Many moons ago when I was an advertising executive in London, my biggest wardrobe struggle was to find a stylish handbag that could fit everything I needed from 8am to 8pm, and didn’t weigh a ton.
Sometimes one bag wasn’t enough and I’d have to resort to carrying multiple bags on my daily commute, especially if I was planning a trip to the gym during my lunch break, or going out for drinks after work. Many of the bags I had in my wardrobe were made with beautiful leather but had heavy hardware and uncomfortable shoulder straps that really cut into my shoulder. By the end of the day I was frustrated and in pain.
So, when I designed the Loren Tote, my goal was to create the ideal work tote. I wanted it to be sleek and stylish but also structured and functional. A work bag should have a cross-body strap option, as well as top handles. When you're juggling multiple items, you can simply put the bag across your body and carry your takeaway cup and phone, while handles are ideal for grabbing your bag quickly, that’s why I opted for both. Organisation was an important feature, but weight was even more important to me, so I traded interior pockets for a bonded suede lining for an ultra lightweight experience and designed a matching zip leather pouch to store my smaller bits and pieces.
I wanted the bag to have a top zipper. Besides the security issue, a zipper really is the best way to guarantee your belongings won't spill out all over the train carriage or get trapped between your car seat during your commute. That’s happened to me numerous times! The other key criteria was size. I wanted a bag that could store my daily must-haves, but that wasn't so big that it looked like a carry-on.
So, without further ado, I’d like to introduce you to Loren, my ideal work tote, and show you what fits inside, comfortably and realistically.
