Today, I’m going to tell you the little story of the handbag.
Did you know that the word 'sac' comes from the Hebrew 'sak,' which was a fabric made from goat hair—not very glamorous, we admit... As for the word 'bag' in English, it comes from the Provençal 'baga,' which referred to anything that could be carried around.
Originally, the handbag had a simple mission: to carry money. And its ancestor, the 'kibisis,' was the bag of Hermes, the god of travelers and merchants... No wonder it later became the favorite accessory of everyday adventurers!
And our favorite adventurers, that's you!
So, we wanted to create the perfect handbag for your daily adventures, one where you can fit everything: your latest book, a lip balm, a pack of tissues, a toothbrush, your snack, and all your loyalty cards.
To be made by CABAIA, it obviously had to meet several criteria: we wanted it to be practical, customizable, ingenious, and stylish.
And that was just the beginning. We also identified other essential needs that our handbag had to fulfill:
-> A bag larger than our Nano Bag but smaller than the insulated bag: so that its size is perfect for carrying everything you need for work (without the laptop): book, wallet, small water bottle, makeup, keys...
-> A bag that can be carried both by hand and over the shoulder, because we like to have options!
You know us well, once we have a project in mind, we love to ask for your opinion!
The first questionnaire was very helpful in better understanding what you wanted, especially in terms of the bag’s volume and interior organization. We also wanted to know what material would appeal to you the most, and nubuck came out on top!
Fun fact: while reading comments from loyal customers on Facebook, we came across someone who had completely guessed the shape of our new bag! We can't hide anything from you!"
Chiara, Leather Goods Product Designer
What came up most in your feedback was that existing handbags on the market were either too big, too small, too heavy, had unreliable closures, and often lacked pockets. In short, not ideal!
What does the handbag of your dreams look like?
73% of you asked for a medium-sized bag with enough compartments to organize everything and easily find your belongings. Regarding material, vegan leather was a unanimous choice with an overwhelming majority. Your bonus request? A shoulder strap in addition to the handles, with plenty of customization options.
You also asked for a hook to hang your bag on a table, well-thought-out compartments, and a design that's elegant but not too sporty.
In short, a lot of information to help us work on the ideal handbag. Time to roll up our sleeves, and we'll catch up in a few days to tell you more about what's next!
