I just want a Bushwick Birkin like all the other cool kids.
(@telfarglobal / Instagram)
Have you ever looked at something and thought, “if I don’t have this in my life I will literally implode.” Well, that's the feeling I get when I look at the Telfar bag.
The Telfar Shopping Bag is simple: faux leather, double straps and an embossed logo on the front. All of its 15 color options come in three sizes, tote ranging from $150 to $257 — a steal in comparison to the likes of Chanel and Jaquemus.
This bag was released in 2014 but six years later and it’s still the best bag of the decade. And they have the sales to prove it. If you take a glance at the website, every single bag is sold out.
The small, the perfect afterparty bag, is sold out. The medium, perfect for holding your everyday survival kit, is sold out. And the large, the ideal carry-on, is sold out. It’s just a fashionable tote bag. And I want all of them.
These bags were brilliantly designed by Telfar Clemens, a queer, Black designer who wanted to make a 100% unisex fashion line in New York City. Telfar aims to explore identity and produce fashion that has never been seen on the market before. So, what does this mean for the Telfar Shopping Bag?
The bag has become a symbol of community for young creatives, specifically queer people of color. The bag’s simplicity and range in size and color make it relatable to everyone.
On Telfar’s website, it states “It’s not for you, it’s for everyone.” Clearly, this brand is all about inclusivity and representing the world we live in today. This brand, especially this bag, represents the people.
The bag is an affordable version of all the luxury bags out on the market. Thus, the name Bushwick Birkin was given. It is for a community of young people that don’t fall into usual target customers for a luxury brand.
The bag represents a shift in the fashion industry and says a big “screw you” to the rules of luxury fashion. Before the Telfar bags, there was really no genderless, black-owned bag introduced to the fashion industry. Owning the bag isn’t a status that a person puts out, but it’s a sense of identity.
On Telfar’s Instagram, you will see pictures of real customers sporting the bag. Customers of all different ages, races, and genders. Posting real customers of the bag helps the brand connect more with its fans. It creates a bond no other brand has with its customers. It really showcases the inclusivity the brand represents.
I already signed up for the mailing list to make sure I can get my hands on one of these bags and you should, too.
Hannah Engel is an Online Writer at Rowdy Magazine. Her simple pleasures include playing Animal Crossing, online shopping, and taking care of her plants. She’s passionate about fashion and travel. You can reach her at hannahengel2018@gmail.com