The manbag has become a must-have fashion accessory for British men, especially for the younger generation as new research reveals that 24% of those aged 16-34 purchased a bag in 2017.
A survey of 2,000 internet users aged 16 and over, carried out by research company Mintel, has showed that the manbag?s popularity has risen significantly in recent years, perhaps linked to celebrities such as David Beckham, Kanye West and Ryan Gosling, who have been frequently spotted carrying backpacks, totes and barrel bags.
While young men are driving the trend, the survey shows that men in general are updating their wardrobes with on-trend bags, with 15% of British men buying a manbag in 2017.
This is giving the handbag market a healthy boost. In 2017, the segment outperformed all other fashion accessory categories, reporting a 5.5% increase in sales to £1.45 billion, compared to £1.37 billion a year earlier. ?Manbags have become increasingly accepted by Britain?s men. There has been a growing trend for backpack-style bags, many of which are unisex in style and, therefore, appeal to young men. The popularity of manbags among young men has also benefited the premium end of the market, as our research finds men favour buying designer brands for themselves over own-brand bags,? said Tamara Sender, senior fashion analyst at Mintel.
Indeed, Mintel pointed to more designer brands investing in their menswear offering, such as Stella McCartney, who launched a menswear line including accessori...