Kenneth Cole enters handbags, expanding its contemporary womenswear push

Kenneth Cole is launching its first handbag collection for fall 2026, continuing its expansion plans into womenswear. Developed under the creative direction of Emily Cole, executive vice president, creative director and product strategy of the brand, the collection features 15 styles.

"Handbags are an important part of the way women move through their lives, and we saw an opportunity to reintroduce this category through the lens of the modern Kenneth Cole woman," Emily said in a statement. "This collection is about creating pieces that feel effortless, elevated and purposeful and designed with the versatility, functionality and attention to detail that her everyday life demands."

The collection prioritizes function alongside style, with organized interiors, adjustable straps, multifunctional silhouettes and dedicated key storage. Crafted from vachetta leather, suede and calf hair, the bags feature a palette of ganache, loden green, plum, steel and blue chalk, finished with signature details like trapunto stitching, French seaming, gold hardware and Ziger print calf hair. Drawing on New York's rhythm and industrial character, the line spans six design families, including shoulder bags, satchels, hobos, totes, crossbodies and evening styles, with pieces like the Bowery Tote and Crosby Satchel priced from 178 to 498 dollars.

The brand relaunched women’s apparel in September 2024 under the creative vision of Emily, the daughter of company founder Kenneth Cole. Following a positive response from consumers, Kenneth Cole said launching handbags felt like a natural step.

"Our return to handbags is not simply about bringing back a category; it's about reimagining it for how she lives today, with thoughtful design, versatility and a distinctly modern perspective at the heart of every piece," Emily said.

The Kenneth Cole fall 2026 handbag collection will arrive in two parts. The first drop debuts on Monday at kennethcole.com, Macy's, Belk, and the brand's flagship wholesale retail partners.