K-pop star Jang Won-young of IVE, left, holds a MiuMiu oversized bag and BLACKPINK’s Jennie is seen wearing an oversized COS quilted bag. Captured from Jang and Jennie’s Instagram pages
By Lee Gyu-lee
Oversized bags are resurfacing as a fashion trend, dominating runways and street style for people seeking both style and functionality.
When K-pop star Jennie of BLACKPINK casually shared her daily look outfits on her social media, the oversized COS quilted bag she regularly wears caught the eyes of fans, gaining explosive popularity globally.
The lightweight and spacious bag was sold out soon after the artist was spotted carrying it.
“I have a close friend who I share fashion issues with, and she was carrying (the COS quilted bag) one day. So I bought it too. And when I was touring, I carried it around conveniently. Then all of a sudden it was booming, so I was so surprised too,” the artist recently said during a YouTube talk show.
Until just a few years ago, mini or micro purses that could only fit essentials like a smartphone and lipstick were popular. But like the COS bag, carryall bags have recently returned as a trend, especially among the younger generation looking for a stylish way to carry around their basics.
The trend toward oversized bags is gaining traction among luxury brands as well. Labels such as Miu Miu, Jil Sander and Louis Vuitton have also rolled out oversized bags.
A model holding Prada’s bowling bag for Fall-Winter 2025 collection / Captured from Prada’s Instagram
Louis Vuitton debuted its new biker bag, a chic leather carryall, during the Spring-Summer 2025 campaign. Miu Miu’s Spring-Summer runway last year featured bags so overflowing with items they couldn’t be zipped shut. The brand’s ambassador and K-pop star Jang Won-young shared photos of her outfits matched with the brand’s oversized bag on her social media, creating buzz among global fans.
Prada also reignited the oversized trend, showcasing a new line of leather, vintage style bags reminiscent of a bowling bag in its Fall-Winter 2025 collection.
Korean SPA brand Mixxo launched a variety of oversized bags early this year. It revealed that the brand saw a 62 percent surge in accessories sales this January and February, compared to the same period last year, after rolling out the new bags.
Mixxo’s Oversized Hobo Bag / Captured from Mixxo website
The brand said that it analyzed about 100 “What’s in My Bag” videos on YouTube to come up with its big hobo bag and plans to continue strengthening its accessories category with a focus on oversized bags.
“After examining over 100 videos and their comments, we found that women carrying mini-sized bags had many essential items they couldn’t fit, including laptops, AirPods, wallets, pouches and feminine products,” the brand explained.
As bags have grown larger, the range of accessories available for those following the customization trend has also diversified.
Samsung C&T Fashion Group’s KUHO and Tory Burch have released various bags with belt decorations to complete sophisticated office looks. Vegan skincare and fashion brand Talitha Koum joined hands with custom artist and illustrator Hyun Ye-seul recently to roll out an upcycled oversized tote bag made out of synthetic high-density polyethylene fibers last October.
Global fashion brand Samantha Thavasa’s Arch line, introduced for its Spring-Summer 2025 collection, has been gaining popularity for its belt decoration and timeless design. Products were released in various sizes, with the large-sized carryall bag line reportedly selling particularly well.
