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From a Pickleball Paddle to Ralph Lauren Sweaters, Here’s How Bloomingdale’s Celebrates the Big Brown Bag’s 50th Birthday by Danielle Directo-Meston
The iconic kraft paper tote designed by Massimo Vignelli is the inspiration behind the retailer’s Big Brown Bazaar pop-up and new merch — see the best pieces to shop from the collab.
Bloomingdale’s is celebrating 50 years of its famed big brown bag — which has landed cameos in Sex and the City, Friends, Josie and the Pussycats and countless other TV shows and films — with designer collaborations and exclusive merchandise.
Originally created by graphic designer Massimo Vignelli, the iconic kraft paper carryall with its rounded font debuted in 1973, and became a status symbol among stylish shoppers. To toast the tote’s birthday, Bloomingdale’s tapped Ralph Lauren, Stoney Clover Lane, Mother Denim, Helmut Lang and other brands to create limited-edition designs inspired by the bag and New York for its Carousel @ Bloomingdale’s pop-up shop, which runs from Sept. 6 to Oct. 26 at the company’s Manhattan flagship.
Dubbed the Big Brown Bazaar, the nearly two-month-long boutique is “a nod to the Bloomingdale brothers’ first store on the Lower East Side” and will offer graphic sweaters and hoodies by Polo Ralph Lauren; tote bags, travel accessories and pouches by Economy Candy, Bybba and Stoney Clover Lane; pickleball accessories (such as a “Big Brown Paddle“) by Recess; silk scarves by Echo; Kule totes inspired by Gramercy Park’s Caffè Panna; home goods from the Plaza Hotel; candy and foodie accessories by fro-yo spot Forty Carrots; jewelry by Alexa Leigh; fragrances by By Far and Bond No. 9 New York; roller skates and accessories by Impala Skate; and more.
The pop-up will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with tees with a curated collection that includes tees by Unfortunate Portrait, robes by Versace, stationery by Kaleidadope, headphones by Beats by Dr. Dre, artful speakers by Transparent, books by Taschen and more.
See some of the exclusive Bloomingdale’s Big Brown Bag merch below, and shop Big Brown Bazaar from home online here.
Kule x Caffè Panna Tote Bag
Kule x Caffè Panna Tote Bag$198