Hester van Eeghen Bags

"Hester van Eeghen With their bold, unexpected color combinations and cool geometric shapes, Hester van Eeghen’s leather bags have gained a cultlike following in Amsterdam . Just about every Dutch fashionista owns one of these distinctive, über-functional purses—and likely a backpack and wallet too. Van Eeghen also brings her stylish design sensibility to briefcases, laptop holders, gloves, and shoes. All goods are conceived in Amsterdam and manufactured in Milan , which means excellent craftsmanship and the finest leather—with prices to match. Her flagship is on Hartenstraat in the chic Nine Streets area; there’s another location in the gallery district on Nieuwe Spiegelstraat."

"A serious dose of Dutch style. One of the most acclaimed Dutch handbag designers, but relatively unsung abroad, this 30-year-old label turns out geometric, color-popping totes and briefcases that manage to be both droll and super-chic. Van Eeghen’s designs are among the best in the business, gracing MOMA as well as the local Tassenmuseum, devoted to bags. Van Eeghen started out making wallets, but now offers a brilliant array of bags—totes, cross-body purses, and ultra-streamlined evening models—as well as eye-catching shoes, gloves, and accessories. The main branch, listed, is for the bags, but there’s also a shoe store on the same street, and a mostly men’s outpost on Nieuwe Spiegelstraat, which is less than 15 minutes away by foot." - Clodagh Kinsella