Backpacks are the most practical in the bag world, but they’re so rarely considered for life outside of hiking. When I was in Italy, I walked a lot and was often out for the whole day. I had a simple tote — chic enough — but I was constantly changing shoulders to feel balanced. That’s when I started thinking about the perfect backpack.

To begin with, it would look nothing like a hiking backpack. It might share some features with the fast fashion versions that flood the market each season, but it would be built to endure many. It would blend sleek functionality with a polished, tailored silhouette — and have a shoulder strap for a seamless switch to handbag carry.

The design took a lot of prototyping and tweaking, but I’m very happy with the finished piece. It takes over two days to make The Backpack; the straps alone take more than four hours. I love the rhythm I fall into when building this bag. There are moments that demand full focus and others that require patience and method.

This piece will feel at home with your business suit or your puffer jacket — and that’s no small feat.