Designer handbags are nice to have. But the problem with these purses is that their prices – which range from expensive to outrageous – makes it unforgivable, not to mention crazy, to subject them to natural elements.
Not to worry though, because here comes Save My Bag to the rescue.
Save My Bag was envisioned by husband-and-wife tandem Stefano and Valentina Agazzi in Bergamo, Italy in 2013. The brand was born out of the need to protect bags by literally covering them with bags whose shapes are reminiscent of iconic purses such as Hermes Birkin and Celine.
The Italian brand has been in the Philippines since 2015 when SM Malls, through its Little White Box concept store, featured some of Save My Bag’s designs.
This year, Save My Bag taps local talents to come up with fresh, unique designs that would further attract the cool and aspirational set it targets.
Designer and emerging style icon Kiana Valenciano takes the lead as the overall style curator and creative team captain of the special, bespoke and super chic Save My Bag collection, which according to her is made for “the generation of girls who are easygoing.”
The launch, which also served as Valenciano’s formal entry into the glamorous world of fashion after studying at Raffles Design Institute and Central Saint Martins in London, turned the spotlight on her knack for spotting the latest trends and her fresh, free-spirited yet functional attitude – an embodiment of the “cool beyond the rules” philosophy of Save My Bag.
Helping the only daughter of Gary Valenciano and Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano realize her vision is award-winning designer and illustrator Daryl Feril. Feril was discovered in 2012 by US-based advertising agency AR New York which paved the way for him to work with top global brands and design studios in Asia, the US and Europe.
For the collaboration, Feril transformed the lightweight, rainproof poly-lycra bags into his canvas where he rendered his art using acrylic paint. Each bag features nature-related elements such as flowers, butterflies and leaves. While the patterns are repeated, the illustrations are unique in every piece, thereby making them truly bespoke. Bag customization price ranges from P995 to P2,980 depending on the size.
“It was such a fun experience working with Daryl for this unique, bespoke collection,” shares Valenciano.
She adds, “I love collaborating with people who share the same creative and artistic vision, and I’m equally excited with how awesome the bags turned out, which I actually use every day.”
The recent launching of the new designs coincided with the opening of the first Little White Box pop-up store on the third floor of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.