Meet the "It" Bag Herve Chapelier

Fashion Meets Function at Hervé Chapelier’s Latest Collection

I have seen Herve Chapelier tote bags in Hongkong, and learned that it has opened its first store at SM Aura last February 2014. I love the bag since it has similarity to Longchamp,  when it comes to its handles and boxy in appearance.  I love that it has big space inside,  practical enough to carry my notebook, make up kit, umbrella, vitamins, shades, reading glass, ipod player, tablet, wallet, purse, comb and a book.  My life revolves around my bags and  I love toting them around. Not to mention that it is an "It" bag for the season, at least to me.

Herve Chapelier launched the tote bags with collaborations from Filipino artists Niccolo Jose, Mayi Penaflorida, Soleil Ignacio, Kris Abrigo, Aiya Balingit and Tokwa Penaflorida, having reinterpreted some of the influential best paintings and designs on the bag on June 16, 2014.

Credited around the toting world for innovating a handful of firsts, French luxury bag and luggage brand Hervé Chapelier pushes the envelope yet again with its iconic collection, which features a bit of combative edge, a hint of urban function, and a dose of modern mobility, without compromising its veritable stamp of ladylike Parisian substance.

Founded in 1976 by its namesake design stalwart, the Hervé Chapelier label revolutionized the duffel bag, an invention that featured industrial standard, automotive safety belts repurposed as straps for roomy, function-savvy bags, jump starting the brand’s dominance for cutting-edge, contemporary, yet classy ladies’ carry-alls in the industry. Since then, Chapelier introduced more trendsetting silhouettes, such as the Cabas, the brand’s quintessentially French take on the traditional shopper, as well as the GP the brand’s high-end line, which took color and texture blocked toting to a whole new shape and proportion.

For its current season, Hervé Chapelier unveils a bolder, braver collection that is especially attuned with the times, answering to the dynamic shifts in lifestyle, careers, and social habits of today’s women. With a firm grip on functionality and fashionable aesthetics, Hervé Chapelier’slatest collection celebrates the luxury of the fast-paced with totes, carry-alls, and bags that keep up with today’s tempo while marching on a look all its own.

First, Hervé Chapelier unleashes an army of camo-print totes that take on the military trend spot-on; becoming the modern woman’s ultimate bagging uniform. Found in a variety of shapes and make, Chapelier’s version of the battle-tested season style can be had in basic nylon, the toughest, most lightweight material in bagging industry-standards, or the Cordura, crafted off breathable polyamide. These materials borrow on military precision for shape and function, with silhouettes such as the traditional bucket, the prismic rectangular, all in a variety of sizes, Hervé Chapelier offers up a match for any of the modern female’s varying missions.

On the other end of the spectrum, Hervé Chapelier also embraces the season’s command for resort-ready totes, borrowing key palettes and contrasts from the sea. With nautical influences found in the hues of coral pink, navy blue, tan, turquoise, cobalt, and sand, Hervé Chapelier’stwo-toned GP hand-carry luggage could be this season’s suiting company for sea-borne, travel-bound ladies.

And finally, for the sophisticated women who value the classics,Hervé Chapelier’s Nylon and Cordura lines could also be had in the timeless, neutral shades of black, grays, and blues, with a burst of berry for that twist of excitement and fun. These carry-alls become the perfect compliment for the corporate wardrobe, with its roomy function, handy compartments, and sturdy structure, any working woman can be sure to carry through her daily agenda with stylish success.

With its French-fashioned style and fast-paced feminine sensibilities,Hervé Chapelier’s take on luxury toting transcends the values of mere fine-quality materials and craftsmanship; its commitment to modern-day function makes it a priceless addition to any woman’s wardrobe.
Hervé Chapelier ‘s first ever boutique in Southeast Asia can be found at L1, SM Aura Premier,  Manila Philippines.

