Guys! I’m so excited to have another installment of my Designer Alternative series for you today! Last time we talked about the summer ‘it’ shoes of 2017 (aka Chloe Espadrille sandals) and today we tackle the summer ‘it’ bag: Cult Gaia Ark bag.
I’ve been wanting to do a Designer Alternative for this bag since the spring but haven’t found any really good dupes that stay in stock long enough until now! So let’s dive right in!
This bamboo bag gained a ‘cult like following’ (according to WhoWhatWear at least) recently and like many of the other items we’ve talked about in this series, just about every blogger and celebrity worth their salt has one of these. However these handbags are not only hard to get a hold of because they are constantly selling out (a lesson in supply and demand, right?) but they will cost you anywhere from $100 to $300. Now this might not seem like much to you, we’ve talked about $5000 Chanel bags in this series, but for the recent grad or fashionista on a budget (aka this girl), that’s a lot of $$$ that could be going towards other things.
So here are five alternatives to the ‘it’ summer bag that will give you the Cult Gaia ark bag look for less! Just keep reading!
This bag is the closest I believe to the original which is actually a Japanese picnic bag from, I believe, the 70’s. It’s available in either the small or large size but all the reviews say it’s a dead ringer for the Cult Gaia Ark bag. This option will get you the summer look for under $70! The small is $64 and the large only a few dollars more at $66. They also have a black version of the bag (same sizes and price) listed here.
GENERAL STORE VINTAGE BAMBOO PURSE
This is another option that will get you the original look, as in the look from the 70’s. Rather than try to emulate the Cult Gaia ark bag with multiple colors and all the trappings, the General Store found a selection of original vintage handmade bamboo half circle bags from the 1960’s and 70’s. These are more expensive because they are vintage but you will have a one of a kind handbag unlike any other!
This is another Amazon selection that will get you the most bang for your buck. This bag is very similar to the Cult Gaia version, is available in white, black, and natural colors, comes with a dust bag, and a little scarf to spice it up. Talk about value! This bag will cost you between $60-$70 depending on which size you decide up, either small or large.
Finally Blue Island is also selling this bag in both black and natural however they are only stocking one size at the moment. This one is very similar to the Miuco bag but comes with a detachable tassel that you could use on another handbag this summer too. This is also one of the more expensive bags at $85 but also is selling fast. At last update, there were only 5 left available!
“LET’S PICNIC” BAMBOO PICNIC BAG
This is a very close copy of the (I think) small size Cult Gaia bag. It doesn’t come with a lining and sold out the day I posted this. However, I wanted to make sure I included it in case they restock in the future.
What do you want to see as the next installment of the Designer Alternative series? Let me know in the comments and I’ll start researching!
Not a huge fan of the Cult Gaia Ark bag? (Don’t worry you’re not alone) You may want to check out some of these summer basket bags instead. You can still have a trendy summer bag without it being THE trendy summer bag!
Until next time,
Ana Luiza
*I do not own any images in this post. The header image is via Pinterest
I’m so happy I was able to find a vintage one last summer! I feel like that bag is EVERYWHERE now, but at least I know mine is unique and original, which has to count for something, right?
http://www.iamchiconthecheap.com/