84% matchLeo et Violette
Direct-to-consumer minimalism with price transparency
What changes: Bags-only focus, no knitwear or apparel
Brand profile
Cuyana
San Francisco label making "fewer, better" women's leather bags, knitwear and wardrobe essentials in restrained neutral palettes.
San FranciscoOrigin
WomenswearFocus
Minimalist / ContemporaryStyle
$$$Price
4 brands like Cuyana like Leo et Violette, Strathberry, Maria Maleta Lisbon →
What to know about Cuyana
Women's essentials, not menswear
Cuyana designs for women: leather handbags, knitwear, tailoring, travel goods and toquilla straw hats in restrained neutral palettes.
Built on "fewer, better"
The founding premise is a small wardrobe of long-use pieces, which is why the line stays narrow and the colour range stays neutral.
Totes are the anchor
The Classic Easy Tote and the modular System Tote carry the brand, made with long-term ateliers in Ecuador, Italy, Peru and Argentina.
How Cuyana fits
Overall fit
slightly large
Shoppers generally describe Cuyana apparel as running a touch generous and relaxed, with soft fabrics that drape away from the body rather than fitting close.
Tip: If you're between sizes or want a cleaner line, take the smaller size — most pieces are cut with intentional ease.
Low confidence · based on 6 sources
By category
| Category | Runs | Shape | Size advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirts & overshirts | slightly large | loose and fluid, with dropped or soft shoulders | Take your usual size for the intended relaxed look, or size down for a more tailored shape. |
| Trousers & pants | mixed | mostly relaxed, wide or straight tailored cuts | Order your normal waist size but budget for a hem, especially at shorter heights. |
| Jackets | slightly large | easy, layer-friendly blazer and coat shapes | Stick with your usual size unless you plan to wear it over light layers only, in which case size down. |
| T-shirts & graphic tees | slightly large | relaxed, slightly boxy through the chest and shoulder | Consider one size down if you prefer a closer, less boxy tee. |
Directional fit consensus summarized from public sources with AI — a starting point, not a guarantee. Confirm with the product's own measurements before buying.
If you like Cuyana
84% match
80% matchStrathberry
Clean-lined Spanish-made bags with a signature hardware bar
What changes: More formal, hardware-led branding and no ready-to-wear
73% matchMaria Maleta Lisbon
Small-batch Portuguese leather, versatile pared-back shapes
What changes: Tiny range, lower price, less polished retail experience
68% matchclare v
California ease in leather, but with color and graphic play
What changes: Bolder palette and prints versus restrained neutrals
Cuyana fit questions
Does Cuyana run big or small?
Cuyana fits slightly large. If you're between sizes or want a cleaner line, take the smaller size — most pieces are cut with intentional ease. Shoppers generally describe Cuyana apparel as running a touch generous and relaxed, with soft fabrics that drape away from the body rather than fitting close.
How does Cuyana fit?
Shoppers generally describe Cuyana apparel as running a touch generous and relaxed, with soft fabrics that drape away from the body rather than fitting close. Overall shape: relaxed, softly draped silhouettes with minimal body-conscious shaping.
How do Cuyana shirts & overshirts fit?
Cuyana shirts & overshirts fits slightly large. Take your usual size for the intended relaxed look, or size down for a more tailored shape. Shape: loose and fluid, with dropped or soft shoulders.
How do Cuyana trousers & pants fit?
Cuyana trousers & pants varies by piece. Order your normal waist size but budget for a hem, especially at shorter heights. Shape: mostly relaxed, wide or straight tailored cuts.
How do Cuyana jackets fit?
Cuyana jackets fits slightly large. Stick with your usual size unless you plan to wear it over light layers only, in which case size down. Shape: easy, layer-friendly blazer and coat shapes.
Brand facts
Cuyana is a San Francisco women's essentials label founded in 2011 by Karla Gallardo and Shilpa Shah around a "fewer, better" philosophy. It centers on leather handbags such as the Classic Easy Tote and modular System Tote, alongside knitwear, tailoring, travel goods and Panama-style toquilla straw hats in restrained neutral palettes, made with long-term ateliers in Ecuador, Italy, Peru and Argentina. The company remains independent and venture-backed, with H.I.G. Growth Partners among its investors, and has expanded from direct-to-consumer e-commerce into a growing US store network.
- Founded
- 2011
- Origin
- San Francisco, United States
- Made in
- USA, Europe
- Price
- $$$
- Focus
- Womenswear
- Facts checked
- August 2026
- Styles
- Minimalist / Contemporary, Quiet luxury