Under the Uniqlo: C sub-brand, the Japanese retailer has released a bigger version of their popular crescent-shaped crossbody

Since its appearance on the Lyst Index of Fashion “hottest products” in the early part of this year, the Uniqlo Round Bag has been given several iterations, including in colours you never thought you’d want or prints you’d endear to. And just before jelak really sets in, a new version was quietly introduced before the year comes to an end. Released under the Uniqlo: C imprint, conceived in collaboration with Claire Waight Keller, the new bag is bigger than the original, and is made in faux leather (or imitation leather, possibly polyurethane—it is not specified), which is regrettable since the fake skin is not necessarily environmentally friendly. To be fair, Uniqlo does not tout the bag’s green credentials.

Although on the hang tags, Uniqlo identifies their best-seller as “Women Round Shoulder Bag” (Uniqlo: C is after all, a women’s line), we have seen, so far, the bag mostly on male backs. It could be because of their ample proportion, which is considerably up-sized from the more handbag-like offering of the first version, that guys find appealing. In the lookbook, the crossbody is pictured as a grab-it-by-the-strap hand-carry. Upclose, the bag, with a rather plasticky hand feel and a soft sheen, does look gender-neutral. Although Uniqlo has tried to market some of its products across genders in the past, it has not tagged this bag as it did other fashion merchandise sold in the women’s department with “Recommended For Men Too”. A pity since C stands for chap, too.

Uniqlo Women Round Shoulder Bag, SGD38.90, is available in Uniqlo stores and online. Photo: Zhao Xiangji