In this “affordable” listicle, I’ll be covering homegrown brands where you can get men’s work bags in Singapore for your everyday needs without breaking the bank.
The following brands offer quality men’s work bags at affordable prices – all prices start from below S$300. If you are looking for a well-made, bang-for-buck bag, check out these men’s work bags in Singapore below:
1) Gnome & Bow
Known for their literary-infused bags, Gnome & Bow offers bags that are sure to separate you from the crowd.
Who they are: “Gnome & Bow was founded on that very notion that bags can go beyond functionality to become a new medium for storytelling, evoking the same emotions as our favourite stories…Drawing inspiration from the classics to tales of fancy, we develop story elements that are imbued seamlessly into our goods….Timeless as the stories that inspire us, we believe that our bags should be too. Our collection of bags, wallets and small leather accessories are designed to be the perfect companion for the discerning individual.”
My opinion: Gnome & Bow is one of my personal favourites here. I love how they seamlessly weave literary elements of iconic fables into the design of their bags. Being an avid reader (as well as an appreciator of classic literature), I was impressed by several of their bags, including the Musketeer Athos Laptop Bag (pictured above). The Musketeer Athos Laptop Bag encapsulates the ethos of the classic novel The Three Musketeers, while remaining relatively affordable at under $500. The build quality of their products is superb too, especially considering the price point. If you love literature or are simply looking for a unique bag, check out Gnome & Bow.
Reviews: I reviewed the Kale Backpack here, the Strand Briefcase here, their wallets and accessories here, the Milton bags here, the Porthos Briefcase and Balsa Duffel here, the Hitchhiker backpack here, and the Musketeer Athos Laptop Bag here.
Best for: People looking for sleek, uniquely designed bags.
Price: Gnome & Bow bags currently start from S$128.
Where to buy: Interested readers can buy their bags off Gnome & Bow’s web-store, here. As Gnome & Bow is an official partner of Wah so Shiok, simply quote “WAHSOSHIOK” to enjoy 10% off all products store-wide!
2) Oxhide Leather
While Oxhide Leather predominantly focuses on female products, they do carry a small collection of affordable men’s briefcases as well.
Who they are: Oxhide’s mission statement is to “provide premium quality leather products to the world…. products that are trendy, fashionable and useful. [Oxhide] constantly strives to improve our designs in terms of their appearance, usefulness, and quality.”
My opinion: If you’re looking for affordable briefcases with classic designs, Oxhide Leather would be a good option. In my opinion, Oxhide offers probably the best bang-for-buck leather products in the Singaporean market currently. A full top-grain leather briefcase (like the abovepictured bag) from Oxhide starts from only $229 – at this price point, you would mostly be getting canvas briefcases from the other brands mentioned here. If you’re a fan of leather products, but don’t want to break the bank, Oxhide Leather is perfect for you.
Reviews: I previously reviewed the Oxhide Brown Pebble Leather Bag here. I also reviewed some of their leather accessories here.
Best for: People looking for affordable quality leather products.
Price: Oxhide’s briefcases start from S$229. As Oxhide Leather is an official partner of Wah so Shiok, simply quote “WAHSOSHIOK-SHIOK” to enjoy 10% off all online orders!
Where to buy: Interested readers can buy from their web-store here, or shop a curated range on The Shiok Shop here.
3) Arden Teal
While Arden Teal is better known for its dress shoes, the homegrown brand has a selection of leather bags available as well.
Who they are: “We (the team at Arden Teal) were growing weary of the traditional retail experience for buying a good pair of men’s shoes. We searched for options that delivered aesthetics at a price we could relate to, but grew needlessly impatient with our encounters. We started this company at the heel of a problem we knew wasn’t unique to us. We wanted to curate products we were proud of. Impressively designed, high-quality shoes that could be conveniently accessed at an easy price..”
