In the Bag

Michael Maharam, the creative driving force behind Maharam textiles is an über design snob and a bag fanatic—and I mean that as the utmost compliment. So when he commissioned some of his favorite designers (Konstantin Grcic, Jasper Morrison, Klaartje Martens, Hella Jongerius) to design a bag (or two or three), you know that he was not messing around. Most of the variations on the classic tote in the Maharam collection have that perfect, “If you have to ask…” minimalist quality that Helmut/Jil/Margiela fans will appreciate; and then there is the Grcic Frame Bag, a slouchy, lightweight carryall in signal orange, that is, to my eye anyway, the epitome of utilitarian chic.