The Telfar Shopping Bag is the “IT” bag of 2020. On July 23, 2020 a restock of the Shopping Bag went viral and crashed the brand’s website after thousands of orders for the accessory flooded the site. Here is my Telfar Shopping Bag review – the bag that broke the internet.
What's a Telfar?
Telfar Clemens is the fashion designer and founder of Telfar. A genderless and unisex fashion label based in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Telfar’s collection includes an androgynous clothing line. He also redesigned the White Castle uniform. However, the brand’s accessory Shopping Bag has become its most popular item, recently gaining cult like status. The fashion brand’s motto is “not for you – for everyone”. Telfar is a pioneer in breaking the gender and socio economic stereotypes in fashion.
The Shopping Bag
Medium Telfar shopping bag in color oxblood // Lulu lemon high rise pants // Madewell The Alex loafer // Old Navy chambray top // J Crew winter bow coat is from last year. It wasn’t on their line this year. It usually skips a year and will probably be available again next winter.
The bag has actually been around since 2014 when Telfar introduced the bag at the Autumn/Winter 2014 runway show. He won a $400,000 fashion award and put the funds into the Shopping Bag to improve the design and re-release it in 2018 with a wider range of colors and sizes. Due to a rise in activism and social awareness, the bag went viral in 2020. With a sudden rise in demand for the bag (bots and 3rd party sellers were an issue) along with a weakness in the company’s supply chain (due to the pandemic) the website crashed.
Bag security program
As a result of the site crashing (and the bots making it impossible for us little ole consumers to get our hands on a bag) the brand created the Telfar Bag Security Program. An opportunity for fashion lovers to support and secure a bag safely and securely. The one day 24 hour online event took place last August 18 where shoppers were able to pre-order any bag in any color of their choosing with a guaranteed delivery between December 15 and January 15, 2021. I wrote a blog back them to give a “heads up” of the pre-order to anyone who follows along!. The bag security program is how I purchased my bag and I received it earlier than projected (I got it the week of Thanksgiving). You can read my blog post on the bag security program I wrote last summer HERE.
Where do I get it now?
Unfortunately, the bag is sold out. Telfar drops hints when a restock is coming but never gives a specific date or time when it will occur. When the accessory does restock it usually sells out within minutes. Your best chance is signing up for restock emails on each bag you are interested in HERE. Another option is to follow me on IG HERE (@tami.in.between). I notify followers of drops and purchase updates when I hear about them through my style blogger friends.
Sizes and cost
The Telfar Shopping Bag comes in three sizes. Small, medium and large. The small bag costs $150, the medium is $202 and the large is $257. If you like a mini-bag the small is perfect. For a more everyday sized bag the medium is ideal This is the size I have and the size pictured. It can fit my 15″ PC and all my daily essentials easily. The large is pretty big and best suited as an overnight bag in my opinion. It would also make a great carry all for moms (the long straps are perfect for the moms that having hands free is a must) or as a carry all to/from the office or a flight.
The colors
There are several color options of the Telfar Shopping Bag. On the website they offer the colors: black, white, tan, oxblood (the color I have pictured), dark olive, navy, yellow, cream, grey, pool blue, bubblegum pink, orange, red, chocolate, silver, gold, cobalt, copper and green/white flag color.
My review
I love everything about it. Everything. My medium size Telfar Shopping Bag is a great all around bag. The bag design was inspired by the Bloomingdale’s shopping bag. It’s a no frills, simple boxy tote with one large size zip pocket on the inside and a snap closure. I prefer simple bags shaped this way so I can glance inside and find what I need quickly.
The bag has two sets of handles (long and short). The long straps are the perfect length for wearing cross body perfect for having my hands free when needed. The long straps are not adjustable which I like. This may be a problem for some, but for me, the long straps are the perfect length so I’m glad there isn’t an adjustment buckle included. The short handles are for easy grab and go. They are not quite long enough to put on your shoulder but again, the long straps work for that or cross body wearing so it’s all good.
The bag is made of vegan leather. This basically means it’s faux leather aka plastic. The bag originally had a “plasticy” odor that dissipated in a day or two. The Shopping Bag is embossed with the brand logo on one side. The medium (size I have) is the perfect carryall that fits all my daily necessities and is both practical and accessible. The bag also goes with everything. It’s my go to carryall for when I’m dressed in heels or sneakers. So versatile. If the medium sized bag in oxblood isn’t for you, they have three sizes and so many colors to choose from.
This is NOT a luxury bag, nor does it want to be. Seeing this as a luxury bag is the antithesis of what it represents. It isn’t a bag to own for economic prestige, affluence or status. Quite the opposite, it’s a fashion bag that’s priced to be accessible to everyone. It’s a bag that you carry to represent the ambiguity of who you are, not what you have or can afford to have. This is the bag you own to show your awareness in the fluidity of the crowd. We are in a time where social activism, equality for all and inclusive movements are important and necessary. March, vote, make posters, sign petitions AND carry a Telfar Shopping Bag. It’s not for you, it’s for everyone.
Pictures don’t do it justice. Check out my video review of the bag.
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