Bottega Veneta knows a thing or two about designing handbags that gets editors and influencers talking. Founded in Vicenza, Italy in 1966, the luxury fashion house developed its now-iconic Intrecciato weave as a solution to a technical problem: the sewing machines in the ateliers couldn’t handle thicker leather, so the brand used thin strips and weaved them diagonally to create durable leather accessories instead.
Today, the braided leather is one of Bottega Veneta’s signature looks. The weave technique is used to craft its most sought-after handbags, including the knotted Jodie bag that spawned hundreds of high street dupes, the Andiamo clutch (the brand’s latest It-bag, if we’re going off our Instagram feed) and the Arco tote, which we’ve been lusting after since we first spotted it in the hands of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
The design of the tote is quite simple – it’s a structured top-handle bag woven from wide leather strips – and it comes in mini, large, padded and crossbody iterations. Depending on the size you’re going for, there’s enough room to fit all your everyday essentials – yes, even a laptop – so it really is one of the chicest work totes out there, but the designer holdall does come at an eye-watering cost of £3,230.
While we’re all for saving up and investing our money in pieces that will last us a lifetime, we also like finding an affordable alternative – and we have spotted a handbag on the high street that looks just like the Bottega Veneta tote, but is only a fraction of the price.
The handbag in question is from Mint Velvet, and similar to the Italian fashion brand’s design, it’s woven from wide leather straps. It’s nearly identical in size too, so another great option for the office. The biggest difference is the leather – the retailer’s tote is crafted from suede, which makes the overall look a little less structured, and a little more casual.
The lookalike retails for £160 – that’s significantly lower than Bottega Veneta’s four-figure price tag – and considering suede bags are everywhere this season, we think Mint Velvet’s designer-passing tote will inevitably sell out, so act quick if you’re in the market for an extra-roomy bag to swing over your shoulder.
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