My Outdoor Backpack: Built to Last a Lifetime

I've always considered myself a "backpacker" kind of person-- always ready and on the go.

Even during my highschool and college days, while most of my girl friends have moved into shoulder bags handbags and more kikay bags, I still preferred a backpack. Its handy, roomy and made me feel secure, knowing I have everything I need in a trusty bag.

Unfortunately, I had to retire my backpack when I started working at a hospital. At that time thieves were targeting those with backpacks as easy prey by ripping or slashing it off to steal the bag contents.

It was only a few years ago when i got myself another backpack, while preparing for my first trip after a loooong time. And as soon as the straps hugged my shoulders and back, all the fond youthful memories returned-- it felt like rekindling a long lost love.

That backpack has seen better days and has been a constant companion as I renewed my passion for adventures. Once  I went  mountain hiking and our entire group got lost for almost 6 hours and it was the snug fit of my backpack that hugged me and made me feel safe.

It went shopping with me in Hongkong, rode several Disneyland and Ocean Park  rides with me  quietly enduring the long queues, and the many bumps and falls.

It was part of the selfies i took as i hopped around those hotels in Macau and welcomed all the souvenirs i wanted to bring home.

I love my backpack simply because it is so easy to tote around and, goes well with any clothes and fashion  accesory that I have.

So Imagine, my luck when i got a new backpack-- a pink one with hearts at that when i attended the OUTDOOR PRODUCTS  Instameet last Saturday. It was held at the famous Lime 88 KantoBreakfast in Mandaluyong.

 I joined several bloggers and members of IGERS manila as we were introduced to a brand that surprisingly has been around since 1973. Ive never heard of the brand before the event but was quite impressed by the rip off challenge.

Eros Enriquez , the Asst. Marketing Manager of United Limsum International Trading Inc.showed us a bag that has survived 10 mall shows and 20 school trips with participants trying their best to rip off the bag. That is built to last, can withstand the test of time. Not to mention, that I love its eyecandy colors.

 Whether it’s a sleepover, an out of town weekend, a hiking or mountaineering adventure, or a journey thousands of miles across the sea, there is one essential piece of equipment that has become the favorite of travelers—the Backpack.

But with all of the choices and brands out there, you have to be able to choose the one that best suits even your everyday adventures.

“What is the first thing that gets ruined or damaged on your Backpack?”  Eros Enriquez, Asst. Marketing Manager of United Limsum International Trading, Inc asked bloggers and members of IGERSManila at the first Outdoor INSTAmeet event held Saturday at Lime 88, Mandaluyong City.

“Zippers.”

“How many times do you open your bag in a day? For those passing by malls or riding the MRT/LRT, that could mean a lot of opening and closing every single day. Outdoor Products only use genuine YKK (Yoshida Kōgyō Kabushiki Kaisha) Zippers one of the most trusted and durable zippers used by manufacturers in the world.

The next thing, Enriquez said, that usually gets damaged in our bags are the straps. “Outdoor Products uses Seam Locked Reinforcement--Reinforced Straps through high quality seaming for durability.”

And lastly to make sure that everything inside your bag stays safe, Outdoor Products are made using Cordura and Kodra-- materials known for their toughness.

 “Cordura and Kodra are very abrasion resistant and have a high tear strength. These are the fabrics used for army fatigues and backpacks, extreme games apparel, and heavy load works. It is also more lightweight as compared to canvas materials, and polyurethane coated Kodra and Cordura are even considered waterproof.”

To demonstrate just how tough their bags are, the brand has been holding the Outdoor Products Journey – Rip-off Challenge Road Show. And so far, after 10 SM Malls and 20 University/Colleges, no one has been successful in tearing their bag apart.

And just to show how confident its distributors are about the brand it is even offering a Lifetime Guarantee on their bags.

“We want you to get to your destination with comfort and ease, from point A to point B, get your job done in school or at work and help you create great memories in your travels with OUTDOOR PRODUCTS® bags.”