The Strand and Bottega Veneta's Leather Book Totes Elevate a NYC Staple
Bringing Bottega’s ultra-luxe materials to a proletarian Big Apple essential.
A canvas tote from The Strand, a beloved Big Apple bookstore located right by Union Square, is a New York staple that can be seen on the shoulders of city-dwellers from Central Park to Brooklyn and Queens, and is recognizable due to its signature red oval logo. A Strand tote is a humble, functional and proletarian item with fans from all walks of life, but now it’s been presented in its most elevated iterations yet thanks to Bottega Veneta.
The Milan-based fashion house has given The Strand’s signature item a trio of ultra-luxe leather makeovers. The crown jewel of the trio features Bottega’s Intrecciato leather weave, and a colorful yellow option is available alongside a “standard” black leather iteration as well. Each is proudly stamped with The Strand’s logo front-and-center as well.
Bottega Veneta creative director Matthieu Blazy is a noted fan of The Strand, with the company noting that he visits the store “frequently” on trips to New York City. To further the partnership, Blazy commissioned The New Yorker — another outfit whose canvas totes are ubiquitous around the city — to create five cartoons in celebration of the collection. He’ll also be hosting a VIP event at The Strand to commemorate the launch, and has curated a selection of rare books at The Strand that span from fashion and photography to art and architecture.
Stephen Shore/Bottega Veneta
Stephen Shore/Bottega Veneta
Stephen Shore/Bottega Veneta
Stephen Shore/Bottega Veneta
Stephen Shore/Bottega Veneta
The Strand and Bottega Veneta’s leather tote collection releases today, September 8 at Bottega Veneta’s webstore and the brand’s store in NYC’s SoHo neighborhood. The Intrecciato tote is priced at €3,130 EUR (approximately $3,114 USD), the yellow tote at €2,100 EUR (approximately $2,089 USD) and the “standard” black tote at €1,500 EUR (approximately $1,492 USD). As for Bottega’s latest collection, it won’t be shown at New York Fashion Week. Instead, it’s set to debut on September 24th during Milan Fashion Week.
Elsewhere in the world of fashion, Acne Studios has launched a denim personalization program.
