It is by Ritika Suhas Sankpal, an Indian student of the Master in Bag Design Polimoda, the winning bag of the second edition of Think Bag, which will be produced and sold in a limited edition and whose proceeds will be used to support the Meyer Children's Hospital Foundation.
In fact, the final of the educational project promoted and supported by Leather & Luxury magazine in collaboration with Florentine leather goods company Loipell was held at Polimoda. A collaboration started in 2021 and repeated this year, to invite the school's young talents to design and create the iconic accessory par excellence: the handbag.
Think Bag participants - third-year Leather Technology and Master's in Bag Design students - took part in a series of workshops aimed at planning their design and selecting the best materials based on criteria of feasibility, innovative design and functionality. Accompanied by a team of experts and thanks to the materials provided by Leather & Luxury's partner companies, they then made their prototypes at Loipell laboratories and followed the development through in-company meetings.
In front of a panel of experts composed of Polimoda representatives, industry professionals and representatives of partner companies, five finalists from different nationalities presented their projects. Versa Bag by Anastasia Peredriy (Russia), a versatile yet elegant bag made of nappa leather in two color variants - black with an electric blue interior and brown with a yellow interior - with a distinctive diamond pattern. Carry Bag by Ritika Suhas Sankpal (India), a small seamless clutch with a removable shoulder strap in three color variants-black, blue and mustard-with contrasting suede lining and original packaging inspired by takeout boxes. Flow by Ciler Sevingen (Turkey), a minimalist pouch bag in ice-colored nappa leather with a handle and ruthenium metal accessories that finish its geometric, futuristic style. Persona by Gaeul Lee (South Korea), capacious tote bag in denim-colored nappa leather with camel interior, designed for the multitasking woman, featuring details such as mignon and asymmetrical stitching. Heart Bag by Yinfan Zhou (China), a bag with a boxy construction reminiscent of the Orient with tree branches and cherry blossoms, in two versions, pink and light blue, with embroidery running from the inside of the bag to the shoulder strap.
Ritika's style proposal won over the jurors. Her Carry Bag will be presented at MIPEL and LINEAPELLE next September and then produced by Loipell in a limited edition to be put on sale both on online channels and at major Italian stores.
All proceeds from the sale will go to the Meyer Children's Hospital Foundation to support the hospital's diabetology, an Italian excellence for childhood care and health and a reference point for national pediatrics in terms of research, innovative treatment methodologies and child care.
We thank for the supply of materials the Leather & Luxury partner companies: Air Collection, Arpass, CDC, Creazioni Lorenza, Gima, Guido Falcini, Materia Prima, Most, Sacchettificio Toscano, Sciarada, Tissés by Banelli and Zuma - Casadacqua Pelli Pregiate.
