Grandmacore Bags Are All About Tapestry and Embroidery

2 min read

Gather your crochet hooks and embroidery hoops and get ready to embrace fashion’s new era of cozy bags. Needlepoint, embroidery, and tapestry are taking over bags far and wide, from chic clutches to big, oversize carryalls, useful totes, and reimagined duffles. The trend kicked off about a year ago when Valentino launched its DeVain bag in November 2025 as part of its pre-fall 2026 collection under Alessandro Michele. With its beaded details, tapestry textiles, and embroidery, the bag is a love letter to a new kind of grandmacore with a dash of boho.

Much like the tassels that we’ve been seeing so much of lately, the grandmacore bag speaks volumes about tactile, touchable joy in an increasingly digital world. It’s reminiscent of a comfy couch with pillows, or a well-worn blanket that’s been passed down by generations. It’s instant, wearable craft.

Dries Van Noten fall/winter 2026.

Fendi fall/winter 2026.

Valentino isn’t the only one putting a focus on crafty, comfy bags. Just look at Dries Van Noten. One bag from the fall/winter 2026 collection in particular feels perfectly primed for the grandma-centric fashion universe: an east-west duffel-style tote replete with floral tapestry and a large snakeskin-effect patch. It feels like a wearable textural wonder with an inherent vintage sentiment; something that could have been picked up on travels in a foreign land decades ago and passed down through generations.

Elsewhere, Fendi recently reissued 20 archival versions of the Baguette under chief creative officer Maria Grazia Chiuri, most of them collaged in craft. Think: intense zebra-striped beadwork, mirror appliqué, and floral embroidery made by (and inspired by) South Asian craft. The mirror bag, for example, involves 138 hours of handwork with the Mumbai atelier Chanakya International. All of these bags is clear nods to craft in a world where fashion (and many other things) are lightning fast.

The grandma-ification of bags comes at the perfect time, too. Beyond offering a bit of slowed-down, tactile luxury, these kinds of accessories are also the perfect touch for winter and holiday dressing. There are many ways to wear the look. Silky pouches finished with embroidery by Conner Ives or feather-trimmed shoulder bags from Erdem included. Details like fringe and tassels add extra feeling. When all you see is the coat, let the bag do the talking.

Why Trust ELLE

Every product featured on ELLE.com is independently researched, tested, or editor-approved. We only recommend products that we stand behind, and the merchandise featured on our site is always driven by editorial and product testing standards, not by affiliate deals or advertising relationships. Any content created in partnership with advertisers is marked as such.