Outfit Details

Camisole – Zara | Mesh cardigan – Uniqlo | Jeans – Everlane | Sneakers – Converse | Bag – JW PEI

I don’t mean to be rude, but if you’ve never heard of JW PEI, you’ve probably been living under a rock. 

The bag brand is based in Los Angeles and was founded by a duo intent on making fashion more accessible. Since then, their vegan baguette bags have taken the fashion world by storm, often featuring the trendiest colours and silhouettes you could imagine for a fraction of the designer brands’ price.

JW PEI’s signature Gabbi bag impressed me, and I wanted to try out another piece that wasn’t a dupe of designer bags, so I picked up the Joy in steel blue a while ago.

Aesthetics

The Joy bag comes in a baguette silhouette with a slightly longer strap length. It’s shaped like a kidney bean, more or less like a letter ‘B’ lying sideways. Because of its tapered bottom, the bag doesn’t sit upright and has to lie flat on its back.

The bag is constructed in smooth vegan leather with a slight sheen, almost like an imitation of the high-quality box leather. I still prefer the texture of the Gabbi more, as it has a more buttery touch.

The hardware comes in gold or silver tones, depending on the colourway. I bit the bullet early on when the Joy bag first came out in staple colours (black/white/brown/steel blue) and picked the steel blue. It’s a soothing dusty blue that pairs nicely with blue and white denim for warmer months.

Usability and Functionality

Given its uneven bottom and tapered shape, I would have thought that the Joy bag holds very little. But it turned out to fit all of my essentials with room to spare. At 10.4'' W × 5.7'' H × 2.4'' D (26.5cm x 14.5cm x 6cm), it just about fits my Kindle Paperwhite 4, a short wallet and several makeup items. While you might have to jiggle things around a little, the two front magnetic snap closures have done a spectacular job of keeping the flap closed.

The Joy bag comes with an undetachable but adjustable strap, that is quite cleverly designed with snap fasteners (not unlike that of the Fendi By The Way) that can alternate between lengths of 11.2” or 22.4” (28.5cm or 57cm). I only wear it on the shorter length as I prefer the bag as a shoulder bag to a crossbody.

There’s also an exterior pocket at the back, but it’s too tight to slip in anything except maybe a receipt when you’re on the run.

JW PEI Joy Bag

Quality and Construction

The Joy bag feels very sturdy with a boxy silhouette which lends structure. Like all of JW PEI’s products, the bag is made of vegan leather (polyurethane and fabrics from certified recycled plastic bottles), though the brand doesn’t disclose its recycling process in more detail.

The stitching is solid and well-done in a coordinating hue. The only downside is that, the bag arrived with a small nick where the flap meets the side clasps and a flimsy dust bag—not complaining, though, given its price and that the mark is hardly visible.

Staying Power

Baguette bags are not going anywhere, anytime soon. JW PEI has democratised the market by offering high-quality products, and the brand continues to offer a selection of trendy silhouettes at a very affordable price.

Retailing for around HKD600 (USD75), the Joy bag is definitely one where you can afford to be more adventurous in your colour selection. I wouldn’t be surprised if the range one day expanded to rival that of Gabbi’s, which at the time of writing, stocks 14 solid hues. If you opt for a classic colour, you can expect to keep using it until it falls apart, which I would expect of faux leather, however longlasting it may seem.

JW PEI Baguette Bags

Photos by Justin

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