Indeed, it’s somewhat of a surprise that the bag hasn’t seen a major resurgence before now (although Bella Hadid, who is always ahead of the game, was spotted with her Columbus bag back in 2019), considering the dominance of the Y2K trend over the past few years. “Brands went beyond cargo pants and started incorporating pockets into their ready-to-wear [pieces, as well as their] boots and bags,” Catchpole continues. “The wide strap featuring eyelets and a chunky buckle definitely recalls the low-waisted eyelet belts of the 2000s as well, so, for me, this bag aligns perfectly with that trend.”
Given that the utilitarian nature of the bag is a key selling point, the vintage Columbus bags that still come with the full set of accoutrements – being relatively rare – are the most sought after. “There’s an added element of customisation with these bags – since the different attachments can be taken off, they can be mixed and matched with other bags and even clothing,” Gabriel Rylka, founder of Break Archive, says.
Of course, limited-edition versions come with the highest price tags – with the colourful “Victim” style from spring/summer 2003 one to keep an eye out for. Still, it’s the more classic black, white and monogram styles that remain the most popular. “Our most regular seller is the small size in monogram and leather,” Rylka notes.
At this point, I should probably declare a vested interest: I recently nabbed my mother‘s denim monogram Columbus, which she bought at a Swiss outlet back in the early Noughties. While not usually my style (I normally lean towards more minimalist bags), it garners compliments wherever I go and magically has the ability to elevate any outfit. As Rylka tells me, there really is a Columbus bag to match everyone’s aesthetic.
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