The Handbags Our Mothers Carried

Before handbags became outfit links and unboxing videos, they lived quietly by the front door.

We remember our mothers' bags by touch: the worn handle, the little clasp, the mysterious collection of tissues, mints and useful things they always seemed to have. I personally remember my mom asking me to make her bag to go out. Oh how excited I used to get! Those bags went to work, to dinners, to school pickups and family celebrations. They carried far more than their size suggested.

Perhaps that is why handbags feel so personal to us. They are not simply accessories. They witness our routines, our milestones and all the ordinary moments in between. Years later, one familiar shape can bring an entire person back to mind.

We design with that feeling close to us: pieces made to be worn, remembered and maybe, one day, borrowed permanently by someone you love.