What’s in my Bag: GENTLEWOMAN Dumpling
Matcha for #Everyone, GENTLEWOMAN Dumpling Bag for #EveryLifestyle.
MTCH has been on my Bangkok cafe radar for a long time, and I was so glad to have caught the GENTLEWOMAN pop-up for the brand's latest Knit Dumpling Bag while it lasted in September 2024.
MTCH specialises in matcha drinks and desserts, so naturally, the store was decked out in an emerald green with a giant version of the bag in a shade aptly named Matcha Colada, limited menu items, bespoke decor inspired by the bag’s knit details, and complimentary sticker sheets that were honestly so cute. Matcha can be a big hit or miss, but the seasonal special used single-breed Komakage from Fukuoka and it hit the sweet spot for a creamy, refreshing summer blend with a hint of umami.
Aesthetics
I like to think of the Dumpling Bag as an elevated version of GENTLEWOMAN’s cult-favourite canvas tote. It sports the same iconic GW logo on the front but has a softer, more organic shape inspired by dumplings. It has a wide shoulder strap and ties on both sides of the opening that can be knotted to cinch the top together, just as you would any drawstring bag.
Spurred on by its newfound virality, the Dumpling Bag comes in almost twenty colourways with different materials, including the original puffer nylon, an almost iridescent metallic, tone-on-tone denim, and the latest knitted fabric with bold contrasty shades. Mine is the Black Truffle shade (just a fancier way of saying black), and I’m eyeing up Paris Midnight, a dark indigo denim with more subtle branding.
Usability and Functionality
I would say with the prominent branding emblazoned onto the front; it would be difficult to pass the Dumpling Bag off for more than a daytime, or at most, an edgy going-out look. A nifty hack is to tuck the shoulder strap into the bag and fasten the ties above to transform it into a clutch that resembles the Bottega Veneta mini pouch or the Mansur Gavriel mini cloud. But even with the dressier metallic shades, it’s still hard to imagine the bag working with a daintier outfit.
Capacity-wise, I was surprised to find it fits my mirrorless full-frame camera, plus my wallet, cosmetics bag and even sunnies, though it takes a bit of rearranging as things tend to slip and slide around. I wished the bag had an inner compartment or slip pocket to combat how the weight slopes towards the centre, as anything I toss inside often ends up in a pile. The upside is that the bag is extremely lightweight and packs virtually flat, making it a breeze to bring along for vacations.
The shoulder strap is wide and comfortable for wear, though in the original nylon fabric, it may slide around on your shoulder, and the ties will inevitably slip open unless you double-knot them.
Quality and Construction
One thing that peeves me is how GENTLEWOMAN doesn’t disclose their fabric compositions or item descriptions–it’s as if they’re so viral they don’t need to bother with it. If anything, the Dumpling Bag feels much better made than the puffer tote of a similar material, which I have in the micro size and have started to see loose threads unravelling despite very light use.
Staying Power
When GENTLEWOMAN first swept the Asian world in the post-pandemic era, I thought this was a fad in passing that would last only a year maximum. After all, you can only have as many logo tote bags before you develop a sour taste for sharing the same bag as every stranger on the streets of Bangkok. But they have proved me wrong by continuing to expand their brick-and-mortar presence all over Thailand and dropping fresh releases every month, even if most of them are pretty… avant-garde styles I find hard to resonate with or pull off.
The Dumpling Bag is fast becoming the successor to the brand’s canvas tote bag, which first catapulted it to fame (but ended up with dupes all over night markets despite its already practical price). If you’re looking to dip your feet into the brand, this would be a much more stylish introduction of substantially better quality.
The OG black or white colourways are wonderfully easy to style–I often slip on bike shorts and Birkenstocks and grab mine to go as a no-brainer outfit. It’s a fancier alternative to my beloved Uniqlo bag for casual days. On days when I just want a shoulder bag, I can stash all my essentials into it without worrying about babying it. Priced between US$37-46, the Dumpling Bag is a solid ‘yes’ and a bargain for a trending bag.
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