Viral £14 Uniqlo moon bag is back in new pastel colors for spring – while Japanese company sues SHEIN for flogging a knockoff version
Uniqlo's popular £14.90 moon bag sold out seven times in 2023 after becoming a hit on social media – with fans dubbing it 'the Mary Poppins bag' thanks to its spacious interior.
And the The Japanese company has now reintroduced its bestseller with five new pastel colors for spring.
The design was originally launched in April 2022 and is available in a range of shades and fabrics, including nylon, faux leather and corduroy, measuring 28cm x 17cm.
The new shades – off-white, pink, lilac, blue and yellow – join the existing range of black, natural and olive green.
The release comes as Uniqlo sues controversial Chinese fast fashion retailer SHEIN over claims it is selling fake imitations of its shoulder bag.
Daisy Olivia, based in Margate, recently purchased the pastel pink bag from Uniqlo
Uniqlo's famous design has won numerous awards, including being named The Bag in Lyst's prestigious The Year in Fashion 2023, beating designer brands such as Bottega Veneta and Alaïa.
The moon-shaped creation was also featured in the Google Holiday 100 and was awarded for the gourmet and hit items category of the 2023 TikTok Trend Awards in Japan.
Despite its compact size, the £14.90 bag has been dubbed 'the Mary Poppins bag' for its ability to hold a surprising amount of stuff. Inside there is a large compartment and a small pocket to keep items safe and organized.
The latest version is made of dirt-repellent nylon and is finished with a water-repellent coating for optimal durability.
Additionally, the versatile garment is shaped to fit the body and can be worn over the shoulder or crossbody, making it suitable for a variety of occasions all year round.
The bag has received exclusive five-star reviews on the Uniqlo website, with numerous buyers praising its amazingly spacious interior.
“Light, beautiful and you can fit a lot in it,” said a customer.
The £14.90 nylon bag is now available in off-white, pink, lilac, blue and yellow
US-based influencer Adrie is pictured carrying her yellow bag around New York
Hannah Kidd, from Bath, shows off the brown bag with a crop top and wide leg jeans
'I am very happy with my new bag. I can take a surprising amount of stuff with me and find them easily in this neat bag. Ordering and delivery was efficient,” wrote another.
'Fantastic bag! It even fits a water bottle! Love it. Thank you,” a third wrote.
The new release comes as Uniqlo sues controversial Chinese fast fashion retailer SHEIN over claims it is selling fake imitations of its best-selling shoulder bag.
Since its unveiling in April 2022, Uniqlo's popular round mini shoulder bag has been featured in viral videos on social media for its surprisingly large capacity.
As such, it has been compared to the infinitely large magic carpet bag worn by Mary Poppins in the 1964 film of the same name.
While the Uniqlo bag retails for £14.90, very similar bags are listed on SHEIN for £5.
Uniqlo's parent company Fast Retail said on Tuesday that a petition was filed in a Tokyo court on December 28 against SHEIN Japan and two of its subsidiaries.
Uniqlo sues SHEIN over claims it is selling fake imitations of its best-selling shoulder bag, pictured on shelves
On the left is the Uniqlo Round Mini Bag, which sells online and in stores for £14.90. To the right is a similar looking bag on sale on SHEIN for £5
In justifying its complaint, Fast Retailing said that the “imitation products that SHEIN sells are very similar to its own product.”
It was also suggested that 'SHEIN's sales of the imitation products significantly undermine the high level of customer confidence in the quality of the Uniqlo brand and its products'.
A spokesperson for SHEIN said the company “respects the intellectual property rights of others and takes all claims of infringement seriously.” We are currently investigating this matter.”
Founded in 2008, SHEIN has been embroiled in several controversial copyright disputes, including those brought by US brand Chrome Hearts and H&M.
It started selling wedding dresses and only expanded to the US market in 2020 with the rise of online shopping, thanks in part to the Covid pandemic.
Very little is known about its CEO and founder Xu Yangtian, also known as Sky Xu, even though he is one of the richest people in China, according to the Wall Street Journal.