That’s where the hunt for a good dupe comes in. And listen, I’ve been down this rabbit hole. Hours spent scrolling, reading reviews that sound suspiciously like they were written by robots, and sometimes, regrettably, clicking “add to cart” on things that just *do not* live up to the hype.
But I think (think, I said!) I’ve found a winner. Or at least, a promising contender. It’s the Anine Bing Large Rio Tote. Now, I know, $450 ain’t exactly chump change, but compared to the Loewe, it’s practically a steal.
The thing that got me was the woven jute. It’s got that same kinda summery, textured vibe as the Loewe. I mean, it *is* jute, so duh, but the point is, it *looks* good. And from what I’ve seen (a lot of Instagram stalking, I confess), it seems pretty well-made. I haven’t personally held it, so can’t vouch for the actual feel of the thing, but the pictures don’t lie, right? Right?! Okay, maybe they sometimes do…
Look, I’m not saying it’s a perfect, 100% identical replica. It’s not going to fool anyone who’s really paying attention. But honestly, who’s inspecting your bag that closely? Most people are too busy staring at their phones anyway.
The Anine Bing tote is more like a “inspired by” kinda thing. It captures the *essence* of the Loewe, without completely ripping it off (and costing you a month’s salary). Plus, Anine Bing is a pretty cool brand anyway, so you’re not exactly buying some random, suspiciously cheap knock-off from… well, you know where.
