The Material Boy #83

Raf Simons Eastpak Oversized Backpack

Following the footsteps of Adidas, Puma, Converse, here's the latest collaboration between a common street brand and a high profile designer. This time we see our long time school bag favourite Eastpak partnering with the ingenious Raf Simons (who did wonders at Jil Sander). Released under Raf Simon's own label, this birth child of both parties are a hot, constant runway feature on Raf Simons spring summer 2008 menswear collection. It seems the boys of Raf Simons is heavily infused with the theme of travelling and adventure. Backpacker style meets atypical innovative fabrics often matched with the highly coveted 'lego-block' sandals. And on the back of these carefree travellers are the Raf Simons/Eastpak backpack. It is offered in a variety of colours and styles.

The particular style I am recommending is all white. Raf Simons injected his ingenuity in a otherwise plain backpack and introduced a shotgun hole effect running throughout the fabric of the bag. Done in huge sizes, around three times that of a standard Eastpak backpack, it easily pass off as a travel bag for those mountain or 'rough' it out weekend trips:-) But I wonder if I will go hiking with such a pricey bag:-) Yes, the bag is not cheap. Collaboration is lucrative. A Midas touch from a famous designer could hike up demand and brand profile but most importantly pricing as well. You will be expected to pay 10 times more than a usual backpack from Eastpak. I guess transforming from common street label to cult label will see Eastpak reaping huge rewards from this gig with Raf Simons. Wonder what astronomical figures Raf Simons is billing Eastpak to get his name associated with the brand:-)

Retail price: UK 319 pounds. Where to buy: www.oki-ni.com