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Fashion United
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion United
Resort 26 handbag trends: Sack totes, croissant shapes and more
The handbag trends that emerge during the Resort season often forecast what's to come for Spring/Summer. For buyers and fashion editors, this is critical insight. Accessories, particularly handbags, frequently generate more revenue for brands than any other category. With higher profit margins than apparel and broader customer appeal, handbags play a pivotal role in shaping seasonal assortments and driving sales. For Resort 2026, designers generally played it safe, focusing on shapes with nostalgic appeal. Below are the standout styles to watch. The Sack Tote The sack style was the statement tote of the season. Its relaxed look speaks to the growing consumer demand for casual luxury. It's roomy enough to carry throughout the day. Baum und Pferdgarten: designers, Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave Credits: Baum und Pferdgarten Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight A black leather tote with a handle embellished with large silver grommets. Khaite: designer, Cate Holstein Credits: Khaite Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight The brand's 'Lotus' bucket tote with a strap was reimagined in zebra printed 'ponyskin' leather. Ermanno Scervino Credits: Scervino Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight An oversized ivory-colored leather tote with a detachable strap and key chain charm. Elisabetta Franchi Credits: Elisabetta Franchi Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight An embossed tan suede tote with a suede and gold toned chain strap and buckle. The Croissant It's been almost 30 years since Fendi launched their version of the croissant bag, and now the style is back. The 2026 Resort collections are giving the beloved shape a fresh twist, showing that what goes around, comes around." Balmain: designer, Olivier Rousteing Credits: Balmain Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight A pink lambskin top-zip croissant bag with brown twisted leather handle and gold hardware. Chloé: designer, Chemena Kamali Credits: Chloé Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight A black suede crescent bag with embellished rose gold hardware. Diesel: designer, Glenn Martens Credits: Diesel Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight A croissant bag in leather with a multi-colored no-print print, adjustable strap and a top-zip. Etro: designer, Marco De Vincenzo Credits: Etro Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight A tan leather crescent bag trimmed with brown leather and a brown strap had gold hardware and embellished with a brown belt and buckle plus a whimsical keychain charm. East-West Satchel This sleek elongated style is also practical because its contents are easy to access, especially if it has a top zip. For Resort 26, designers showed a variety of shapes and colors. Antonio Marras Credits: Antonio Marras Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight A bullet shaped bag in a yellow grained leather with two top straps and one on the face. Balmain: designer, Olivier Rousteing Credits: Balmain Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight An east-west bag in a pale lime green leather with a top strap, gold chain strap and gold hardware. Courrèges: designer, Nicolas Di Felice Credits: Courrèges Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight A bright red east-west leather bag with a double pocket, one with a zip and two long straps. JW Anderson Credits: JW Anderson Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight An orange leather satchel with a top-zip, a handheld strap and a shoulder strap. The face of the bag has a cut-out detail and white top stitched corners. Woven Textures For those who travel to warmer climes during winter, bags made of straw, raffia and other woven textures are the perfect solution. These materials complement the breezy fabrics and relaxed silhouettes of the Resort season and can be re-used for summer. Blumarine: designer, David Koma Credits: Blumarine Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight Black and cream textured bags with raffia trims and twisted metal and leather straps. Max Mara: designer, Ian Griffiths Credits: Max Mara Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight A rattan hard case handbag with strips of black suede, a black suede gusset and bottom and handles. Zimmermann Credits: Zimmermann Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight An oversized basketweave green, orange and brown striped tote with skinny leather straps and a long brown raffia trim. Chanel Credits: Chanel Resort 26/©Launchmetrics/spotlight A textured tan colored tote bag with both long and short handles and gold hardware.
Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
What's in a fob? The surprising complexity of designing car keys
The key fob for Bentley vehicles is likened to a business card for the luxury car brand. With 905 horsepower and a 0-100kmh sprint time under three seconds, the Lotus Eletre is more powerful than a Lamborghini Huracan and faster than a Porsche 911 Carrera. The US $230,000 (S$296,000) sport utility vehicle (SUV) is also the foundation of Lotus' plan to electrify its line-up. So, designing the right key fob for it was… well, key. It is an interesting subject – the fob. The way a consumer first interacts with a car is also one of the least relevant details of the driving experience. Yet, it serves as a handshake: A good design will communicate brand values, even status. A lot more thought goes into creating a fob than drivers may realise. 'We didn't want an over-featured key that becomes a big, bulky thing,' says Mr Mat Hill, head of interior design at Lotus. BMW's oversized 'display key' from 2015 was a cautionary tale: A US$670 option with so many functions that it required a touchscreen, the gadget was discontinued in 2022 because of low consumer interest. 'It's not about technology for technology's sake,' Mr Hill says. 'It's about, 'Does it actually make my life better?' ' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore Residents in South West District get help to improve employability, find career opportunities Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Singapore UOB awarded $17.7m in civil suit against Lippo Marina Collection over inflated housing loans Life Kinokuniya opens third bookstore in Raffles City, weeks ahead of schedule Business DBS shares rally to a new record as STI clocks yet another high Singapore 5 foreigners charged over scheme to deliberately get arrested in S'pore to sell sex drugs Asia Lightning strikes kill 33 people in eastern India For the Eletre, designers spent six months developing a smooth ceramic fob that resembles a guitar pick, also the shape of the Lotus logo. The grey device has one button, which locks and unlocks the vehicle. They nicknamed it 'the pebble'. It is ingeniously simple, handsome and – crucially, at less than 7.6cm across – small. 'If you've got a nice suit on, it doesn't spoil the line when it's in your pocket,' Mr Hill says. That less-is-more sensibility is a rarity in the automotive world. Fobs can now start a car as you approach; unlock the front door (and rear, separately, if you want); open the boot to varying heights; adjust the temperature; tell you if the windows are up; and give you the battery life and fuel range. With the rise of push-button ignitions, fobs are also functionally the keys too. Things have come a long way since Cadillac introduced a radio-based keyless entry for the Allante in the 1980s. A modern fob generally consists of an electronic circuit board, a battery and a switch pack that receives signals from sensors. Sometimes, a metal emergency key is hidden inside. The key fob of the BMW 750Li xDrive (2015) came with a display. PHOTO: BMW The design can speak volumes. Porsche 911 fobs evoke the silhouette of the cars themselves. So do the soft lines of the Mercedes-Benz smart keys that unlock E-classes. Volvo's rectangular fobs recall the brand's historically brick-shaped fleet. And at Audi, Ford, Subaru and Toyota, they have merged into a softly rounded coffin-like shape. Still, others denote serious status, such as the ovoid disks from Bentley. The company spent two years and €1.5 million (S$2.37 million) developing the Continental GT's fob to feel like the interior of the car. The key has a knurling pattern along its edges, just like the interior controls, and shiny chrome accents. 'We see the key fob like a business card for Bentley,' says Mr Darren Day, head of interior design. The brand's 'B' badging went on the top of the key because that is how people see it when it is left on a table or a bar. 'It's that first impression,' he adds. A key that does not match the excellence of the vehicle works against it. In 2025 , when Cadillac premiered its Rolls-Royce competitor, the US$360,000 Celestiq, it included the same plastic fob found across the General Motors line-up, albeit in a leather sheath with stitches like a baseball mitt. Compared with the slinky lines of the hatchback itself, it was woefully incongruous. Conversely, while the credit card-like 'keys' for Rivian Automotive's R1T and Tesla's Cybertruck may repel Luddites, they match the high-tech feel of those electric vehicles. They also signal an inflection point. 'In the future, the key fob will be obsolete,' says Ms Rebecca Lindland, managing director of automotive at Allison Worldwide, a marketing consulting firm. Hyundai put fingerprint sensors in its SUVs as far back as 2019, while Ford is developing facial recognition. Ms Lindland operates her Alfa Romeo Stelvio almost exclusively via the smartphone app. 'The whole ecosystem needs to feel like an extension of my phone,' she says. A low battery does not faze her the way losing an actual key does. It is always easier, quicker and cheaper to charge a dead mobile phone than to order a new fob. 'At least with the app, there's a support system,' Ms Lindland says. In fact, Lotus' Mr Hill says half of Eletre buyers do not even care how cool the pebble looks. 'Early adopters are heavy users of the app,' he says. 'A key can be a nuisance.' His father-in-law, however, still wants to feel something in his pocket when he leaves the car. 'It's that bit of cognitive recognition,' Mr Hill says. And the pebble holds one clear advantage over his phone: With its tough ceramic shell, it will fare better if he drops it. Bloomberg
Hypebeast
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hypebeast
Lotus Singapore Welcomes the Emira Turbo SE
Summary LotusSingapore is celebrating the regional arrival of theEmira Turbo SE, the brand's new performance flagship and the most powerful Emira to date. Reviving the legendary 'SE' badge, the new model marks a significant leap in Lotus' modern sports car lineup with sharper performance and bold design upgrades. Powered by a 2L turbocharged four-cylinder engine fromAMG, the Emira Turbo SE delivers 400 bhp and 480 Nm of torque, launching from 0–100 km/h in 4 seconds and reaching a top speed of 290 km/h. The upgraded powertrain is paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, embodying the brand's 'For The Drivers' philosophy with everyday usability. Standard equipment includes the Lotus Drivers Pack, sports suspension, cross-drilled brake discs, launch control and newly finished 20-inch Satin Grey forged wheels. The Emira Turbo SE also features Zinc Grey paint, blacked-out Lotus branding and distinctive red brake calipers, combining aggressive styling with classic heritage cues. Hand-built in Hethel, UK, the Emira Turbo SE showcases Lotus' commitment to blending craftsmanship with cutting-edge performance. Orders for the Emira Turbo SE are now open in Singapore, with more details available via authorized dealers in the region.
