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The It Girl Bag Accessory: The Monkey Keychain
Cute, collectable bag charms are having their moment. They've been around for decades, but right now people are searching far and wide for the perfect accessory to express their style.
At Kipling, we've embraced the bag charm craze for decades. Some say we paved the way and started the trend before high-fashion brands followed suit with our Kipling monkey keychains.
What is a Bag Charm?
A bag charm is an accessory that you attach to your handbag, backpack or any kind of bag.
Some bag charms double up as key chains, so you can attach useful items like keys or electronic fobs to your bag. However, bag charms don't have to be practical or functional. Their main purpose is to personalise your bag.
Whether you're going to work, school or a fun day out, your bag accessory lets you express yourself and brighten up your (and other people's) day!
Exploring the Plushie Charm Trend
So, what's all the bag charm hype about? Read on to learn why the plushie charm trend continues to take the world by storm, and get inspired to personalise your bag with a unique bag accessory.
When did bag charms become popular?
Bag charms and keychains became a worldwide phenomenon from the '80s onward. In 1984, the luxury brand Hermès unveiled its iconic Birkin handbag, inspired by actor and singer Jane Birkin. The British-French muse became one of the celebrity trailblazers of the bag charm trend. She attached charms, beads and symbols to the sought-after leather bag.
The trend exploded in Japan during the '80s and '90s as well, as character culture boomed. Although they were restricted by school uniform rules, Japanese school kids could use these accessories to express their style. They wore bag charms depicting their favourite characters from games and TV shows. The kawaii aesthetic, with its cute and cartoon-like designs, naturally led to a surge in popularity of plushie bag charms.
Of course, we can’t leave Kipling out of the lineup. We were one of the first brands to sell bags complete with the cute monkey keychains we all know and love today. Our Antwerp-based brand was born in the late '80s and, soon after, it became synonymous with these lovable miniature charms. Some people would seek out Kipling bags for the sole reason of owning their very own little monkey.
Exploring the Plushie Charm Trend
So, what's all the bag charm hype about? Read on to learn why the plushie charm trend continues to take the world by storm, and get inspired to personalise your bag with a unique bag accessory.
When did bag charms become popular?
Bag charms and keychains became a worldwide phenomenon from the '80s onward. In 1984, the luxury brand Hermès unveiled its iconic Birkin handbag, inspired by actor and singer Jane Birkin. The British-French muse became one of the celebrity trailblazers of the bag charm trend. She attached charms, beads and symbols to the sought-after leather bag.
The trend exploded in Japan during the '80s and '90s as well, as character culture boomed. Although they were restricted by school uniform rules, Japanese school kids could use these accessories to express their style. They wore bag charms depicting their favourite characters from games and TV shows. The kawaii aesthetic, with its cute and cartoon-like designs, naturally led to a surge in popularity of plushie bag charms.
Of course, we can’t leave Kipling out of the lineup. We were one of the first brands to sell bags complete with the cute monkey keychains we all know and love today. Our Antwerp-based brand was born in the late '80s and, soon after, it became synonymous with these lovable miniature charms. Some people would seek out Kipling bags for the sole reason of owning their very own little monkey.
Bag charms on the runway
Later on, high-fashion brands took the concept to new, more exclusive heights. Fashion houses put their own spin on bag charms, together with a higher price tag than ever seen before.
In 2014, Fendi launched its fluffy Bag Bug monster charms designed by Karl Lagerfeld, retailing at a starting price of £450 and in 2018, Burberry produced the Thomas plush bear charms with iconic branded outfits, retailing at a starting price of $161 (£121).
The bag charm craze revival: The age of the Labubu
While bag charms were taken up as high-fashion accessories in the 2010s, they erupted into the mainstream in the following decades with the help of Labubu dolls.
Artist Kasing Lung is the mastermind behind the Labubu dolls, which first appeared in 2015. They attracted little attention in their first years until Chinese retailer Pop Mart gained exclusive rights to market and sell the dolls in 2019.
Thanks to Pop Mart's influence and large customer base, Labubus started to gain popularity. However, it wasn’t until 2024 that the dolls surged in popularity and stirred a social media frenzy.
Why did Labubu dolls become so popular?
Labubu dolls captured the hearts of fashionistas, celebrities and the general public. Loved for their cheeky or menacing expressions and bold colour options, they also evoked a sense of childhood nostalgia. Many have drawn comparisons between Labubu dolls and Troll dolls, the cute, fluffy-haired characters that became a craze back in the '60s, which are still collected today as tokens of childhood and simpler times.
In 2025, Labubu doll keychains became the It Girl accessory of the year. Celebrities attached them to their bags, and fans queued up for hours for the chance to get their hands on one. Rihanna, Dua Lipa and Lisa from Blackpink are some of the leading stars to jump on the trend.
