It’s sold out more than seven times in the past 18 months and was crowned the most desirable item of 2023 so far by shopping platform Lyst – now Uniqlo’s most viral product has had an image refresh. And the £14.90 round mini shoulder bag hype train is showing no signs of slowing.

Walk around any city on a Sunday, and you’re guaranteed to see at least one (if not significantly more, like I did this weekend) stylish woman with the small, Mary Poppins-esque bag slung across her body. Ideal for days when being hands-free is optimal, it’s become a phenomenon, with more than 85 million searches for #UniqloBag on TikTok.

Famed for its preternatural ability to seemingly hold everything a tote bag would, only in a lightweight package that’s a quarter of the size, the bag has garnered a loyal legion of fans, all eager to sing its praises to anyone who will listen. And, for those who don’t already own one, it’s on the wish lists of many.

After being updated last year with a water-repellent material and fresh, spring-appropriate colours, now Uniqlo is launching a new set of colours for its autumn/winter collection. If you’re a neutral lover, don’t worry – the black, beige and cream styles are remaining in the line-up. But there are also some new, colourful additions. 

Expect a maroon-like dark red and vibrant plum (landing later this week) with a muted khaki and mustard-adjacent yellow, that’s much richer than the lemon in the spring collection, already available to buy. Whether you’re looking to add to your collection like a 2023 equivalent of collecting Tamagotchis or want to make your first foray into the Uniqlo bag world, there’s a colour to fit into every wardrobe.

This being said, there is a divide: there are those who can’t wait to join the club and those who run a mile when the words ‘cult’ and ‘viral’ are mentioned in relation to a trending item. If you’re in the latter camp and can’t help but fall for the compact convenience of the bum bag-style crossbody, here are the lesser-known alternatives you’ll want to browse instead…

Images: Uniqlo; courtesy of brands