Lisbon Handbags: 7 Unique artisan makers you need to know

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Made in Portugal bags 

Handbags, whether carried in your hand, worn over your shoulder, or slung across your body, are not just a fashion statement but also a practical way to carry your special things in style.

Lisbon has fantastic artisans making beautiful handbags. Let’s get to know a few.

Updated August 2026

My favorite stores and places for bags are:

  • Mercadores de Memórias at the Centro Cultural Belém
  • Coisas de Maria The designer makes her bags and sets up her stall throughout the city of Lisbon.
  • Toino Abel makes the classic Portuguese straw bag.
  • Cestaria CesArt makes hand woven basket bags.
  • Artisan stalls on Ave Liberdade
  • Forms Bags sells hand made crochet bags and other beautiful ones made by Portuguese artisans.
  • BIRDWALK  Bags Beautifully designed bags and some are made from recycled plastic. They come in fantastic colours, and are very light. This has become my new travel bag because of the weight and size. Check out BIRDWALK’S site and check out their amazing bags. I’m a fan.

Mercadores de Memórias

cross body artisan handbag by Memorias handbag in Lisbon. Blueish colors with embroidery

The boutique is at the Centro Cultural Belém, a museum with a great modern art collection and rotating exhibits. 

The Mercadores de Memórias sells handmade bags by Portuguese and foreign artisans. They also sell beautiful artisan jewellery and lots of tempting things.  

You can find Mercadores de Memórias at Centro Cultural Belém loja 4. Caminho José Saramago

Praça do Imperio, Lisbon

Coisas.de.Maria

One of my favorite handbag designers is the lady who founded Coisas de Maria. hands holding an open handbag

I met her when I was walking around the Principe Real Park and she had set up her stall full of gorgeous Pasticcino handmade bags.

Her handbags have fun patterns and colors and will make any outfit look great! I bought this purple bag with the neon green designs. It looks fantastic with a black dress for an evening out in Lisbon!

fabric handbag held out in front of a person you cannot see the faceShe also sells different handbag designs like the one above. 

How to find Coisas.de.Maria

Visit her Instagram account to see where she is setting up her stall in the city of Lisbon.

The most famous straw bags in Portugal are the Toino Abel bags.

Nuno Henriques founded the Portuguese label Toino Abel, which is known for its beautiful handwoven straw bags.

The designer researched traditional artisan techniques from across Portugal and began making his bags to preserve this specific method of making straw bags.

I fell in love with the Toino Abel bags when I first saw them at the São Lourenço do Barrocal Hotel’s store. The style is simple, the designs on the bags are so elegant, and I love the handles!

Where to find Toino Abel bags

Leiria: Rua de Leiria, 16 Directions to their store in Leiria

Go to Leiria, get your bag, have lunch in Alcobaça, and spend the night in Nazaré. This will make an exciting road trip from Lisbon.

Purchase your bag online: Toino Abel 

Cestaria CesArt

two out of focus hands holding a wicker bascket,A few years ago, I went to the largest artisan exhibit in Lisbon called Fia and this is where I saw this wicker handbag. 

The artisan was sitting in the corner of the stall, weaving a large wicker basket and I was impressed with the amount of work he put into his weaving.

There were so many beautiful bag designs as well as other items and I couldn’t resist picking up a larger handbag  thinking it would be perfect for the beach. I’ve ended up using it a lot in the city. Everything fits in my bag: camera, phone, and my medium sized sketchbook.  It’s perfect.

How to find CesArt

CesArt is located in Bucelas, Lisboa.
The address is Rua do Mirante, 12.

Directions to CesArt

You can also contact the CesArt artisan on Instagram. to see where they are setting up a stall. 

Avenida Liberdade

illustration of a woman carrying a green handbag and a woman sitting with a red handbag
Illustration by Marguerite

When you visit Lisbon, you’ll definitely find yourself walking up and down Avenida da Liberdade. It’s one of the city’s most beautiful avenues.

The avenue is also home to fantastic stores like Dior, Longchamp, Cartier, Mango, Adolfo Dominguez, Cos, and many more.

But my absolute favorite part of Avenida da Liberdade is browsing the artisan stalls.

I’ve come across stunning dresses made by Angolan artisans, locally crafted Lisbon outfits, quirky knickknacks, and cozy knitted goods.

But, I’m always on the hunt for stalls selling straw or wicker handbags.

I have found beautiful handmade bags during the market days. 

person holding a straw bag,you cannot see the face
Lovely straw bag found on Avenida Liberdade

So when you come to Lisbon, be sure to check out the stalls on Avenida Liberdade.

Forms Bags and Design

triangular bag forms Lisbon
Photo courtesy of Forms Bags and Design

Forms has a good selection of artisanal, colorful crochet handbags. It’s like walking into a candy store. So many colours and so many shapes. 

a red and a pink crochet handbag
Photo by Marguerite

I loved their triangular bags  with the beautiful round strap, and their small rectangular handbags are  are classics, perfect for both daytime and evening wear.

a dark gray and a light gray crochet handbag
Photo courtesy of Forms Bags and Design

Where to Find Forms Bags and Designs

The Forms store has just moved to a new location: Terminal de Cruzeiros, Santa Apolónia Lisboa ┊ +351 920 264 678 

You can find them on Instagram

BirdWalk Bags

Black and olive green crossbody bag made with recycled plastic BIRWALK bag

BIRDWALK (bags with a twist)

I found my BIRDWALK bag at Lisboa Paper Company and later found out that BIRDWALK has it’s own store near Saldanha.

Some of their bags are inspired by Japanese design. They are fun and some look like a 3 dimensional puzzle. They are made from recycled plastic with cotton lining and they have a water repellent coating. You can wear them in more formal occasions, for travel or everyday. 

You can find BIRDWALK at Rua de Dona Estefânia 62 D in Lisbon.

*I am not affiliated with any of these stores and designers.

Marguerite Beaty

Marguerite Beaty, Blogger, Photographer & Artist

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