Bag one, quickly.
By Rosanna Stevens.
Whilst some prefer to hang from their shoulders the likes of Guess and Coach (please, please no), and others love to decorate their thin little arms with the masterpieces of Salvatore and Balenciaga, I’m the kind of uni student who requires nothing more (at this stage in life) than a solid, spacious and undeniably stylish bag to drag about my books and emergency shoes. At the moment I’m using a cloth bag that states ‘I love dairy goats’ and bears a patchwork billy on the front. Last week I used my mother’s maternity bag from 1991. Next week I’m quite sure it’s going to be one of emerging designer Alison Rose’s quirky concepts.
Alison Rose makes the kind of bags the thread-savvy add as a unique must-have to their exquisitely clad closets. Crafted from vintage and recycled materials, which include tablecloths and aprons, Alison Rose’s designs come in all manner of sizes, and are capable of storing anything from your purse, to a giant lop-eared bunny (though this is not realistic, nor recommended). ‘By Alison Rose’, is perfect for practical everyday wear, and is hand-sewn with an occasional button embellishment. Furthermore, each bag’s signature detail is the use of a doily as part of its design. ‘I know it sounds old and nanna-ish, but it really isn’t’ explains Alison, ‘I love the idea of someone else’s creation getting another chance to be treasured’ she adds.
With cloth or solid handles available in a variety of wood-like stains and textures, each bag nestles itself into the folds of your arm perfectly. The bags come in busy materials, from mustards scattered with white, pale pink and blue buds, to red decorated with navy striped polka-dots. Each bag is one-of-a-kind, and, interestingly, are ‘named after many inspirational women who have touched my life in some way’ says Rose. Consequently, the bags feature names such as ‘Poppy’, ‘Joyce’ and ‘Louise’, giving them an extra splash of distinctiveness.
If you’d like to browse (or wrap your tendrils) around her beautiful works, the ‘by Alison Rose’ collection can be purchased from:
Beautiful Garbage – 300 The
