Every season has its mood, and this Fall/Winter it’s all about touch. Across the new-season runways, designers moved away from the sleek and the stark and towards things you want to reach out and feel: brushed suede, nubby tweed, hand-embroidered knits, leather that grows richer with every wear. Silhouettes relaxed, colour palettes deepened into chocolate, olive and burgundy, and the handbag stepped forward as the piece that pulls a look together. Here are the six trends worth investing in this season, and how to wear each one with Fabrique pieces designed to last well beyond it.
1. Suede and the New Browns
If one colour family defines the season, it’s brown in all its shades: caramel, tobacco, chestnut, olive-tinged earth. And it looks best in suede, the texture of the moment.
Start with the Enid Oversized Jacket in Vegan Suede. Its golden-brown tone and roomy cut make it an easy replacement for your denim jacket from now through spring. For a tonal look, pair it with the Taylor Belted Straight Leg Jeans in Velvet Flocked Denim, whose soft, velvety surface echoes the suede. Underneath, the Amber Gold Tone Button Mélange Cardigan adds warmth and a glint of hardware.
Finish with the Marais Soft Boston Medium Bag in Olive Brown Suede. Its Spanish cowhide suede has a two-tone, vintage quality that shifts subtly in natural light, so a head-to-toe brown outfit looks layered rather than flat.
2. Heritage Checks, Reworked
Plaid and houndstooth are back, and this time they’re less about the country house and more about the city. The trick this season is to wear checks in unexpected ways: as a matching set, in exaggerated proportions, or cut into sportier shapes.
The Aviana Houndstooth Cropped Blazer and the Sidra Houndstooth Asymmetric Placket Skirt are made to be worn together, a polished co-ord for the office or dinner. For something more relaxed, the Shot Plaid Wide Leg Pants look great with a simple knit, while the Montnkar Plaid Leather Panel Bomber Jacket mixes wool check with leather for a heritage-meets-streetwear feel.
Checks call for a bag with some character, and the Marais Soft Boston in Dark Brown Waxed Leather fits the bill. Its waxed top-grain cowhide develops a deeper patina with use, so it looks as lived-in and timeless as the tweeds it’s carried with.
3. Tweed and Textured Tailoring
Tailoring hasn’t gone anywhere, but it’s gained texture. Instead of smooth suiting, look for bouclé, flecked tweed and even a hint of metallic thread, jackets with enough surface interest to carry an entire outfit.
The Riley Textured Napoleonic Jacket in Wool Tweed brings a touch of military detail to a soft beige, while the Charlotte Plaid Cropped Jacket in Bouclé Tweed is a polished classic that works just as well with jeans. For evenings, the Pensée Double-Breasted Jacket in Lurex Tweed catches the light without looking overdone.
Structured jackets need a bag that can match their polish and still get through the working week. That’s the job of the La Scala Large Bag in black Pebble Grain Leather, more on that below.
4. The Handmade Knit
If there’s one piece to invest in this winter, make it a knit that shows the maker’s hand. Embroidery, beading and folk-inspired motifs have moved from craft fairs to the catwalk, giving knitwear the individuality of a vintage find.
The Lila Hand Embroidery Floral Fitted Cardigan scatters flowers across black wool, while the Avery Snowflake Cross Stitch Cardigan is made for the festive season. For something softer, the Laelia Hand Embroidered Floral Fitted Cardigan in Alpaca Wool pairs pale blue alpaca with delicate needlework, and the Ione Hand Beaded Off Shoulder Sweater turns a jumper into an evening piece.
These romantic knits suit a relaxed, slouchy bag, which makes this the season of the hobo bag. The Aura Slouchy Medium Hobo Bag in Soft Velvety Suede has a relaxed drape that complements hand-knit texture, while the Duomo Small Hobo Bag in Nappa Leather is a neater amber option for evenings. If you’re after luxury hobo handbags that feel easy rather than precious, discover the hobo bag collection.
5. Elevated Knit Layering
Beyond the statement pieces, the season also calls for quieter knits that layer beautifully: fine-gauge tops, sculpted cardigans and half-zips that work under a coat, over a shirt or on their own.
