Do you need another handbag? Maybe. Do you need a handmade Bali bag that looks nothing like the purse everyone else is carrying? That’s a much easier question.
I may be a little biased, but there’s something special about a handwoven bag. It has texture, personality, craftsmanship—and a story that started long before it arrived in your closet.
So, in no particular order, here are 10 reasons to buy a handmade Bali bag.
No Two Bags Are Exactly Alike.
This is one of my favorite things about handmade.
Every Shiva Urban bag is woven by hand using natural ata vines, so you may see slight differences in the weave, shape, or color. Those little variations aren't flaws. They’re part of what makes your bag your bag.
If you like accessories that don’t look mass-produced, start with our handmade Bali bags.
They Get Compliments. Lots of Them.
There are everyday handbags…and then there are bags that make someone stop and ask, “Where did you get that?”
A beautiful woven handbag adds texture and personality without trying too hard.
Some designs take that even further. Floral Woods, for example, combines handwoven fibers with a beautiful hand-carved teak wood floral design. Definitely not your average purse.
They’re Handmade by Real People
Behind every Shiva Urban bag are skilled Balinese artisans.
I work directly with Mr. Putu, his wife, and a small group of weavers in Bali who make these bags using traditional handweaving techniques. There are no giant factory assembly lines here.
You can meet the artisans behind Shiva Urban and learn more about the people and traditions behind the bags.
A Lot More Work Goes Into One Than You Might Think
A finished rattan-style purse may look effortless, but making one certainly isn't.
Shiva Urban bags begin with natural ata vine that must be prepared, woven, dried, smoked, shaped, and finished by hand. Depending on the design, the weaving alone can take days.
Curious? Take a behind-the-scenes look at how your Shiva Urban bag is made in Bali.
They’re Made to Be Enjoyed for Years
Natural woven bags may look delicate, but ata vine is a remarkably strong fiber when woven tightly.
With a little common-sense care—keeping your bag dry, storing it away from prolonged direct sunlight, and cleaning it gently—your handmade woven handbag can stay beautiful for many years.
I’ve even met Bali bag owners who have had theirs for more than 15 years. Now that is a good cost-per-wear.
There’s a Style for Just About Everyone
Prefer a tiny bag that carries only the essentials? Try a handmade woven crossbody bag.
Want something polished and timeless? Browse our top handle bags.
Need more room for your wallet, sunglasses, makeup bag and all those mysterious things that somehow end up in our purses? Our woven shoulder bags and totes may be more your speed.
There really is a Bali bag for every handbag personality.
They Make Simple Outfits More Interesting
Jeans and a white shirt. A linen dress. Shorts and sandals. A simple black sundress. Add a handmade rattan bag, wicker purse, or woven tote and suddenly the outfit feels finished.
That natural woven texture is especially beautiful for spring and summer, vacation, resort wear and warm-weather style—but I’m firmly in the camp that says you should carry a bag you love whenever you feel like it. No fashion-calendar permission required.
You’re Supporting Traditional Craftsmanship
Buying handmade means there is a person behind the product.
When you purchase a Shiva Urban bag, you’re supporting the Balinese artisans who make them and helping create continued demand for a weaving tradition that has been practiced in this part of Bali for generations.
For me, that connection is one of the most meaningful reasons Shiva Urban exists.
They Make Really Good Gifts
We all have that person who is nearly impossible to shop for. She already has candles. She has scarves. She buys herself whatever she wants.
A unique handmade handbag is different. It feels personal, useful, beautiful, and unexpected—especially for birthdays, Mother’s Day, anniversaries, holidays, or that elusive “gift for someone who has everything.”
And unlike another decorative object, she can actually take this one out to lunch.
You Get to Carry a Little Piece of Bali
Maybe this is the best reason of all.
A Shiva Urban bag begins thousands of miles away, in Bali, in the hands of an artisan. Natural fibers are transformed strand by strand into something useful and beautiful. Eventually that bag makes its way to Florida—and then to you.
It’s more than a summer straw purse or wicker handbag. It carries a connection to Bali, traditional craftsmanship, and the people who made it.
And yes…it also looks really cute with a sundress.
Ready to Find Your Bali Bag? Explore the full collection of handmade Bali rattan-style bags, woven purses and totes, or, if you're in the Tampa Bay area, come see them in person at one of our local markets.
Because sometimes you really do need another handbag.