Affordable handbag brand Freja New York has become a favourite among celebrities and influencers for its sleek silhouettes, neutral hues, and seasonless approach. While the brand’s range spans tote bags, weekenders, and shoulder bags, the latter category is a street style standout. In particular, styles like the Chrystie and Caroline offer a fresh take on the east-west handbag trend; Chrystie in a slouchy-yet-structured way and Caroline in a sculptural ‘90s-inspired format.
Related: Go Long; Why You Need An East-West Bag
In line with a commitment to sustainability, Freja New York takes a timeless approach to design and production, with a core collection that sees a single style—influenced by both market trends and customer feedback—added each season.
The brand’s latest release offers a more contemporary take on the best-selling Chrystie style. Titled the ‘Mercer’, the minimalist style comes in three shades—black, oat, and espresso—and sees a structured, elongated rectilinear silhouette rendered in Freja New York’s signature vegan-friendly pebbled microfibre leather and secured with silver double-zip hardware. Touted as the brand’s first top handle style, the Mercer features two rolled top handles secured by a strap clip. Slightly shorter than the straps on the Chrystie and Caroline, the Mercer is designed to be carried in hand or worn on the crook of the elbow.
While the Mercer is a modern interpretation of the Chrystie style, its sleek form, zip closure, and exaggerated length is reminiscent of fellow east-west bags such as the Khaite Simona and Alaïa Le Teckel — albeit at a much more affordable price point.
The Mercer bag is priced at approx. $468AUD ($298USD) and is available via the Freja New York webstore.
Words by AR Staff
