“My obituary will say: Birkinslike a bag,” the Jane icon joked in an interview, realizing that the fame of an accessory Hermespreceded it. Why do you call them by their names – Jackie, Kelly – in mutual popularity, when you do not understand which of them is more iconic. Status symbol with handle or like Coco Chanel thought its 2.55, a shoulder bag to save women the mess when their hands are constantly busy.
What defines a bag as an it-bag?
It-bag is not just a bag: it is legendary, instantly recognizable and damn expensive., hand in hand with celebrities and elites who are alien to the passage of time and the rapid development of micro and macro trends. This is a thermometer of ways and mods: in the 60s Jackie from Gucci elevates the house to the international symbol of Dolce Vita, and in the nineties it becomes a new fetish Prada nylon backpackA bag with urban charm and false defeatism, tagged with a few zeros, today as then. And then there Fendi BaguettesCelebrating 25 years of history with a maxi show last September, a mini shoulder bag that manages to deliver a death blow to fin de siècle minimalism, introducing us to the most brazen and ornate 2000s.
Distinctive elements of the it-bag
What made these bags so popular? Price, exclusivity and impeccable workmanship: This is the golden triad that defines the “it” bag, the values chased by luxury goods groups, aware that bags and jewelry are worth more than clothes and watches, in an industry where performance (ahinoi) matters the most. Prestige parameters that elevate any female fetish accessory to the level of a fashion legend, or at least it was until a few years ago…
Telfar and Uniqlo: “handbags” of our time
Will we remember them? Will they be included in the fashion history books on a par with the “twins” Chanel, Hermès, Gucci or Fendi? Probably not, it lacks a mythical aura as well as a unique and prestigious design. However, they love and if Among the parameters that make a bag “it” is popularity., they have yes. One has even been renamed by fans to Bushwick Birkin, an allusion to the creative district of Brooklyn, the base of operations for street artists who emigrated here from the too bourgeois Williamsburg. This is the designer’s buyer Telfar Clemens, a Liberian-American designer and founder of a label of the same name, which sold out very quickly under the slogan “It’s not for you, it’s for everyone.” So fast to force a brand in 2020, when the bag was released to the market, to use the 24-hour “Bag Safety Program”, in essence, a customer protection plan that would allow them to win an accessory anyway, it is not necessary to turn to resellers it drives up prices. Practical and minimalistic, it has neither a unique design nor an elitist price tag. But it’s a bag for the here and now: vegan, genderless and functional, it was enough for Beyoncé to prefer it Birkins in the text Summer Renaissance and Alexandra Ocasio Cortés sported it under her arm to make it the flag of the minority, a symbol of belonging to the community at a historic moment when even fashion has turned its gaze to topics that can no longer be ignored. . Why success is not enough today, and fame must match the appropriate interpretation The spirit of time which, in times of inflation and economic crisis, corresponds to anything but boasting of privileged status.
Costs 14.90 euros Uniqlo bag went viral last summer on Tik Tok. Totally anonymous, in nylon and crescent-shaped with an adjustable shoulder strap, it’s normcore to the nth degree. And if celebrities often gain millions of views, then in the social bastion of the young generation Z deceptionlow budget luxury replicas, The hobo bag Summer 2022 was liked by the exact opposite: its democratic character and absolutely unpretentiousness. And in fact, it continues to please, sell and be the new transfer of the Japanese brand, just like his cashmere pullovers.
As Sianna Fernandez-Wang, CEO and founder of the reselling platform Cocoon, explained to the US publication Harpers Bazaar: “In the era of social media, trends change so quickly that customers barely have time to get interested in a new trend before it is replaced by another, but the fact go viral on Instagram or Tik Tok can still bring the bag to the status of it-bag”.
As if to say that today it is an algorithm that is successful, with young consumers who despise ultra-luxury for the sake of a trend. Summing up, answering the question of what characteristics define an “it” bag is extremely difficult today.. However, of course, it is not enough to attract our attention for several seasons. On the other hand, the factor is no longer strictly relevant. luxury and the game is played while maintaining a balance between captivating design and the ability to intuitively feel the spirit of the times. A very difficult task, which we will see if today’s designers can cope with and how.
Source: Elle