After the craze for Gucci’s bamboo-handle backpacks in the early 1990s and, later, Prada’s black nylon versions died down, those who still used these bags that allow both hands to be free are mostly school children.
But this bag-for-the-back has made a quiet return since Raf Simons’s collaboration with Eastpak (below) in spring 2008. And its practical advantage (if you don’t use it as a rice sack) has proven once again the better bag to carry in a sea of oversized totes. And the backpack does not need to suffer from the dubious distinction of being a “man-bag”!
Leading the pack this season is Burberry Prorsum’s all-leather version (top) that’s especially appealing because of its military rather than sporty overtones. Just perfect for work suits and business shirts. For LV fans (you know who you are!), the equally un-technical version (below right), in ostrich leather too, is destined to be a hit.
But if you’re not in the market for a formal-looking backpack, you wouldn’t want to miss those by Lanvin or Japanese labels such as Visvim.
This spring, be ready for some rear attention!
Clockwise from top left: Quicksilver X Takashi Kumagai, Givenchy, Visvim, Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, and Bape