My opinion: I’ve always been a fan of Arden Teal’s shoes – I think the brand offers some of the most bang-for-buck dress shoes on the market due to the quality of leather used in their shoes. The brand applies the same philosophy to its bags, which feature stunning leather for the price point. For instance, the Santiago Patina II Vintage Leather Messenger Bag (pictured above) uses full-grain leather, and even has a lovely artisanal patina effect. The bag features a spacious interior as well, with plenty of nifty compartments, including a dedicated laptop compartment.
Reviews: For more information, do check out my review of the Santiago Patina II Vintage Leather Messenger Bag here, the Arden Teal Sevilla backpack and Bogota duffel here, and the Avalon vintage backpack here.
Best for: People looking for artisanal leather bags.
Price: Starts at S$299 for leather bags.
Where to buy: Interested readers can buy their bags online here. As Arden Teal is an official affiliate partner of Wah So Shiok, simply quote “WAHSOSHIOK25” upon checkout to enjoy 25% off all bags!
4) Obbi Good Label
A team of local leather artisans, Obbi Good Label specialises in offering rugged, sturdy products.
Who they are: Obbi Good Label describes itself as “a leather product company that produces handmade leather pieces that are unique as well as useful,” making products that will “last a lifetime”. Founded in 2008, all of Obbi Good Label’s leather products are made in-house in their Geylang workshop by their team of artisans, all of whom have at least 10 years of experience.
My opinion: I like the brand’s commitment to delivering rugged, durable products that will stand the test of time. The brand’s latest OriGinaLe Outdoor series encapsulates this ethos. It looks great, is fashioned out of sturdy materials, and is quite spacious. I love its rugged and vintage aesthetics – I think it’s a stark departure from the “polished” office bags mentioned above. It’s also a lot of value for a sub-S$200 bag. If you’re a heavy-duty user who tends to abuse your bags, OGL is the perfect brand for you.
Reviews: I reviewed the OriGinaLe Outdoor Utility series here. I also did a review of their tote bag and military watch strap here, as well as their aviator bag, leather belt and leather Zulu strap here.
Best for: Those looking for rugged, everyday carry bags.
Price: Starts at US$155/ ~S$215 for bags.
Where to buy: Interested readers can buy from their web-store here. As Obbi Good Label is an official partner of Wah so Shiok, simply quote “WAHSOSHIOK” to enjoy 10% off all non-promotional products store-wide.
Other listicles
If you found this listicle helpful, do check out some of my other listicles below:
- 12 Best Tailors in Singapore
- 7 Best Watch Straps Brands in Singapore
- 3 Best Dress Shoes Brands in Singapore
- 3 Best Perfume Brands in Singapore
- 7 Best Watch Brands from Singapore
- 5 Best Wallets Brands in Singapore
- 9 Best Hotels in Singapore for Daycations and Staycations in Singapore
- 7 Best Web Design Companies in Singapore
- 3 Best Tailors in Bangkok
- 3 Best Perfume Workshops in Singapore
- 4 Best Aesthetic Clinics and Treatments for Men in Singapore
- 3 Best Spectacles Shops in Singapore
Conclusion:
I hope you guys enjoyed this list of homegrown labels, all of whom carry some fantastic work bags for men in Singapore. In my personal experience, I see most of my peers turning to brands like Picard/Braun Buffel for their bag needs. Hopefully, this shows that there are undoubtedly several local bag labels that you can consider supporting if you’re out on the prowl for a new bag. Several of the brands mentioned on this list are still relatively young – I can’t wait to see what innovative designs they bring to the table next.
P.S: Check out The Shiok Store here – it serves as a curation of my favourite products from my favourite brands.
P.P.S: Do check out the new “Discounts!” page for exclusive discounts for Wah so Shiok readers! More brands will be added very soon – stay tuned!
P.P.P.S: If you haven’t already, do follow my social media channels on Facebook here, on Instagram here, and on Youtube here.
P.P.P.P.S Shiok is a common word Singaporeans use to express admiration or approval. As of 2016, you can find the definition of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.
