Photo Credit: Hermes / Prada / Versace / Givenchy / Jil Sanders
Virtual shows aren’t a novelty in the industry. But our conception of the role that a show fulfills within society is shifting, along with what is achievable through it. The narratives keep getting more creative, the clothes more functional and the visuals ever so stunningly unworldly. Bags for AW21 are no exception: functionality seemed to be the key essence that attracted designers for this season, and there have been many reinventions in the making.
There has been a influx of designers that reimagined fetishism within their collections, characterising many runways shows, from the Gucci Aria collection to Lemaire’s inventive take on pockets.
Compact black leather bags are still in and popularly used by Givenchy, Jil Sander and The Row, which are the antithesis of the maxi bags that just hit the runways. This undoubtedly creates a contrasting new category of androgynous fashion that appeals to ever so many customers, whilst bringing back a 70’s punk appeal that seems to be embraced by many designers this season. The only feminine styles are the reinterpretations of maxi pochettes by Isabel Marant, Fendi and Alberta Ferretti. We still can’t figure out why we still gravitate towards such uncomfortable bags which need to be held tighter than a precious gem, but they surely look stunningly pleasing for the eye.
Some designers are studying the ergonomic functions of the body and calculating its movements accordingly to their functional and avant-garde designs, such as Alyx Studio. Wallets become unnecessary in a world that tends to distance itself away from the traditional conceptions of style, but minimalism finds a new resurgence that arises from an environmental crisis (despite it not being any environmentally conscious due to its spike in demand).
Coach and Hermès still embrace the more classical philosophy of fashion, with such an elegance in terms of their designs that reigns above all other designers, at least in this category.
Lastly, vibrant textures were spotted here and there through the most vibrant patterns, with psychedelic influences that only Versace and Prada know how to dominate.
Words By Tommaso Donati, Graphic By Emily Chapillon
