By Halie LeSavage Published 19 hours ago

 in News

Aupen has never needed dozens of new bags to keep celebrities interested. While some designers trot out slightly modified styles every few months (or weeks)—with color, logo, and clasp adjustments that are barely perceptible to the naked eye—Aupen's single "Nirvana" style has steadily appeared in wardrobes from Taylor Swift to Charli XCX to Beyoncé since debuting in November 2022. The braided handle and asymmetric compartment are the one thing Grammy nominees with warring personal styles and personalities can seem to agree on. Anyone, whether they lean toward preppy trench coats or "club classic" faux furs and crop tops, can carry Aupen's bag.

As much as they love the soft leather and gold charm detail, all those girls might come to agree on another point soon. They could use some extra variety beyond what founder Nicholas Tan cheekily called the "Taylor bag." So meeting with me over breakfast in Paris last November, Tan revealed what legions of It girls can discover for their wardrobes today: Aupen's second-ever silhouette, aptly named the "Renaissance."

Aupen skyrocketed to online success with placements on the arms of Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Charli XCX.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The new style looks like the Nirvana bag's grown-up sibling—even if it was created a few years later. While the Nirvana is compact for party girls to carry out at night, the Renaissance has the proportions and aura of a daytime style. (Particularly, for ladies who get photographed lunching at Balthazar or the Odeon.) It has a larger compartment and a smooth, exaggerated top handle, with an asymmetrically curved top. A sleek gold bar arcs beneath the handle. It arrives in four shades of creamy leather—black, white, saddle brown, and blue—and is now available on request through the label's website.

Aupen today reveals the "Renaissance," its second bag silhouette.
(Image credit: Aupen)

At a first glance, I could immediately envision the Renaissance bag making the morning talk show rounds with an Anya Taylor-Joy or Selena Gomez. What I couldn't see—and had to learn through speaking with Tan—was how the craftsmanship had leveled up along with the design.

The Renaissance name isn't an accident; it's a nod to how Aupen has grown and evolved since its first bag became a paparazzi staple. The label has entered a partnership with luxury conglomerate LVMH's Métiers d’Art, to produce its bag charms in a workshop employed by the likes of Schiaparelli and Saint Laurent. Its leather is now sourced and assembled via Tanneries Roux, the oldest tannery in France.

"We're really elevating the quality and the craftsmanship that our team has focused on," Tan says. "That's what has driven our repeat customers to keep coming back." It's not just that celebrities love how the bags look; it's that they stand up to real life.