Auto Blog
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Lotus Doubles Down on Hybrids After EV Setback
View post: I Drove the 2025 Mazda CX90 & 2025 Ford Explorer, Which One is Best? Here's My Brutally Honest Review View post: Walmart is selling a 'handy' $66 171-piece tool kit for just $30, and it has 'pretty much everything you need' Change of Heart: From EVs to Hybrids At the end of 2024, Lotus stepped back from its headline-grabbing plan to become an EV-only brand. After years of EV-centric messaging, the British sports car maker admitted what many others in the industry are also starting to face: demand for premium electric vehicles isn't as strong or consistent as initially hoped. In response, Lotus is now taking a more flexible approach to electrification, revisiting hybrid technology as a core part of its future. CEO Feng Qingfeng confirmed during the company's Q1 earnings call that Lotus is 'investigating the feasibility' of sports cars using a new 'Hyper Hybrid' plug-in system. The Emira's hybrid future is also taking shape, with more insights about its future electrified heart. Of note, sales for Lotus dropped 42% in the first quarter of 2025, down to just 1,274 cars globally. This is due to various factors, including weak demand for EVs and the U.S. tariffs. With these predicaments, the pivot is less about abandoning electrification entirely and more about reshaping it to suit current market conditions. Hyper-Hybrid Eletre in the Works According to Feng, the Hyper Hybrid powertrain features a 900V battery system with front and rear electric motors, capable of fast-charging from 10-80% in 12 minutes. It offers up to 186 miles of EV-only range and a total range exceeding 620 miles. Crucially, it qualifies as a true plug-in hybrid, not a range-extender – the engine powers the wheels directly. Autocar reports that the first production model to carry Lotus' new Hyper Hybrid system will be a variant of the Eletre SUV. Feng said it will debut in late 2025, with deliveries scheduled for Q1 2026. The combustion engine won't be the familiar Toyota V6 or AMG 2.0L turbo currently used in the Emira, though Lotus hasn't confirmed what will replace them. Electrified Emira to Ignite Demand As for the Emira, it remains the backbone of the brand, accounting for more than 5,000 of Lotus' 12,000 global sales last year. It recently received an update for the 2026 model year, reflecting the automaker's focus on its main mover. Speaking to Auto Express, Lotus Europe CEO Matt Windle hinted at hybrid plans for the mid-engined coupe. Packaging will be important, though, considering the Emira's relatively compact size, expect a system similar in layout to the Ferrari 296 GTB or McLaren Artura. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. We've known that a V8-powered Emira is likely happening to replace the aging Toyota V6 once emissions rules tighten, though it's unclear whether this monster of a power plant will be used for the hybrid setup. The timeline for the Emira is still unclear at this point, but given Lotus' recent lackluster sales, the automaker needs to move quickly. It will also help if it resolves its current issues with tariffs, considering that America represents a substantial chunk of its sales. About the Author Jacob Oliva View Profile
Miami Herald
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Lotus Changes Gears with Hybrid Comeback
At the end of 2024, Lotus stepped back from its headline-grabbing plan to become an EV-only brand. After years of EV-centric messaging, the British sports car maker admitted what many others in the industry are also starting to face: demand for premium electric vehicles isn't as strong or consistent as initially hoped. In response, Lotus is now taking a more flexible approach to electrification, revisiting hybrid technology as a core part of its future. CEO Feng Qingfeng confirmed during the company's Q1 earnings call that Lotus is "investigating the feasibility" of sports cars using a new "Hyper Hybrid" plug-in system. The Emira's hybrid future is also taking shape, with more insights about its future electrified heart. Of note, sales for Lotus dropped 42% in the first quarter of 2025, down to just 1,274 cars globally. This is due to various factors, including weak demand for EVs and the U.S. tariffs. With these predicaments, the pivot is less about abandoning electrification entirely and more about reshaping it to suit current market conditions. According to Feng, the Hyper Hybrid powertrain features a 900V battery system with front and rear electric motors, capable of fast-charging from 10-80% in 12 minutes. It offers up to 186 miles of EV-only range and a total range exceeding 620 miles. Crucially, it qualifies as a true plug-in hybrid, not a range-extender - the engine powers the wheels directly. Autocar reports that the first production model to carry Lotus' new Hyper Hybrid system will be a variant of the Eletre SUV. Feng said it will debut in late 2025, with deliveries scheduled for Q1 2026. The combustion engine won't be the familiar Toyota V6 or AMG 2.0L turbo currently used in the Emira, though Lotus hasn't confirmed what will replace them. As for the Emira, it remains the backbone of the brand, accounting for more than 5,000 of Lotus' 12,000 global sales last year. It recently received an update for the 2026 model year, reflecting the automaker's focus on its main mover. Speaking to Auto Express, Lotus Europe CEO Matt Windle hinted at hybrid plans for the mid-engined coupe. Packaging will be important, though, considering the Emira's relatively compact size, expect a system similar in layout to the Ferrari 296 GTB or McLaren Artura. We've known that a V8-powered Emira is likely happening to replace the aging Toyota V6 once emissions rules tighten, though it's unclear whether this monster of a power plant will be used for the hybrid setup. The timeline for the Emira is still unclear at this point, but given Lotus' recent lackluster sales, the automaker needs to move quickly. It will also help if it resolves its current issues with tariffs, considering that America represents a substantial chunk of its sales. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