The Gracia One Button Batwing Sleeve Knit Cardigan has a dramatic sleeve that makes it feel more like a jacket than a cardigan; it’s available in white too. The Isadora Half Zip Knit Top is a smart take on off-duty dressing, and the Tilly Seamed Semi Sheer Knit Top adds a touch of sensuality under tailoring. Keep the palette to grey, ivory and black, and let the bag bring the colour.
6. Fluid Volume and Textured Denim
Trousers are getting wider and softer. Balloon shapes, deep pleats and drawstring waists bring comfort to tailoring, while denim picks up the season’s love of texture through flocking, jacquard and corduroy stripes.
The Fofia Drapey Balloon Pants and Miranda Pleated Drawstring Wide Leg Pants both look sharp with a fitted knit and a sleek boot. For denim, the Natalie Contrast Flocked Jacquard Barrel Leg Jeans add pattern to a key silhouette, and the Lila Corduroy Stripe Straight Leg Jeans are a clever mix of two cold-weather fabrics.
Add a pop of colour with La Scala in Burgundy Nappa Leather, the season’s most wearable deep shade, or keep it earthy with Russet Brown.
Bags of the Season: Marais and La Scala
Two bags stand out in the new-season line-up, and between them they cover almost everything a Fall/Winter wardrobe needs.
Marais, the everyday bag. Designed by Milan-based Giorgia Scarpa, formerly leather director at Saint Laurent, Bvlgari and Dior, Marais takes the classic Boston bag and relaxes it into a soft, curved shape inspired by the Marais district of Paris. Custom rotating hardware lets the straps move naturally on the shoulder, and a rear zip compartment and interior slip pockets keep essentials organised. It comes in two finishes, each matching one of the season’s key textures: velvety Olive Brown Suede and Dark Brown Waxed Leather that develops a patina over time. It’s the bag for weekends, errands and everything in between.
La Scala, the big bag. Designer Angela Lauria, whose career spans Alaïa, Bottega Veneta and Stella McCartney, built La Scala around a “bag in bag” idea: three stacked compartments inside one sculptural shape. The middle section holds a 14-inch laptop, the outer sections take up to a 13-inch, and concealed pockets in the lining keep cards and keys to hand. A slim adjustable strap with a removable shoulder pad makes it comfortable even when fully packed. It’s a work and travel bag that happens to look like a statement piece.
To see how both fit into the wider range, explore the Fabrique bag collection.
How to Wear It All
The through-line this season is texture. Put suede with tweed, embroidery with pebbled leather, flocked denim with fine wool. Stick to a warm, earthy palette so the mix feels deliberate, and invest in one or two designer handbags that will carry you through several winters. Trends come and go, but good leather only gets better.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Fabrique bags for work and travel?
La Scala is the strongest choice. Its three-compartment design includes a padded laptop section that holds up to a 14-inch device, and the adjustable strap has a removable shoulder pad for comfort on long commutes. Concealed interior pockets keep smaller items secure while travelling.
Which Fabrique bag is best for everyday use?
The Marais Soft Boston is designed for daily wear. Its medium size holds essentials without bulk, it can be carried by hand or on the shoulder, and the rear zip pocket and interior slip pockets keep things organised. Choose suede for softness or waxed leather for something more hard-wearing.
Are Fabrique handbags good quality?
Fabrique bags are made from materials such as Spanish cowhide suede, waxed top-grain leather and pebble-grain cowhide, and they’re finished with the brand’s signature hand-stitching. Many are created with designers who previously worked at major luxury houses, including Saint Laurent, Dior and Bottega Veneta.
What are the best designer hobo bags for everyday use?
The Aura and Duomo hobo bags are good everyday options. The Aura’s slouchy shape and soft suede or vegetable-tanned leather make it easy to carry all day, while the Duomo comes in small and medium sizes to suit how much you carry.
Small vs large hobo bag: which is better?
It depends on your day. A small hobo, like the Duomo Small, suits evenings and light days out, while a medium or larger hobo holds a full day’s essentials. If you’ll be carrying a laptop or documents, a structured bag like La Scala is a better fit than a hobo.
