70s MACRAME

Here is a selection of macrame and jute bags mostly from the 70s. I was doing a little bit of research on woven bags and elastic and came across these on etsy. Don't you just love that site?!



I was extremely tempted to purchase this one which was going for just US$26, but really, do i need another bag? No!


I just love the neat rows of macrame that make up this bag and the contrast of the wood handle with the crafty feel of the main body of the bag. I also love the colours - just off whites which are so summery and fresh.


The slight deco patterning which adds a bit of subtle embellishment to the pattern.


The range of patterns and styles are just endless, and these are just a few of the images i found when i searched "macrame bag" on etsy. I wish i could do macrame, although mine would end up in a different category altogether. Perhaps experimental macrame or something like that.

My obsession with macrame continues on this previous post... http://anotherbagblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/macrame-and-stringy-bags.html

CROCHETED AND STRINGY BAGS

I recently started doing some crochet. Its fun, if not a little hit and miss. So far i have sort of got the impression that it doesn't really matter if you make a mistake, it still looks cool.



Anyway, this inspired me to look into crocheted bags, i really like the cleanness of these. They are simply and minimal but still have that gorgeous crafty feel.


I like the idea of using really thin elastic to crochet bags so they are a bit bouncy.


This one here is by The Jackson Twins based in West London.


Mostly the rest of them i found on etsy. I think the coloured crochet really works well with wooden hardware. Not sure why, it just does.

JAPANESE WOODEN BAGS

As per usual, i left these images on my desktop for too long and now i have no idea where they came from... aside from that they were taken by a colleague of mine in Japan... so i'm calling them Japanese wooden bags.


They are pretty nutty and slightly architect (my derogatory term for 'over-designed')


... and slightly unuseable. I do think they they are great but i feel sometimes some designers design things for museums and art galleries more so than for real people.

I'm in a slightly off mood today so everything seems to look a bit try-hard.

Oh, just found the info on this brand : http://www.monacca.com/

WOODEN IPHONE CASES

I have been seeing SO much wood around lately... these iphone cases, eyewear, faux wood prints, footwear... aghhh, i'm almost sick of it... but not quite. These cases are from Brook Farm General Store. They have some nice stuff there.


They are made by a company called Vers based in Massachusetts and retail for US$39.99.


I like em, but they are slightly 'architect-y' style-y.


But a nice idea and nicely done yeah.

I apologise to architects out there for sterotyping, but if you own dark rimmed glasses or a black roll neck sweater... you know who i'm talkin about.

TOOL BOXES

I just love tools and I wish i could keep mine in a toolbox like this one. Its from Alice Supply, costs US$60 and is seriously nice.


The below one is a bit bathing ape and not quite as special but both of them together show what a fab product Alice Supply have come up with.


I only wish i could see a picture of the inside. It also comes in a Paul Smith-y stripey version but I couldn't bare to post it, not even to add to my 'irritating bags' section.

CORK BAGS

I'm not sure where my fascination with cork came from for this post. It started with this image below. A range of purses of graduating sizes stacked on top of each other more like a pile of placemats than purses.


Cork is such a delicate and amazing material. Functional and curious. I must say that whilst i have never really invested in a cork bag or cork accessories, i can see that there is a whole world waiting out there to be discovered. Its softer and more pliable than wood and textured in a uniquely natural way.


I like the chest below which i found on etsy, the contrasting materials make it look very stylish and robust which is not a usual characteristic of cork.

WOODEN BAGS

Caroline Jarvis from Central Saint Martins graduating year 2009 has designed these wooden bags. They look like bird houses.


Come out little birdy

This one is also a rectangular wooden bag / backpack with a frypan stuck to it, but somehow it looks more like a kitchen cupboard gone walkies than a stylish avant garde bag. I am starting to think that catwalks are a place to make ridiculous things look fashionable.


I still love the use of strange materials in bags.

PORTS 1961

These simple deconstructed bags from the spring summer 2010 shows in new york caught my eye. Some of the pieces seem not much more than folded over pieces of leather. The materials are simple and minimalist, i really love them.