This summery straw tote from the Wanderlust collection at Madewell is as eco-conscious as it is stylish. Woven from sustainable Cambodian water hyacinth, each handmade bag directly supports the local artisans who create them.
My obsession with this bag is inexplicable. Forsooth:
1. I am a big bag person.
2. I like black and brights, not brown.
3. Cross-body purses further define my boobs, which need no further defining.
Despite all this, my Olivia Harris Zip Pocket Camera bag has not left my side since its purchase. Maybe it’s the louche zippers. Maybe it’s the haphazard “I don’t need to carry a lot of extra crap” vibe. Or maybe it’s just the fact that I drive a big-ass car, where I can stash diapers, wipes, and dignity, as needed.
This bag, handmade by Miami-based Lucha Workshop, is :
a) huge. Which means I can stuff my traveling nursery in it with room to spare.
b) denim. Which means it will be virtually indestructible.
c) screenprinted with a charming yet terrifying mishmash of gun toting zombies, sea monsters and eyeballs. Which means it will probably bite you if provoked.
We’re still at the beach, and I’m still lugging my awesomely indestructible LL Bean Boat Tote whereever we go. (Seriously, that thing is a beast; we spilled soda in it, then dredged the bag in sand like it was being prepped for a fish fry. Got back up to the room, and it all shook and wiped right out, no worse for the wear.)
But yesterday, I noticed a woman carrying this curiously Croc-like tote that looked like a great backup. Of course, I ran over and peppered her with questions; turns out that the bag weighs absolutely nothing, and is molded from a synthetic material conducive to blasting with a hose. And according to the website, the Ladybug tote can carry up to 80 lbs without sagging. By my calculations, that’s both a kid and a six-pack.
A big, cheery bag that folds into a little bag. To be carried around in your regular bag, for emergencies.
