practical handbags

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.

Carefully woven with natural materials, Ahmad's gorgeous sling bag is both practical and on-trend. The Balinese artisan uses bamboo stalks to weave the bag, creating a simple geometric motif at the center. Lined in upcycled, batik-printed cotton, the bag features a faux leather strap, a snap closure, and natural plant fibers that act as strap and handle fasteners.

Cyan, boysenberry and white hues create a splatter pattern in a captivating batik design by Mary Dzidzienyo. Titling her creation after the Ewe word nuse, meaning “strength,” the Ghanaian artisan puts all her expertise into practice to handcraft this cotton hobo bag with recycled plastic beaded handles for an eco-friendly touch that will make a chic fashion statement while helping the environment recover from pollution. In addition, the accessory has a linen lining, allowing for convenient use.

This bag combines the casual ease of a backpack with the beauty of batik, and features a geometric pattern of larger nested squares set in a grid of smaller squares. Nulee of Thailand designs this cotton drawstring backpack that is hand stamped by a batik artisan then dyed indigo blue. The single main compartment is unlined and the back of the bag is a solid indigo blue.

Roses in terracotta red-orange roses bloom a black background on this lovely yoga mat bag by Susan. Crafted from 100% cotton with a solid black lining, the bag features adjustable straps and a zip pocket on both the outside and the inside. The artisan creates the beautiful rose motifs in Java's traditional hand-stamped batik.