BAGS
Travel,Work, Mixed
The brand logo, and especially the monogram, is a decorative motif that has been front and centre in fashion recently. So-called logomania is a trend that has turned fullcircle, from cool to tacky and back to cool again - via a significant diversion into the lexicon of streetwear. Call it bootlegging-chic or call it unfettered design freedom, but the freestyle manipulation of the logo has become a mainstream pursuit. Playing with the instantly recognisable emblems of fashion gives consumers an easy-to-read and fun-to-display way of showing their fashion affiliations, whether ironically or not. We think logo-heavy decorations works especially well on bags: they’re excellent on Instagram, but you can always put them down if you want too. And, for balance, we’ve chosen a few of our new-season favourite logo-free pieces too.
In a world where you can make your fortune as a digital nomad armed with nothing but reliable wi-fi and your laptop, the slow erosion of the tailored suit as a must-wear uniform of gainful employment makes sense. Sometimes, however, it is useful to show the world that you are a man of business - especially when that business does not demand you dress like a traditional businessman. That is why the work bag seems set to become the most prized accessory of the gig economy. Even digital nomads need to carry their stuff from one WeWork to another. And who doesn’t want to display a subtle signifier of solvency? These are some of the most striking work bags currently on the market. One of the most satisfying things about them - inherent beauty apart - is that they won’t need upgrading for many years to come. Unlike that laptop.
“What a piece of work is a man!”. Hamlet’s outburst was part of a soliloquy on the contradictory nature of the human animal. In the 21st century we are pretty short on Shakespeare-level deep-thinkers - so the easiest way to shorthand what kind of a man you are is the piece of portage you carry. Witness the options across the spread above: 12 totable totems in which a man can both stow his essentials and show his essence. The backpack, once a practical option predominantly favoured by schoolchildren and hikers, has arguably become the most current form of dayto-day luggage for the contemporary Millennial. The fanny pack is the backpack retooled for Generation Z. Worn cross-body with the compartment on the front, you can signal your brand of choice, stow your phone, and keep your hands free for
skating and Snapchat. The more mature man - perhaps a man of leisure - is happy to use his hands the better to display his taste. A luxuriously-fabricated shopping tote or even a beauty case repurposed to carry micro-necessities act as trophies in themselves. A document holder in a paperless-age is an almost decadently archaic accessory, whilst a gym bag with an impeccable luxury provenance gives definition to your image as well as your torso. Longer trips allow for larger statements. The glorious Rimowa aluminium trolley looks better the more bashed-up it becomes: those scratches are signs of a life well-travelled. An alternative is to pack your possessions in a leather case whose provenance represents a journey from mid-20th century to this one, updated with an ironic twist for now. What piece of luggage are you?