TikTok creators showed off their collections of Labubus, and influencers flaunted them as bag charms on their designer bags. Although Labubu had originally entered the market as fun, affordable accessories, some fans were willing to pay thousands of pounds for a Labubu in the resale market.
Today, in a world of high fashion and aspirational style, this is a unique trend that everyone from school kids to A-list celebrities wants in on.
Why did Labubu dolls become so popular?
Labubu dolls captured the hearts of fashionistas, celebrities and the general public. Loved for their cheeky or menacing expressions and bold colour options, they also evoked a sense of childhood nostalgia. Many have drawn comparisons between Labubu dolls and Troll dolls, the cute, fluffy-haired characters that became a craze back in the '60s, which are still collected today as tokens of childhood and simpler times.
In 2025, Labubu doll keychains became the It Girl accessory of the year. Celebrities attached them to their bags, and fans queued up for hours for the chance to get their hands on one. Rihanna, Dua Lipa and Lisa from Blackpink are some of the leading stars to jump on the trend.
TikTok creators showed off their collections of Labubus, and influencers flaunted them as bag charms on their designer bags. Although Labubu had originally entered the market as fun, affordable accessories, some fans were willing to pay thousands of pounds for a Labubu in the resale market.
Today, in a world of high fashion and aspirational style, this is a unique trend that everyone from school kids to A-list celebrities wants in on.
Kipling’s lucky charm
At Kipling, we've been in the bag charm business for decades, and our monkey charms are a defining accessory in our bag collections. But when did all this monkey business begin?
Where Did the Kipling Monkey Come From?
In 1986, Kipling cofounder Xavier Kegels found inspiration in a miniature plush monkey sold as a keyring in a souvenir shop in Hong Kong. The Jungle Book was another key source of inspiration behind our monkey story, as our designers at the time had a shared love for the book.
Xavier's discovery and the designers' passion inspired the team to add a cute and creative touch to every bag. From the late '80s, we started adding monkey bag keychains to all of our Kipling designs. Xavier was the name of one of our original monkeys, but the lineup back then also included Phyllis, Anca and David. Today, there are many more monkeys to choose from to express your style.
Choosing a Monkey To Match Your Mood
Ready to get creative and add a personal touch to your bag? A monkey keychain is a must-have bag accessory.
The best part? There are many Kipling monkeys to choose from. They come in different sizes, from extra-small to extra-large. The smaller monkeys are ideal for small bags like crossbody bags or kids' bags. The bigger monkey designs look great on larger bags like backpacks and holdalls - but the choice is always yours!
Our Kipling monkey keychains come in a variety of colours with different facial expressions. Choose from realistic black or brown monkeys, or go wild with a multi-coloured design.
Our special edition monkeys are the perfect opportunity to add fun and festive flair to your day. Carry our Snowman Monkey through the winter and swap it out for our lovable Valentine Monkey for the romantic season.
Whichever cute character you choose, you can carry them with you and give them a name and personality. We love hearing about the stories and seeing the adventures your little monkeys get up to on Instagram.
Choosing a Monkey To Match Your Mood
Ready to get creative and add a personal touch to your bag? A monkey keychain is a must-have bag accessory.
The best part? There are many Kipling monkeys to choose from. They come in different sizes, from extra-small to extra-large. The smaller monkeys are ideal for small bags like crossbody bags or kids' bags. The bigger monkey designs look great on larger bags like backpacks and holdalls - but the choice is always yours!
Our Kipling monkey keychains come in a variety of colours with different facial expressions. Choose from realistic black or brown monkeys, or go wild with a multi-coloured design.
Our special edition monkeys are the perfect opportunity to add fun and festive flair to your day. Carry our Snowman Monkey through the winter and swap it out for our lovable Valentine Monkey for the romantic season.
Whichever cute character you choose, you can carry them with you and give them a name and personality. We love hearing about the stories and seeing the adventures your little monkeys get up to on Instagram.
Styling Your Kipling Monkey Keychain
Add a Kipling monkey to your shopping cart today and start styling it with your favourite bags and outfits. Why not pick a monkey in your favourite colour and coordinate it with your Kipling bag, or be bold and mix and match with contrasting colours.
Our Kipling bags feature a metal ring on the exterior to attach your monkey keychain to. We recommend securing your keychain to this ring to keep your monkey safe on your travels. Avoid attaching it to fabric parts of the bag or the zippers, as the keychain could fall off or damage the bag.
Now you know how to make a bag charm elevate your look, which Kipling monkey will you choose? Discover our full monkey charm collection and find the perfect bag to pair with your new friend.
