AUPEN

Beyoncé “borrowed” one from Blue Ivy. Taylor Swift carried one while on a date night with Travis Kelce. And Olivia Rodrigo toted one while hanging out with rising pop star Tate McRae. We’re talking about Aupen, the minimalist-chic accessories line seen on music queens, Oscar winners and practically everyone on the “It” girl list.

After announcing earlier this year that its “design team is on a break,” the brand revealed in July that it was partnering with LVMH Métiers d’Art, allowing it “exclusive access to the finest French production facilities and unparalleled expertise.” Aupen says its first collection produced in partnership with the LVMH-owned manufacturer will arrive in spring 2025 — but in the meantime, fans can stock up on the label’s sold-out Nirvana Buckle bag (which was seen on Swift last fall) when it gets restocked this Saturday, Aug. 24, at 8:59 a.m. PT/11:59 a.m. ET.

Aupen Nirvana Buckle Bag in Black

$340 AT AUPEN

Queen Bey, Blue Ivy and Hailey Bieber have all carried the Purpose bag ($180), a sleek leather shoulder bag with an angular shape; while Gal Gadot carried it in a white colorway and Selena Gomez sported a crystal fringe-embellished version. The Nirvana, a slouchy asymmetrical carryall with a braided handle and sculptural gold bag charm, has been sported by Swift and Emily Blunt. Meanwhile, Rodrigo’s Joy bag is a rounded leather piece with gold hardware and a simple strap. Kylie Jenner, Jessica Biel, Gabrielle Union and Fan Bing Bing are among the stars who have toted the Fearless purse. (The Purpose, Fearless, Joy and other styles are no longer available on Aupen’s website.)

But despite landing on the arms of every top pop singer and others, Aupen shrouded itself in mystery when it launched in October 2022 with vegan leather bags. The label seemed to arise out of nowhere, as Glamour reported, and its explosion of celebrity placements within a year of its debut undoubtedly raised eyebrows among fashion industry insiders wondering about the company’s anonymous A-list hookup. (A celebrity power stylist co-founder? A starry investor? The architect of a brand-building case study?)

(It’s worth noting that Beyoncé works with Zerina Akers, Swift’s stylist is Joseph Cassell Falconer, Rodrigo works with sister stylist duo Chloe and Chenelle Delgadillo, Kylie Jenner taps sibling stylists Alexandra and Mackenzie Grandquist, Selena Gomez enlists Erin Walsh for her wardrobe, while Maeve Reilly is responsible for the looks of mom-to-be Bieber.)

The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year met face-to-face with Aupen’s commercial director to get to know the real people behind the faceless brand. He and the spotlight-shy designers, he said, prefer to remain as an anonymous collective (at the time, they were based in San Francisco, Brooklyn and Singapore) to allow the designs to speak for themselves.

Last year, the company decided to move from vegan materials to Leather Working Group-certified calfskin leather and began using repurposed croc leather accents — sourced from the cutting room floor of the factory that manufactures for Hermès — on the handles of its Nirvana Kiss bag, which came with authentication cards for the genuine materials.

The brand’s jewelry is an A-list favorite, too. The gold Splash earrings were recently worn by Oscar winner Emma Stone, while Dakota Johnson donned the silver Wave earrings last year.

At the moment, Aupen’s website only offers the Nirvana bag in leather and a new crochet option ($340). Snag the famed Nirvana Buckle bag when it’s restocked this Saturday and mark your iCal for Aug. 24 at 8:59 a.m. PT/11:59 a.m. ET, and shop the label’s other carryalls below.

Aupen Nirvana Bag in Rouge

$340 AT AUPEN

Aupen Nirvana Bag in Earth

$340 AT AUPEN

Aupen Nirvana Crochet Bag

$340 AT AUPEN

Aupen Nirvana Bag in Pink

$340 AT AUPEN

This article was sincerely referred from The Hollywood Reporter
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