Alexa Chung has the Midas touch when it comes to accessories. Her namesake bag for Mulberry was credited with bucking the recession in 2010. And, everything from jackets to jewellery has been known to sell out after just one photograph of the model-presenter wearing it. Again attempting to turn bags to riches, Chung has designed her first ever handbag.
In appearance, it’s an abbreviated tote, but in a classic Alexa twist, it has the quirky familiarity of something remarkably British. In this case picnics. Coloured a pale sky blue, this limited edition canvas gingham shopper costs just £25. Made in conjunction with the Shop Small Campaign, supported by Amex, all profits from its sale go directly to Sarabande, the foundation established by Lee Alexander McQueen.
‘Supporting small independent businesses has always been important to me because it was how I was brought up - shopping at the local Hampshire butcher or the village shop. Now that I’m an adult with a business of my own I am acutely aware of how hard it can be to get something up and running.’ Explains the IT girl in a statement, before adding, ‘I was asked to create a canvas tote bag, and we had a couple of other versions in the works before this particular shape occurred to me. I wanted to make something unexpected and recently noticed a trend for micro bags.
‘This is the first bag we have created as a brand, and I wanted it to reflect our goals as a company: to make things that are fun, timeless, quirky but easy and cool. The gingham is a colourway we had applied to one of my favourite dresses in our second collection, and I love it because it’s classic but fresh and the mini sizing is an interesting play with proportion.’
Shop Alexa Chung’s first ever handbag from November 15 on Alexachung.com/amex and the 2nd December continue to support local businesses on 2017’s official Small Business Saturday.