by hand, hill tribe motifs tell of the Akha people’s rich textile traditions in a lovely cotton bag with traditional designs covering the generous front pocket, yellow cords and raintree wood beads adorning the strap, a fully lined interior with a zippered pocket and delightful coconut shell buttons. Intricate motifs can also be found on the two-tone macrame dangle earrings where waxed cords are expertly hand-knotted and decorated with brass beads, complete with shiny 18k gold-plated sterling silver hooks. Finally, the vibrant bracelet showcases five strands of gemstones—serpentine, reconstituted turquoise, lapis lazuli, calcite and agate—dancing alongside gleaming brass beads, all woven together on a sturdy brown cord whose adjustable loop closure features delicate brass bells that chime softly.

Java's Wahyu Sulistiani designs a versatile travel set that includes a jewelry roll, a cosmetics bag and a toiletry bag. Working with batik techniques on cotton, Sulistiani selects the parang sekar pisang motif in a palette of red, blue, green and cream hues. The parang sekar pisang blends two legendary motifs, the parang or dagger, once reserved for Javanese sultans, and the sekar pisang or banana flower.

The jewelry roll is decorated with tassels; the cosmetics bag features two pockets, and the toiletries bag has one.

Brass plates painted with burgundy red give a unique textural element to this multi-colored mask of West African origin. With pursed lips and stylized hair, this mask presented by Saeed Musah is sure to inspire awe. It is named Ayomide, which means "my joy has come" in the Yoruba language.

A monarch butterfly with brilliant orange and black wings flutters amid verdant Monstera leaves. Monarchs migrate thousands of miles each year — some all the way from Canada to the tropics. Sisters Magaly and Rebeca Valverde work together to create uniquely beautiful jewelry and accessories. Magaly crafts and paints this compact purse and adds a small Costa Rican flag to the seam. The polyester lining will vary according to the fabric remnants available.