Telfar's trailblazing collectible shopping bag

Is it arguably the most important accessory of the decade?

Telfar Clemens, born in Queens, New York, is a Liberian-American fashion designer and the founder of the genderless fashion line TELFAR, which was established in Bushwick, Brooklyn in 2005. An undeniable captivation surrounds Telfar and his brand, which has manifested through time as the simple possession of one of his shopping bags becoming a sign of prestige among the fashion-obsessed (along with a symbol of support for a black-owned business).

Getting your hands on one, on the other hand, remains a challenging task. Telfar is developing the brand by not only extending the colors for the shopping bags, but also creating designs for apparel, hats, belts, and so much more.

For many fashion aficionados living within a low-income or middle-class margin, the idea of obtaining luxury in the form of designer items has always been tethered more towards the inconceivable on the grand scale of things. What distinguishes Telfar is his promise of inclusivity across the board, which is inherently at the heart of his brand.

"Handbags, in particular, are this thing that is supposed to be an economic status indicator. Like-- I'm 25 or 30 or 40 and I'm doing OK. We have a status bag that has nothing to do with that." -- Telfar Clemens & Babak Radboy

This is bolstered even further by his tagline, "Not for you—for everyone," a seemingly simple statement that holds distinct power when it comes to appealing to the people since it is one of the primary factors generating ongoing support and buyers from his customers. Clemens utilizes his platform in the world of fashion to break down barriers and ensure there is a space for inclusivity and grandeur to be procured at an affordable cost.

Telfar’s shopping bags are priced between $150 to $260 (depending on size) and are made entirely of 100% vegan leather. Celebrities including Beyonce, Zoe Kravitz, Issa Rae, and Normani have all been spotted wearing the designer's pieces, along with everyday people. When the public learned A-list celebs had purchased Telfar, a debate erupted, urging the designer to raise the price. Telfar merely responded by repeating his motto– for everyone– and ended the conversation with grace.

Photo: Credit of Popsugar

Photo: Credit of Popsugar

Photo: Credit of Bomb Sugar Daily

As of early July 2020, a surprise restock resulted in every color in every size selling out in the blink of an eye—only to later reemerge on various resale sites with a bizarre markup price. Upon seeing bots and resellers seemingly attempting to suppress the very essence of his brand, Telfar immediately closed the site in order to weed out the resellers from the authentic buyers and implemented a new Bag Security Program. An act that solidified his stance and dismissed any doubt regarding his all-encompassing fashion line. This was not only game-changing in the fashion world, but also what set this particular designer apart from the rest, standing behind his ideology that luxury can be obtained while still being economical in all aspects of life. Embodying a rare kind of decadence, which inspires and paves the way for emerging designers to mimic his course of action catering to young consumers with diverse cultural backgrounds. At its heart, Telfar Clemens and his ever-growing fashion line are the true quintessence of "not for you—for everyone."