If the fashion of the early 2020s can be typified by anything, it’s revivals. And no style era has been revived so far this decade more than Y2K. From logomania to collectible shoulder styles, 2000s handbag trends have become a staple of fashion in recent years.

But is there perhaps one early aughts bag style the fashion set has slept on? Let us reintroduce you to the bowling bag. With its origins as a sturdy style designed to carry a bowling ball, it comes as no surprise where the bag gets its name from.

Crafted with a distinctive curved top, it combines elements of both structured and slouchy silhouettes. The top-handle bag became a favorite amongst the Y2K fashion crowd, embracing chic style while celebrating its sporty roots. The likes of Prada and Gucci favored the style, releasing versions of the bag sporting paneled exteriors and logos, before niche Y2K brands such as Juicy Couture and Von Dutch hopped on the bowling bag trend.

So why, in an era of early 2000s revival fanfare, have bowling bags failed to emulate the same widespread popularity as other retro Y2K bag designs? And is there hope for the bowler style yet?

Y2K Bowling Bag Favorites

Many things likely come to mind when you think of Y2K fashion. But the chances are you picture some form of a bowling bag. Whether it’s Missy Elliott clutching the Dior Trotter Rasta bowling bag from 2004 or a teen movie mean girl donning a two-tone leather bowling design.

But it’s the simplistic and functional silhouette of the bowling bag that made it the ideal blank canvas for flashy logoed exteriors and hanging charms, helping to consolidate the style as a staple of the decade.

No label is synonymous with the bowler style quite