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Since its 2016 launch, Rothy’s has developed something of a cult following thanks to its comfortable, machine-washable shoes made out of recycled water bottles (boosts from famous fans like Meghan Markle and Mandy Moore have helped, too). The brand has rolled out a slew of styles since its initial ballet flat, with a footwear line-up that now includes pointed flats, loafers, Mary Janes, sneakers, and boots. But this month, the brand jumped into an entirely new category: bags.
Rothy’s new handbags and “Catchalls” debuted online March 3, with five styles to choose from. It’s all made from recycled plastic, some of which has been collected from coastlines and other marine environments, which Rothy’s then turns into a flexible thread. They’re also entirely machine-washable, making them ideal for travel.
A Night in São Paulo
There’s The Handbag ($350), a structured, mid-size bag that can be carried by a top handle or worn as a cross-body with the removable strap. It comes in two neutral colors, Midnight Navy and Sage Green, as well as a bright reddish-orange color, Bright Poppy, and a multi-toned Charcoal Grey. It’s roomy enough to fit all the essentials and a few extras, including an average-size water bottle and book, e-reader, or 13-inch laptop, but is compact enough to carry throughout the day—meaning it’ll easily transition from the plane to a day exploring a new city.
As the name suggests, The Essential Tote ($275) is the kind of bag you can toss all your things into on the way to the airport. There’s an interior zippered pocket up top for your phone or ID, and a zipper to close the entire bag, so you avoid all your belongings tumbling out after take-off. For even more organization, there are magnets on the inside of the tote that pair with the back of The Essential Pouch ($95), securing the smaller bag and keeping it from getting lost at the bottom. The tote has the widest range of color options, with trendier patterns like the Sage Camo, with its Poppy stripe across one corner, and Dove Grey, with white and light green stripes across the bag and handle, as well as neutrals like Slate Black.
The Dual Zip Crossbody functions as a classic over-the-shoulder bag, but can also be looped around your chest or carried without the strap. It comes in three colors—Bright Poppy, Slate Black, and Sage Green—and has an exterior zip pouch and gold-finished hardware. Like the rest of the bags, it comes with a wash bag to keep the hardware safe in the wash, and to store the bag in between uses or when packing. On travel days when you’re heading out with just your phone, wallet, keys, and sunglasses, this is the bag to carry.
The last item in the set, The Catchalls, is designed to do just that: They’re somewhere between a packing cube, jewelry case, and makeup bag, and function as any of the three. Drop your watch, keys, or earphones into the smallest size (the mini, $65); store makeup or lotions in the mid size ($95); or drop intimates, socks, or other small clothing items or accessories into the large box ($125). They’re true cubes, so they won’t flatten down in your bag, meaning they’ll take up more room but will better protect what’s inside. Plus, they’re sold individually, so you can mix and match the sizes and prints, or just get one.
With prices from $65 up to $350, Rothy’s new bags aren’t cheap, but they are made of sturdy materials that are meant to last, with a look and feel that backs that up. And for environmentally conscious shoppers, you can rest easy knowing the bags repurpose single-use plastic bottles and are created using 3D printing techniques that eliminate waste from excess fabric. It’s been hard to find a bag that checks all those buckets—until now.
