Remember Kooba bags? They were all over Us Weekly in the early 2000s, but they’ve since seemed to disappear from the fashion radar. So are they still around? Here’s what we found out.
The Birth of Kooba (1998–2000s)
Kooba was founded in 1998 by mother–daughter team Bonnie and Abbe Held, with Lynn Pincus joining soon after to help grow the business. Based in New York, Kooba quickly gained a loyal following for its slouchy yet polished leather handbags, featuring clean lines and subtle hardware accents made from fine Italian leathers
Rise in Popularity and Celebrity Fans
Throughout the mid-2000s, Kooba bags became a staple among celebrities—names like Jennifer Aniston, Sienna Miller, Avril Lavigne, Rihanna, Blake Lively, and Kristin Bell were spotted carrying styles such as the Sienna, Natasha, and Ada. PurseBlog chronicled this era fondly, noting Kooba’s presence in high-end retailers like Barneys, Saks, Neiman Marcus, Henri Bendel, and Macy’s.
Later Years and Decline
By the late 2010s, signs of decline were apparent, similar to other such brands like Tignanello and B. Makowsky. Kooba’s Instagram activity stopped after 2019, and its official e‑commerce site was no longer active. Discussion forums like PurseForum hint that the brand may have quietly shuttered or scaled back dramatically; while vintage pieces remain available via resale and thrift, there’s no evidence of ongoing new collections
Legacy & Collector Appeal
Although Kooba appears inactive, its vintage bags occasionally resurface online and in thrift stores—as one PurseForum user shared, finding a new-with-tags Sloane bag with a $645 retail tag for just $3 at a thrift shop PurseForum. Their Y2K aesthetic, soft lambskin, and how much celebs loved them make them collectible.
