BAGS: INSIDE OUT

Me at the Bags Inside Out Exhibition at the V&A Museum, August 2021

I have been dying to get to see this exhibition for ages and finally made it in August. It’s called ‘Bags: Inside Out’ and is at the Victoria & Albert museum in London until 16th January 2022. Taken from their Curator,Lucia Savi;

‘Bags; Inside Out is a short history of bags, as told through 40 highlights from the V & A’s spellbinding exhibition. Through these objects, it explores the design, construction and function of bags, for both men and women, from Elizabethan England to contemporary China. Suitcases and backpacks sit alongside clutch bags, vanity cases and iconic ‘It bags’ to form a guide to the ultimate accessory.’

 It was fantastic to see bags from so many different eras and cultures and to read about their history. Also, as a bag maker myself, seeing the craftsmanship that went into some of the earlier examples with regards to embroidery and beading etc, was simply breathtaking!

This trunk belonged Emilie Busbey Grigsby (1876 - 1964)

Travelling by Sea

This trunk was one of a set that accompanied American socialite Emilie Grigsby on her frequent transatlantic crossings during the early 1900s. The vast size and weight of these cases, even before any belongings were added, seem crazy and excessive in today’s age of travel. The quality of craftsmanship and materials used is clear to see and only the rich could afford such adventurous journeys and of course, such bespoke luggage to transport their beautiful belongings with them.

Bags by Freitag & Elvis & Kresse made from repurposed materials

Eco Conscious Bags

This section was of particular interest to me as I make a lot of my bags from upcycled materials, predominantly leather.

The two bags above are made from old truck tarpaulins (left) and decommissioned fire hoses (right). This is waste that would otherwise end up in landfill but due to the ingenuity of the designers behind the labels, they have been repurposed to make quality, durable and desirable bags. Swiss brand Freitag have been making messenger bags from recycled truck tarpaulin, used seat-belts and bicycle tyre inner tubes since 1993. Elvis & Kresse who make these classy bags from fire hose, have been going for a few years now and they pledge 50% of their profits into charitable projects in addition to their sustainable values which is very inspiring.

Bags made from repurposed materials, from marine plastic to bottle cartons.

Above is a tote bag made from woven juice cartons and behind is a backpack designed by Stella McCartney in partnership with Parley for the Oceans. It is made from marine plastic waste that has been recycled into new fibre. The limited-edition backpack raises awareness of the problems of ocean plastic pollution and all proceeds were donated to Sea Shepherd, a charity established to protect marine life.

I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition and would recommend it to anyone interested in design, just book your tickets soon as they are selling out fast!