It’s functional - it can contain anything, and you can’t wear it out. It’s comfortable. It’s presentable - in spite of the seemingly shapeless form, and it goes equally well with an elegant or casual outfits. Most of the time you will find it made out of cotton, although occasionally it also comes in nylon.
You can get it in a range of subdued colours, typical for Kuczyńska – black, grey, navy blue, but also in orange, blue, indigo, or mint. It can take a variety of shapes, depending on what you put in it – the corners may hang outside or be tucked in.
It’s not ostentatious, but nevertheless stands out. It constitutes the essence of a universal city look – attempts have been made, by other designers and chain stores alike, to copy SHANGHAI. It works well as an everyday accessory, but will also work as a travel bag. Even though the first model was conceived as long ago as in 2004, the bag still thrives – the designer has, for instance, produced an edition in collaboration with the hip-hop label Prosto. A purchase of the bag is usually combined with buying a tube-scarf, another iconic design by Kuczyńska. The 180 zł ($60) bag is the first step to owning a ‘Kuczyńska’ – schoolgirls will gladly buy it from their pocket money, but it is equally popular among celebrities and fashion models.
It is finished with a patch made out of traditional Russian leather (Kuczyńska’s trademark) and a silver circle – the brand’s logo (designed by Karol Śliwka), sewed on by hand.
Author: Karolina Sulej, transl. AM, May 2014