The Le Pliage bag is such an iconic staple at Longchamp that it’s hard to imagine it as anything else — unless you’re accessories designer Stéphanie D’heygere. Thanks to a successful partnership in 2019 that saw the launch of an all-weather poncho, the luxury French brand has decided on a second collaboration with the Belgian designer, this time with an expanded gender-neutral capsule that plays on the Le Pliage, transforming its signature tote-like structure into a series of functional, foldable accessories.
For the new Longchamp x D’heygere collection, we’re looking at two bags, an umbrella, a poncho, a rain hat and pants, sustainably made with recycled polyester and nylon, which fall under the theme of mobility and transformation. The weather-proof pants take you everywhere across the city, rain or shine, and a belt bag transforms into a backpack, just as the rain hat can be folded when stored and unfolded when put to use, much like the original Le Pliage.
As for the colour palette, there are classic shades of black, navy, white and a fuchsia pink, where each limited edition piece comes paired with a brown Russian leather flap that instantly reminds us of Longchamp. Still, D’heygere introduces a chic leopard print as well, certainly a refreshing and unexpected spin that makes this collection unique.
Another key point would be the collection’s universality. “I regard the gender-free aspect of the collection as a particular success: the cuts and the details are neither feminine nor masculine, and the sizes go from S to XL,” she elaborates.
One of these hybrid reinventions includes a roomy crossbody bag that transforms into a tall backpack by opening its upper pocket, completely changing the silhouette of the accessory. There’s also a travel bag in the familiar Le Pliage silhouette that can be worn three ways — it sports a short strap when carried by hand, while you may also use the two straps to wear it like a backpack; these, however, can be further adjusted such that you have an elongated strap that allows the bag to be slung across the shoulders.
Longchamp x D’heygere, available at Longchamp boutiques and online.
