If you follow Candice Brathwaite, you'll know she has an eye for statement-making colours and cult accessories, particularly handbags. The journalist, author and presenter has been carrying the latter since she was three, preparation that stood her in extremely good stead when it came to collaborating with sustainable label BEEN London. 'That's given me thirty years to work out what I do and don’t like,' she says of her childhood habit. The result is the Esmé, a pleated tote with a detachable cross-body strap that, like all bags from BEEN, is made entirely from premium-certified recycled materials in the brand's workshop in East London, and will be available from tomorrow.
Braithwaite, as you might expect, had a few ideas when it came to the design process. 'I wanted the shape to be classic but elevated,' she tells Grazia. 'A full crescent would have been a little ‘out there’. I don’t find a more half-moon shape the easiest to cram stuff into so this felt like a very beautiful compromise.' Not only is the bag roomy enough to fit all your essentials, plus a paperback and a compact lunchbox, its interior has a washable black lining. The colour of the tote - Esmé also comes as a make-up bag in black - is very now (Adele wore it on the cover of US Vogue; Kate Middleton for yesterday's visit to Kew Gardens). 'My favourite colour is green. I call it ‘get money green’ in fact,' says Brathwaite. 'The colour reminds me of nature and abundance. I wanted that to be the first colour we kicked off the collaboration with.'
But as well as having 'It' appeal, the bag's style is practical, hence the shorter set of handles coupled with the option of a strap, and something that people will have in their wardrobe for many years to come - not just one season. (BEEN's approach to materials is really something special, with recycled leather, regenerated nylon, recycled cotton as well as vegan leathers made from apple skins and pineapple.) The tote costs £295 - more expensive than high street but several less zeros than designer - although, Brathwaite is quick to point out, price doesn't have to be a barrier to being more sustainably-minded.
'Candice five years ago definitely could not afford to purchase more sustainable, 'forever' items and was a faithful high street and ‘fast fashion’ shopper. But Candice back then saw a £100 winter coat as a five-winter style purchase so I often wonder is fashion only fast because of the speed with which we choose to be done with it? Now I can afford more high-end, forever, legacy items of course the way I consume has changed. I’m more mindful and I like to spend on classic pieces I know I can pull out in a decades time and they won’t be out of style. I now make a conscious effort to only buy faster fashion items if I know I love it as much I love my higher end pieces,' she explains, adding that she has learnt a lot from Genia Mineeva, founder of BEEN.
SHOP: Candice Braithwaite x BEEN London
1 of 2The Esmé, £295
2 of 2Mini Esmé, £65
And of course, the best sign that something has 'forever' potential is if you can wear it with everything in your wardrobe. 'I think the question should be what I haven’t worn it with! I’m currently wearing it with some incredible coats and stompy boots but in Barbados I wore it with some of my favourite summer dresses,' says Brathwaite.
SHOP: Affordable 'It' Bag Brands To Know
1 of 15Lulu Guinness, Blossom Shell Clutch, £195
This shell clutch is a guaranteed talking point, whatever your occasion. It comes with a detachable gold chain for extra wearability and note the interior's embroidered message and giant pearl.
2 of 15C.Nicol, Evie Barrel Bag, £380
3 of 15Elleme, Baozi Raffia Naturale/Black, £310
Based in Paris, and founded by Jingjing Fan, Elleme promises to bring shoppers 'meticulously designed pieces defined by simplicity, timelessness and singularity.' After the fame of the Baozi bag (shaped like a Chinese Dumpling, yet way way chicer) we're all over the new Baguette style from Parisian It-brand Elleme.
4 of 15Danse Lente, Lola Chiffon, £245
Danse Lente launched in 2017 and attracted so much attention that it was snapped up by Net-a-Porter within just 2 months of trading. The name – French for 'slow dance' – comes from the founder's hope that wearers of her designs get 'a feeling of uplift from the bag' - we're sold.
5 of 15Chylak, Small Basket Bag, £375
Launched in 2014 in Poland, Chylak's founder Zofia Chylak learned her craft at Proenza Schouler in New York, before launching her namesake label. Her chic, influencer-friendly designs have won over fashion insiders with vintage-inspired mock-croc with modern twists. One of our faves is the saddle bag, which was a sell-out hit when it was launched.
6 of 15ROOP, Monica Textured-Linen Shoulder Bag, £95
ROOP is your brand if you're a sustainability queen. Made only using left over or vintage fabrics, the brand is doing their bit to make our world a bit greener, and that includes the packaging. And they're all handmade in the UK.
7 of 15Yuzefi, Doris Snake Effect, £445
British brand Yuzefi was launched during London Fashion week back in 2016, but is fast becoming the hottest name in bag land. A personal fave and huge hit with the style set, we're expecting big (huge!) things from them.
8 of 15Staud, Scotty Leather Shoulder Bag, £270
Staud is most famous for its chic, top-handle buckets (a favourite with Emily of Emily in Paris), but its foray into beaded shoulder bags is also right up our street.
9 of 15Wandler, Penelope Leather Shoulder Bag, £570
Elza Wandler first burst into our lives back in 2017, when she launched her namesake accessories brand Wandler. Best known for minimal, elegant pieces with a play on colour and dimensions - her latest foray into footwear has garnered the brand cult status amongst the style set while cementing itself as a go-to brand for chic bags.
10 of 15Hereu, Nusa Knotted Shoulder Bag, £667
José Luis Bartolomé and Albert Escribano returned to their Mediterranean roots to found Hereu after many years immersed in the cultural mix of London and Paris. Handcrafted in Spain, their work is physically rooted in the Mediterranean landscape and the individual hand of the artisan is always the starting point for every design.
11 of 15Studio Amelia, Drawstring Tote Bag, £298
Launched in 2018, Studio Amelia is known for minamalist barely-there silhouettes that are sleek enough to wear day or night.
12 of 15Mashu, Philippa Black, £280
Designed in London and made by expert artisans in Greece, Mashu is inspired by Art Deco interiors and objects along with Cycladic and contemporary architecture. Plus, the label is committed to using premium sustainable materials, conscious of the health and welfare of our planet.
13 of 15IBEKA, Mini Amivi Bubblegum, £280
IBEKA was born from the desire to find the perfect balance between the contemporary world we are living in and founder Jessica Carré's multicultural heritage. The handbags are handmade near Florence, only using the best Italian leather to guarantee exceptional quality and longevity .
14 of 15HVISK, Neat Tonal Black, £68
HVISK is a Danish, PETA-certified vegan fashion brand founded in Copenhagen. The brand is inspired by the vibrant streets of the city with an ambition of designing bags creating the feeling of a playful, colourful or detail-oriented look that will give the individual a more personal style.
15 of 15NEO87100, Alice Riviera Cuoio + Sand, £695
NEO87100 is a luxury women's bag brand that combines a feisty British attitude with Italy's leathercrafting expertise. It is the brainchild of London-based Ilaria Barca, who turned to her uncle's leathergoods factory to make her dream of creating a modern and alluring handbag collection come true.