Taslon is the recycled fabric these handbags are made from, with a puffed texture that gives the Belsize its shape and a soft feel in the hand. It is light, weather-resistant and vegan. In practice that means a bag you can carry in the rain, set down anywhere, and not think about, which leather cannot claim.

It is a small size, so think phone, purse or cardholder, keys, sunglasses, lip balm and a little more. The signature zip pockets are what make that workable, keeping the things you reach for often away from everything loose. It is not sized for a laptop or a day's work kit, so pair it with a tote if you need both.

The Belsize comes as two separate styles: a handbag and a crossbody. The handbag is designed for shoulder and hand carry, with a padded strap for comfort. If wearing it across the body matters to you, go to the Belsize Crossbody Bag collection instead, which is built around that, rather than expecting the handbag to do both.

Yes. The Taslon these are made from is a recycled fabric, and across the wider range we use recycled and repurposed materials including canvas spun from plastic bottles. ROKA London is also a certified B Corp, meaning the standard is independently assessed rather than self-declared, and the whole range is vegan.

Weight, weather and upkeep. Taslon is lighter than leather to carry all day, it is weather-resistant so rain is not a crisis, and it needs no conditioning or careful storage. It also comes in colours leather rarely does, from Chilli to Moss. If you want a bag you use without thinking, fabric is the easier life.