Khaite (pronounced ‘KAYT’) is the New York brand founded by Catherine Holstein in 2016 that has become the most discussed American luxury fashion brand of the early 2020s — worn by Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski, Dua Lipa, and Kylie Jenner, and consistently generating more fashion editorial and celebrity coverage per season than brands many times its size. The brand’s identity — fluid, body-conscious, deeply material-focused — built its reputation through knitwear before the Lotus Tote made Khaite a global bag brand. At The Brands Villa, the authenticated Khaite collection covers the Medium Lotus Tote (10 colourways, $1,685-$3,677) and the Medium Olivia Hobo (2 colourways, $1,389-$1,852) with worldwide duty-paid shipping. The full Khaite bags collection is at The Brands Villa.
How to Pronounce Khaite
Khaite is pronounced ‘KAYT’ — one syllable, rhyming with ‘gate’. The K-H combination produces a single ‘K’ sound; the ‘-aite’ is the same vowel as ‘bait’ or ‘late’. The spelling sometimes leads to multi-syllable mispronunciations (‘KAY-ite’ or ‘KAY-ee-tay’) but the correct form is a clean monosyllable. This matters for buyer context — ‘what is khaite’ and ‘how do you pronounce khaite’ are consistent search queries reflecting genuine buyer uncertainty about a brand they’ve discovered through visual media.
The Khaite Lotus Tote — the Brand’s Signature Bag
The Medium Lotus Tote is Khaite’s most commercially successful bag and the piece that established the brand’s accessories reputation globally. The Lotus Tote is a structured tote with a top handle and a body construction inspired by the lotus flower’s layered geometric geometry — the bag’s panels and gussets create a distinctive cross-section that is identifiable in silhouette even without branding. Available in leather, suede, and seasonal materials including raffia (‘khaite raffia bag’ generates specific search volume for the raffia format). At The Brands Villa, the Medium Lotus Tote is available in ten colourways from v1 ($3,677) through
The Khaite Olivia Hobo — at The Brands Villa
The Medium Olivia Hobo at $1,852 at The Brands Villa (also in a
Khaite Bag Models Not in BV Stock
Beyond the Lotus Tote and Olivia Hobo, Khaite produces a full bag range. The Elena — a structured top-handle bag with a distinctive flap closure and hardware detail — is one of the most widely searched Khaite bags. The Simona — a compact shoulder bag. The Audrey — a rounded shoulder bag. The Studded bag — Khaite’s most directionally fashion bag, with stud embellishment. The Crossbody formats — multiple compact crossbody styles across different season launches. The Raffia Tote — seasonal, uses woven raffia in the Lotus Tote construction. All from khaite.com, Farfetch, Net-a-Porter, and at Khaite boutiques.
Catherine Holstein and the Khaite Identity
Catherine Holstein founded Khaite in 2016 at the age of 40 — having previously worked in fashion editing and creative consultation. The brand’s founding identity was knitwear — specifically the cashmere and merino knits in body-conscious silhouettes that generated early celebrity coverage. The sensibility Holstein has maintained across Khaite’s evolution is one of American luxury — not the formal European luxury tradition but something more rooted in the body, in comfort, in the intelligence of material choice. The brand is independently held (not owned by LVMH, Kering, or Richemont) — significant in a market where most successful emerging luxury brands are acquired quickly. This independence has allowed Holstein to control the brand’s growth and direction without conglomerate timeline pressures.
Khaite Jackets at The Brands Villa
Beyond bags, The Brands Villa also stocks Khaite leather jackets. The Shellar Jacket in Classic Brown Leather at $4,500 and the
Frequently Asked Questions About Khaite Bags
What is the Khaite Lotus Tote?
Khaite’s signature bag — a structured tote with lotus flower-inspired geometry. Available in leather, suede, raffia. At The Brands Villa: 10 colourways, $1,685-$3,677. Worldwide duty-paid.
What is the Khaite Olivia bag?
A soft semi-structured hobo. At The Brands Villa: Medium Olivia Hobo in 2 colourways, $1,389-$1,852. Worldwide duty-paid.
Who is the designer of Khaite?
Catherine Holstein — sole founder and creative director, est. 2016, New York. Previously a fashion editor. Independently held.
How is Khaite pronounced?
‘KAYT’ — one syllable, rhyming with ‘gate’. Not ‘KAY-ite’.
What Khaite bags are at The Brands Villa?
Medium Lotus Tote (10 colourways, $1,685-$3,677) and Medium Olivia Hobo (2 colourways, $1,389-$1,852). All worldwide duty-paid.