Longchamp’s Le Pliage bag has held a place in the hearts of many for its simplicity, functionality and collapsibility. The brainchild of French designer Philippe Cassegrain – current president of Longchamp and son of its founder, Jean Cassegrain – the bag, conceptualised in 1993, has since become a crowd favourite. Chances are you’ve seen at least one in your lifetime.
Cue Japanese design studio Nendo, founded by Canadian-born Japanese architect and designer, Oki Sato. The Tokyo-based collective specialises in re-creating daily objects – think anything from umbrellas to shoes – focusing on giving a new lease of polish and detail to what others might deem regular objects. Ultimately, Sato’s designs focus on functionality. And given that Cassegrain was inspired by functionality and the sharp folds of origami when designing the Le Pliage, this collaboration, almost three decades later, is as much an extension of the bag’s charm as it is a revamp.
Even with the three newly introduced variations which launched on July 2, the Le Pliage is still instantly recognisable thanks to its signature leather flap and handle. All three versions focus on being ideal for either at-home storage or on-the-go use and come in geometric shapes that lend to their versatility. The first is a cube-shaped hold-all with a wider base that allows for bulkier storage. The second, a slightly smaller, conical bag, makes for a great essentials-only bag. The third and perhaps the most innovative of them all is a circular bag inspired by a traditional Japanese cloth-folding method, Furoshiki, which results in a totally malleable bag that takes up the shape of whatever it is holding. Who says fashion is all about form over function?
Browse the collection above.
