BAILEY - The Handbag of the Future

The world’s first handle bag crafted from MIRUM®, a cutting-edge material that is 100% biobased and plastic-free.

Project Overview

Project Client and Completion:
MELINA BUCHER
January 31, 2022
Conducted Services:
Textiles & Leather Goods
- Material Prototyping
- Material Testing
- Prototyping
- Product Design
- Material Consulting
Project Challenge:
Adapt a novel, plastic-free leather alternative to the structural requirements of a luxury handbag.
Project Solution:
We partnered with the MIRUM® team to test and refine the material over 2.5 years, then handcrafted the BAILEY Bag using specialized construction techniques.

Project Development

The Challenge

MELINA BUCHER set out to design a high-end handbag using a material that was completely free from both animal products and plastic - something that didn’t exist in luxury fashion at the time. The vision was to pioneer a new standard in sustainable design by working with MIRUM®: a newly developed, biobased alternative to leather. Since MIRUM® had never been used for a handbag before, the challenge was not only to explore the material’s potential but to translate it into a timeless, functional design.

Our Solution

We took on the full development journey in our studio, starting with a deep dive into MIRUM®’s unique properties. As the material had never been used in bag production, we ran a comprehensive testing process to understand its strengths, limitations, and ideal applications. Closely working with the scientists of NFW, the company behind MIRUM®, our team adapted traditional leathercraft methods to suit this new material - from adjusting cutting and reinforcement techniques to identifying the right edge finishes and closures. The result is the BAILEY Bag - the world’s first handle bag made with MIRUM®. It combines a soft yet architectural silhouette with a bold commitment to material innovation. In recognition of this pioneering work, the BAILEY Bag received both the German Sustainability Award Design 2023 and the PETA Fashion Award 2023.

Chosen Materials

• MIRUM® (outer material)
• Certified Organic / Recycled Cotton (lining)

Chosen Methods

• In-depth material testing
• Close collaboration with MIRUM®/NFW team
• Technical adaptation of leathercraft methods
• Prototyping & production in German atelier