Herschel Bags Beyond Backpacks: Crossbody and Tote

This article reflects Herschel products highlighted in 2023. Product names, materials, colors, pricing and availability may have changed since publication.

Herschel is best known for backpacks, but its catalog has also included crossbody bags, totes and other accessories. In 2023, two options that stood out to us were the Orion Retreat Crossbody and Herschel Classic Tote.

Herschel Orion Retreat Crossbody

The Orion Retreat Crossbody was positioned as a compact everyday bag for errands and city use. The version we covered combined leather, wrinkled nylon and metal hardware, with an external pocket intended to keep frequently used items easy to reach.

Herschel Classic Tote

The Herschel Classic Tote offered a simpler, utility-focused format for uses such as shopping, picnics or carrying everyday gear. Herschel described the version available at the time as using recycled materials. Materials and specifications can change between product generations, so check the current listing rather than assuming the 2023 construction still applies.

About the Herschel brand

Herschel Supply Company was founded in Vancouver, British Columbia, and took its name from Herschel, Saskatchewan, where members of the founders’ family had lived. The brand expanded well beyond the backpacks for which it became widely recognized.

Sustainability claims need current context

The original article broadly described Herschel as committed to sustainability. A more useful way to evaluate that today is product by product: look for specific information about recycled content, materials, manufacturing and any measurable environmental programs rather than relying on general brand language.

How this compares with Herschel backpacks

If backpacks are what brought you to the brand in the first place, see our Herschel backpack review for our experience with style, comfort and durability.

Bottom line

The Orion Retreat Crossbody and Classic Tote illustrated how Herschel’s 2023 lineup extended beyond backpacks. They were different formats for shoppers who liked the brand’s aesthetic but needed a smaller everyday bag or straightforward tote. Verify current models and specifications before buying today.