Vancouver Style: Canvas the Town With Fall's Most Beautiful Bags

Aside from an umbrella, this Fall, the must-carry item for fashionable Vancouverites will be the canvas bag. Not the Eco-friendly grocery kind, that look best with carrot tops spilling out in abundance, but the kind that suggests you may go hunting, or away for a weekend of small town charm.

The rich history of Barbour has directly resulted in rich and earnest clothing and accessories. Established in 1906 it received Royal warrants from Her Majesty the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, and from HRH the Prince of Wales. Though originally intended for hunting, today the Barbour brand has created a beautiful range of bags perfect for city living. The waxed cotton bags are particularly beautiful and sturdy, perfect for our rainy weather.

The American answer to Barbour is Filson . A brand established over one hundred years ago in Seattle, Washington during the Klondike Gold Rush. Where Barbour was created for the proper English hunting gentleman, Filson was created for the rugged outdoorsmen on the hunt for fame and fortune. With thick leather straps and rustic buckles, Filson’s bags are made to weather all storms. Though they are masculine and hearty there is no reason that a woman shouldn’t sport one. In fact, it's recommended that a woman demand her daily bag be practical and strong.

Established in 1935, Yoshida & Co. manufacture canvas bags in Japan. Known as Porter, the company root themselves in global fashion by creating collaborative efforts with unexpected artists and companies. A recent collaborative effort with lifestyle and design magazine Monocle has taken the brand from its recent street and hip hop styling, back to their pre-WWII era of simple and classic designs. The hardware used by Yoshida &Co. is particularly mesmerizing and deserves attention for its rich detail.

Bags hold and organize our belongings. They are an accessory to life, as well as our wardrobes. This is not an area where one should pinches pennies, though a proper canvas bag is a great way to go a little easier on the pocketbook - generally speaking, canvas bags are much less expensive that their leather counterpart. And with so many companies making canvas bags that are every bit as stylish as leather, why not opt for something that stands out. A well-designed bag can be both useful and beautiful, and with these classic designs from experienced, respected brands, you'll be extra glad that they're built to last – you'll want to carry these year-round.

Images, from top:

Barbour "Explorer": $259

Filson Small Carry-on: $235

Monocle by Porter: Inquire at retailer

Filson bags are available at The Block (350 W Cordova).
Porter is sold at illustrated example (227 Carrall)
Barbour bags are available at Lark (2315 Main)