For the next project I was researching an item in my wardrobe. It was about functionality. I chose my Susan Bijl bag. It is a bag that is foldable, very sturdy and that can hold a lot depending on the size you choose. Bijl comes from Rotterdam and is still located there, so it is a figurehead for the city of Rotterdam. I have a great love for Rotterdam and bags. I always carry it with me.
First the video I made as the end result. I wanted to show the bag and my other designs functionally. Bijl is very moving with the times and I included this in my making process. I wanted to create a video in bright colors with a futuristic and functional feel. I explain more about the different designs (and design process) below the photos.
The Original Susan Bijl bag and the inspiration for this mini collection.
First, I wanted to improve the bag. I am missing a keliner compartment, or several compartments to organize things somewhat. Now if you throw stuff in the bag, they drop down, and are so hard to find. I wanted to copy the bag and drew the pattern with the slash that Bijl always uses. I added two smaller pockets with a Velcro closure as to be seen in action in the video.
I started with an investigation into the function of clothing and of my own outfit. After this research I started compiling a family tree after conducting research into the origin of bags.
I started by making the beloved bag more convenient. I miss having separate pockets or a small storage compartment. This was the first step in 'improving' the bag. It can be seen better in the video.
I would have stayed very much with the same design, but with the added pockets. It did help me a lot to understand te design of the bag. I wanted to think more out of the bag. I decided to make a jacket from the bag. The bag can still be used functionally as a bag. For example, if it rains or has become colder, you can open the zippers and use the bag as a jacket with sleeves and a hood.
Now that I had made the step to a jacket, I wanted to develop this further. I decided to develop the jacket bag in a different, more meaningful form with a lot of pockets. You carry all your stuff in pockets, pockets added by everything, in that sense you are the bag.
The green fabric is purchased dead stock fabric with an army dinosaur print. The print immediately appealed to me. The bags are half green and half brown, for a playful effect. I printed the bags with a homemade plant print in different colours. I did this under an old printing press in the graphic workshop of Amsterdam.
