We take a closer look at the bags from the latest Raf Simons x Eastpak collaboration.

June 2018, Paris: several hundred people are crammed into an old warehouse on the outskirts of the city’s suburbs. It’s as dark as night inside and there is nowhere to sit but everyone is jostling to get to the non-existent front row of the makeshift “runway” – a sparse clearing of about a metre – where a parade of models starts to march through the crowds to the thumps of an electronic soundtrack. Before the clothes come into view, it’s already one of the most Raf Simons of Raf Simons’ shows to date. The collection itself – aptly titled “Throwback to a Misspent Youth” – is packed with the Belgian designer’s hallmarks; subcultural references abound, specifically 1980s punk and New Wave. There’s also a true appreciation for classic construction methods with expertly tailored satin coats swaggering about the place. But there was something else that caught our eye: the bags. After all, they were hard to miss. 

The SS19 show marked the debut of the Mr Raf Simons’ latest collaboration with Eastpak, a rare breed on the bag market. The brand made a name for itself supplying the US Army back in the early 1950s and a couple of decades later it began outfitting college kids on campus. More recently, the label has conquered the highest echelons of the fashion realm. No stranger to a collaboration or two, the label has high-profile partnerships with Vetements, A.P.C. and Jean Paul Gaultier under its belt. This latest endeavour – the eighth collection in a long-standing alliance with Mr Simons – is the boldest yet.

The standout line takes its inspiration from London’s punk personalities. Each bag in the collection is emblazoned with images of pierced, leather-clad members of the city’s scene, a concept Mr Simons’ refers to as “portable posters”. Think of them as a wearable version of the prints you tacked to your bedroom walls when you were going through your teenage “rebellious phase”. Read on for a closer look at our favourite styles, available to shop at MR PORTER now.

First up is Mr Simons’ latest take on Eastpak’s signature model, the Padded Pak’r; a design popular with everyone from school boys to businessmen since its debut more than four decades ago. It gets its name from the comfortable padded back which, as well as protecting your shoulder blades from pushy commuters, ensures your electronic devices are safely shielded from knocks and bumps. As well as a redesigned back panel, one of the most striking things to note about the designer’s latest rendition is the fabric: it’s made from glossy satin, mirroring the commanding duchess-satin coats that swept down the SS19 runway. An elevated design that packs a practical punch, the new Pak’r is every bit as useful as the brand’s more pared-back styles, with a laptop sleeve, zipped pockets and cushioned straps for all-day wear.

In the market for something slightly larger? The bonded-cotton Poster backpack – a new experimental design for the label – is a roomier option. At the show, the limited-edition style was carried in hand or slung nonchalantly over the models’ shoulders. The oversized silhouette is the ideal canvas to exhibit the punk print to full effect, but we are equally interested in what’s going on when you flip it over. There are not one, not two, but five external utility-style pockets. Inside is just as spacious and the rigging system of seatbelt-inspired webbing straps supply a secure fit for long-haul trips.

Backpacks aren’t everyone’s bag, of course. For some, a tote is often the more sophisticated and practical pick for weekends away or trips to the gym. Despite its streamlined profile, you’ll find plenty of room inside this Poster tote – another new design on Eastpak’s roster – for all your kit and a sturdy enough construction for extended trips. Here again, the abundance of utility-style pockets put a big check in the plus column for pocket-loving folks and it boasts a built-in padded sleeve to stow your laptop separately and safely.

Rounding off the list is the belt bag. Or to borrow Eastpak’s own terminology, a “waist bag”. Whatever it’s called, we’re certain of one thing: the hands-free pouch isn’t falling out of fashion’s good favour any time soon. Not least because, contrary to first impressions, it’s really rather handy. When the trend was first gaining traction – it was Eastpak’s trusty version we turned to in our time of sartorial need. Ask a good portion of the MR PORTER staff and they’ll vouch for both its practicality and versatility. As for this version, we rather like the fresh boxy shape. We are still arguing over how best to wear it, though. Over the shoulder like an urban explorer or wrapped around the middle, as convention (and the name) would dictate? You decide.

Shop Raf Simons x Eastpak here