Anothersole’s ANEW Mini Bag Review: A Transformation of Plastic to Purpose
Product Review Summary
Known for their sustainable leather flats, Anothersole is making their grand debut in the handbag industry with their newest piece, the ANEW Mini Bag. Between the durable 100% recycled plastic fabric and the trendy design that’s surprisingly spacious, it’s clear they hit a home run with this design.
Ratings
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★★★★★
The bag is made entirely from recycled plastic water bottles (8 bottles, in fact) and is machine washable. The overall construction of the purse felt sturdy, yet still had some flexibility and give to it. And the hardware including the zipper and detachable clasps was durable and seemed long-lasting. It’s clear when it came to choosing materials, Anothersole didn’t skimp on this.
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★★★★★
The purse has a height of almost 7 inches and a strap length of up to 44.9 inches, making it easy for me to adjust and have it sit comfortably on my hip when worn as a crossbody purse or as a shoulder strap. And even though this bag appears “mini” and smaller in size, it’s actually quite roomy and can fit all of your essentials.
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★★★★★
I can’t even begin to tell you the number of compliments I get on this bag. I took my purse while out on my errands, out to dinner with friends, and while skating the boardwalk. During each outing, I got at least one compliment from strangers and friends alike. I especially love their color options. I chose the Birch Orange combination, but they have eight total colors to choose from.
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★★★★★
Coming in at $88 - it does seem quite expensive. However, when you factor in ethical manufacturing, sustainable materials, and their program to give back, the price seems more than justified. They also seem to have discounts and promotions every so often, so I’d check out their deals before purchasing to see if you can cash in on some savings.
Pros:
Made from recycled water bottles and is machine washable
The size is deceiving - it’s incredibly spacious and can hold all of your essentials
Available in 8 different color variations
Cons:
It’s a bit expensive when purchased at full price
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Anothersole is an up-and-coming sustainable brand with a range of leather shoes — and as of recently — handbags. If you’ve been on the lookout for a purse that is trendy and consciously made, then the ANEW Mini Bag is right up your alley. Read on for our full review and final thoughts about this bag.
Anothersole: What To Know About the Brand
Launched in 2016, Anothersole was bootstrapped by two lifelong friends, Benny Chee and Phoebe Charn. The duo realized they loved the look of leather flats but could never find a comfortable pair. They wanted something that combined the technology of a running shoe but had the feel of leather craftsmanship, without looking bulky. After talking with hundreds of potential customers and leveraging the relationships built from a decade-long career in retail, Anothersole was born and quickly grew in popularity.
Their success in creating ethically-made sustainable shoes led them to explore other accessories, such as sustainable bags. Their core values are timeless design, high-quality and sustainable materials, and giving back. In their #Buy1Feed1 program, 10% of profits go to feeding children and building sustainable communities in which they can thrive. Between their focus on sustainability and their efforts to give back to the community, we were super excited to try out their latest product, the ANEW Mini Bag.
Anothersole’s ANEW Mini Bag Review
At first glance, the ANEW Mini Bag wasn’t exactly my type of purse. Having just turned 30, I felt like the style of this bag was tailored more to trendier, Gen-Z gals. I tend to gravitate towards roomier leather bags and stay in my color comfort zone: all black, everything.
However, this bag completely surprised me in the best ways possible and it has quickly become my new go-to purse. The following is a review of Anothersole’s ANEW Mini Bag in Birch Orange.
Unpacking and First Impressions
When I received my package from Anothersole, I immediately loved the simplicity and elegance of the box. It had an easy-to-use pull tab to assist in opening it up and the inside of the box read “Make Good Do Good” and included a short description of their #Buy1Feed1 program. The purse was wrapped in a single piece of tissue paper and had a tag made from recycled paper.
I always appreciate when I see brands figure out ways to cut down on fulfillment waste. Leveraging the box to share information about the brand (similar to what Arden Cove did) and nixing marketing inserts is always a smart move. +1 for Anothersole.
Sizing and Fit
The purse has a height of almost 7 inches and a strap length of up to 44.9 inches, making it easy for me to adjust and have it sit comfortably on my hip when worn as a crossbody purse or as a shoulder strap. And what first turned me off about the bag, actually ended up being my favorite part. Even though this bag appears “mini” and smaller in size, it’s actually quite roomy. I swapped out my bigger wallet for a smaller one and was able to also fit my sunglasses, keys, phone, and lip gloss, and still have plenty of extra room. I guess the old adage is true: good things do come in smaller packages.
Quality of Materials
This has to be my favorite thing about this bag: it’s made entirely from recycled plastic water bottles (8 bottles, in fact). And the absolute best part? It’s machine washable. Yes, machine washable, ladies. What purse do you have currently that looks this chic and can be washed in the washing machine?
The overall construction of the purse felt sturdy, yet still had some flexibility and give to it. And the hardware including the zipper and detachable clasps was durable and seemed long-lasting. It’s clear when it came to choosing materials, Anothersole didn’t skimp on this.
Overall Design
I can’t even begin to tell you the number of compliments I get on this bag. I took my purse while out on my errands, out to dinner with friends, and while skating the boardwalk. During each outing, I got at least one compliment from strangers and friends alike. I especially love their color options. I chose the Birch Orange combination since I thought it would go best with my wardrobe. But they have eight total colors to choose from (the Pink Black and the Grey Lime being my second and third favorite).
In the future, I think it would be cool if you could mix and match the strap colors. And if this bag came out in a bigger size (such as a tote bag in the same fabric), I wouldn’t hesitate to add to cart immediately.
Sustainability
Anothersole’s sustainability efforts are by far my favorite part of the brand ethos. As mentioned previously, Anothersole is committed to adopting sustainable materials and continually improving its eco-friendly initiatives. In fact, the brand is aiming to completely remove single-use plastics in its product roadmap by the end of 2022 (so soon!). Later this year, they’re also planning on launching new and improved ergonomic footbeds that use a bio-based EVA that's made using 20% castor bean oil.
Value for Money
Coming in at $88 - it does seem quite expensive. However, when you factor in ethical manufacturing, sustainable materials, and their program to give back, the price seems more than justified. They also seem to have discounts and promotions every so often, so I’d check out their deals before purchasing to see if you can cash in on some savings.
The Bottom Line
After some serious reflection and a solid test run, I’m struggling to find anything I dislike about this bag. Once I opened myself up to a new style I don’t normally go for, I quickly fell in love with just about everything about the purse. From the design to the material to the construction, this bag hit a home run for me. I can’t wait to see what else Anothersole will design and how their business will grow in the years to come.