This Viral $20 Bag Is Being Called the Hottest Product of 2023

Find the most sought-after accessory of the season at your neighborhood Uniqlo. Introducing the Round Mini Shoulder Bag, a water-resistant top-zip polyester bag that has surprisingly amassed millions of views on TikTok. But it gets better – it is one of the most affordable It bags in history and is available in eight colors for just $19.90.

Mandy Lee, a style expert who has 440K followers on TikTok under the handle @oldloserinbrooklyn, said she was “delighted” to see the bag top the business Lyst’s quarterly rating of the hottest products.

In her opinion, the bag represents a wider trend toward straightforward and reasonably priced fashion in light of an impending recession. Almost all of the top-selling items on the list from the previous quarter were statement pieces of some kind.

“This stark contrast is just another reminder that we are entering a season of uniformity in the trend cycle, and more simple, pared-down, and affordable pieces are being coveted over more ostentatious and expensive pieces,” Lee explained in a TikTok analysis video. “These are all tell-tale signs of economic uncertainty, which impact the fashion cycle and trends so, so much.”

The bag, which is devoid of overt branding and ornamentation, demonstrates the power of the quiet-luxury or stealth-wealth trend, which favors subtlety and simplicity over fads and showy logos to convey value.

This style of attire is aptly embodied by Gwyneth Paltrow, who favors classic, fitted designs in muted colors and fine fabrics. However, wearing expensive apparel is not necessary to achieve the style.

In actuality, the aim is to come out as not trying too hard. Consider how the cast of HBO’s Succession was dressed: the “if you know, you know” philosophy. Except for the most discriminating eye, very little in Shiv Roy’s closet can usually be identified as being pricey.

The Uniqlo shoulder bag is setting the bar for affordable fashion to have a big year, and it won’t be long until other companies pay attention. Another recent article in New York Magazine discussed the popularity of a Patagonia sturdy $99 nylon ripstop convertible backpack as the go-to carry-all for creatives who live in cities.