We’d be putting it mildly if we said that 2021 is a big year for Mulberry. The British bag brand turns 50 and they are eking out the celebrations across the whole year – quite rightly – with an array of exciting launches and epic collaborations.
Quick recap: In February, Mulberry launched mini versions of their signature bags, as part of the Mulberry Editions collection… Next, they announced their ‘Made To Last’ manifesto (designed to champion craftsmanship, sustainable practises and a commitment to change).
June saw the first collaboration with some of the fashion industry’s biggest game-changers, starting with Priya Alhuwalia (Richard Malone is coming up in Autumn…) Now, Alexa Chung – the woman who inspired one of Mulberry’s most recognisable bags, the Alexa – has collaborated on a limited edition capsule collection for the brand’s anniversary.
Despite having her own eponymous fashion label, reflecting Chung’s quirky sense of fashion, Alexa admits the collaboration was “a great, quite rare opportunity. I never expected to be invited to actually design my own Mulberry bag, which is really a dream come true”.
The original Alexa – a satchel-type bag – honoured Alexa’s personal style and her own vintage Mulberry Elkington briefcase. Fast forward to 2021 and the collaboration mixes influences from both the briefcase and the 2010 Alexa and echoes Chung’s personal preference for mixing masculine pieces with those of a vintage vibe.
There’s the Big Guy – a capacious shoulder bag – while the Little Guy is a neat clutch. “I wanted to create something that straddled what the bag means to me personally, but could become that for someone else’s wardrobe. I wanted to make sure that it would endure, become a future classic.” Alexa told GLAMOUR. The bags are sleek and streamlined. It’s a dead cert.
Both bags are available in classic black, dark chocolate, tan, apple green and blue the colour of Seventies denim and come in finishes that include glossy crocodile-effect patent leather, sumptuous velvet and suede. As part of Mulberry’s commitment to sustainability, the bags are made from leather sourced from environmentally rated tanneries and are made in carbon neutral factories in Somerset. We can’t wait for the next phase of their celebrations!
Read more from Glamour UK Fashion Director at large Alex Fullerton here or follow her on Instagram @alexandrafullerton