No matter how long it’s been since you were in school (my kids jokingly suggest it’s been millennia for me, often asking if TV existed in my childhood), that back-to-school sensation never quite vanishes. Each year, the ritual of buying shiny new stationery (the purpose of a compass remains a mystery to me); the blank notebooks symbolizing the promise of enlightenment (an optimism that, in my experience, fades by the third week of September); and a bag that holds our entire world (before screens, it truly was our entire world) never loses its charm.
Despite my kids’ teasing, my last full-time education stint was indeed in the last millennium—I graduated from university in 1999. Yet, every year as August ends, I find myself contemplating a new bag (skip the geometry set). Today, it’s more likely a gym holdall rather than the latest ‘it’ handbag from the autumn/winter designer collections that hit stores every September. It’s the back-to-school season, more than the new calendar year, that signals fresh beginnings for me.
This month, ironically, the best way to look forward is by looking back. In response to the overflow of landfill-bound Temu hauls, soulless Shein-style, and TikTok-identikit trends, a new accessory style is emerging—one that is logo-free and Labubu-free. It’s simple, functional, and authentic, immune to reverse Google image searches that bring up a slew of cheap pleather imitations. This is luxury that softly whispers. The quietest of them all are second-hand pieces. Bags that resonate with the stories of their previous owners; they are multilayered, complex, and connected to humanity. This shift coincides with a rejection of ever-increasing designer bag prices, which have been driven up over the last decade by ‘greedflation’—big brands focusing on price increases rather than acquiring new customers. As luxury consumers rebel against these price hikes and younger generations dismiss the allure of legacy branding, luxury conglomerates report lackluster performances, with previously rising sales charts now declining.
The last big-brand bag I purchased was a vintage 1989 Chanel backpack from Ounass’s pre-loved section, curated by Jeddah-based The Nostalgia Club. Not only was it less than a fifth of the price of a similar new style, but I cherish its soft, worn leather and lightly scuffed edges. Founded in 2022 by Saudi national Hatoon Abdullatif, The Nostalgia Club sells pre-loved bags and accessories from brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Gucci. Abdullatif’s love for collecting luxury items began at 14 when she received a Coach bag as a reward for earning an A at school. Since then, she has transformed her hobby into a thriving business, riding the Gulf’s growing appreciation for vintage items.
In a pleasing full-circle moment, the most sought-after bag this season isn’t one that commands 12-page ad spreads in the big glossies’ September issues. Like Abdullatif’s first venture into fashion, it’s a decades-old Coach bag. Specifically, a 1987 archival Coach ‘Metropolitan’ briefcase. Ever since paparazzi photos from the New York set of the sequel to the 2006 cult fashion film “The Devil Wears Prada” showed Anne Hathaway’s character, Andy Sachs, appearing more like a low-key boss with a vintage Coach satchel over her shoulder, resale sites have been buzzing with searches for the same style. Last month, Coach even launched a re-loved version in the States, which sold out in minutes. It reminds me of my mom’s old leather satchel, which I used to carry piano sheet music in as a child. A satchel whose lifespan vastly outlasted my piano-playing days, which barely got past Grade One. Just the smell of that bag brings back memories of my torturous scale practices, illustrating how vintage pieces carry a narrative across the decades.
While finding a vintage Coach messenger like Hathaway’s is now the Holy Grail of second-hand shopping, Coach’s UAE stores have a similar, though brand new, model in stock. The ‘Carlyle’ pictured here is a strong contender for a back-to-school bag, and who knows, it could be rediscovered by the next generation in 30 years. “There’s definitely a renewed appreciation for old-school Coach, particularly its classic silhouettes from the ’80s and ’90s; they exude a Y2K vibe,” says Abdullatif. As a brand more accessibly priced than many of its leather goods peers, Coach’s resurgence has been simmering ever since model Bella Hadid was seen with its ‘Brooklyn’ bag last summer. Now, with a “Devil Wears Prada” endorsement (Emily Blunt’s character was also spotted wearing a custom Coach sweater during filming), its less luxurious take on luxury seems fitting for the current moment.
With original Coach Metropolitans proving elusive, Abdullatif suggests alternatives like Louis Vuitton Epi leather briefcases, 1990s Prada nylon backpacks, or anything from Chanel’s Sport Ligne. A* for pre-loved. “It’s a new season, about fresh starts. That doesn’t have to mean buying something new,” Abdullatif says. “A vintage bag is the perfect companion for back-to-school because it brings character, craftsmanship, and individuality that modern, fast-paced fashion rarely offers. Many vintage pieces were built to last, crafted in an era where durability and detail mattered more than seasonal trends. Perhaps most importantly, it allows you to stand out. In a sea of identical new styles, carrying a vintage bag is a way of expressing your personality and setting yourself apart. Buying vintage is a way to reclaim individuality. It helps people step outside the algorithm-driven sameness of social media,” she says. Every stitch and scuff is touched by history. The rest, like a blank notebook at the start of term, is still unwritten.
