Kipling Bags Go Back to School with Megan Nicole

Last night's Kipling bags event co-hosted by Megan Nicole was old school. Literally, the event took place in a crumbling old school.  The location was as suffocating, sweaty and as uncomfortable as the poor souls who were relegated to summer session remember.

This was an event that was just baffling to me from a PR standpoint. Initial Impressions mean a lot when you are courting the press.  The first thing a media guest had to do was climb a few flights up dirty school stairs to an overheated classroom.   The stuffiness made you want to leave immediately, before you had a chance to look at the collection.  

Don't get me wrong, the school theme was cute, but it didn't have to be taken so literally to get the point across, especially at the expense of practicality and comfort.

Co-host Megan Nicole was touted as a "YouTube Darling".   She was adorable and performed for the guests.  When I worked at VF Corporation, the Kipling team shared our office floor.  Their collaborating celebrity back then was pop diva Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas.  This was when the band was at the height of their success.  Now the brand has recruited a karaoke version of a pop star recruited from social media..  My how times (and budgets?) have changed.

The bags I did get a chance to look at had cute prints, executed in their classic backpack and pouch shapes. Many of them were miniature in size.   I wasn't sure if they were meant for children? Were they supposed to be ironically mini like a phone case?  PR #FAIL number 2: I asked two different representatives this question and neither one had a clue.  I also asked when these would be available in stores.  Again, the answers were "I don’t know....soon I assume?"   Wow, that is helpful.  As a blogger, I have the freedom to write on my own timeline.  Howeve, for time sensitive publications putting together gift guides and back to school round ups, this is vital information that was missing.  A brand could be missing the opportunity for coverage that I assume they would want for potential shoppers...

I took it upon myself to grab a catalog to make some sense of the collection.   The catalog heavily promoted their monogram feature.  This was on trend for today's selfie obsessed world.  Megan Nicole smile sweetly from the pages.  I still have no idea what the intended customer or function of the mini bags are.  Get it together marketing peeps!

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Independent Handbag Designer Awards 2012

The best of independent handbag designers were honored last week at the Sixth annual awards.  This event is always truly special to me as someone who loves to champion indie creators.
Winning one of the awards isn't just a prize or a headline, but truly a multi-part support package that helps to advance the designer's career.

The award categories themselves brings out the best qualities that the indie fashion industry could hope for, like Most Socially Responsible (using ethical and moral standards in the production of the bag) and Best Green Handbag (made from sustainable, recycled or organic materials). Attendees are encouraged to donate old purses to Bottomless Closet, an organization that aims to outfit women with the confidence and fashion to interview for the right job.

Winners are featured InStyle magazine as supported by editor Ariel Foxman.  Singer sewing machines donate state of the art machines to equip an entire studio, mentorships, special collections in collaboration with designers all propel small business owners to new career levels.

Designers who were honored included Krystal Sokolis for Best Student Made handbag.  Sheila Harper won Singer Simplicity's award for Best Handmade, Aimee Kestenberg won Kipling's award for Creating with Nylon.  Best Green Handbag went to Fiona Kempton and Most Socially Responsible Handbag was awarded to Marisa Collado of Mexico.  The Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design was won by Bita and Rouzita Vahhabaghai for their gold and green reed-like clutch.  The Audience fan favorite (and mine) was Jennifer Lang's laser cut leather purse.

Designer and awards founder Emily Blumenthal has really mentored entire generations of designers with this competition.  Her passion has brought in designers like Carlos Falchi to do the same.

The iconoclast award honored Kenneth Cole this year.  His start in the industry is legendary, but his own wit about this business was even more charming.  His brand is known for leather goods, shoes and bags.  He advised that one should never judge a person until you walk a mile in their shoes... (If you still don't like them, you are a mile away from them and you also took their shoes).

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Happy 25th Birthday Kipling!

Accessories brand Kipling celebrated their quarter century anniversary by inviting eight international artists to "play" with their classic bags.

Fashion photographer Paul Graves recreated his image of a totem pole composed of fashion media.  Stylist Vincent Gaipaillard, inspired by nature, made a caterpillar out of Kipling bags.  Photographer Alex Salinas created a monkey, Kipling's mascot.

Music for the event were spun by DJ Ilirjana Alushaj.  The exhibit and party was hosted at Chelsea event space Helen Mills.

Cross brand designer collaborations are everywhere these days.  This one is unusual where the branded product acts as the actual material for the artwork.  Let's see if the monkey wants a solo show next...
Photos by Tom Concordia.

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