A project born out of human interest. It combines the idea of the human as nomad with an object that connects different worlds. A lot of research and experimenting brought Billyjean to create a design that is as much poetic as it is a tool for the traveler in you.
TRAVELBAGS is available in two sizes, with or without shoulder strap, and in four different patterns. If you want to try them in person, check out our physical sales point Rosewood in Antwerp.
TRAVELBAGS
small – red checkered
90 euro
small – blue checkered
90 euro
small – striped
90 euro
small – vichy checkered
90 euro
Sizes and prints
large – blue checkered
180 euro
large – red checkered
180 euro
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SMALL
€90
39 x 20 x 20 cm
LARGE
€180
54 x 29 x 29 cmBoth sizes are available with or without adjustable shoulder strap at no extra cost.
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Outer material: woven polypropylene
Padding: vliesline
Lining: cotton
Double stitched, YKK zipper -
Every TRAVELBAG is made by hand, on demand. There is also a limited stock available at Rosewood in Antwerp.
After ordering you will receive an email by Billyjean with an estimation on the delivery time. Shipping within the EU is possible, the cost depends on the order and destination. Contact us for an estimate.
Order yours.
Every TRAVELBAG is hand made on demand.
To make an order, please fill out the email form to specify which version you would like to purchase. Billyjean will contact you with a confirmation and a delivery time estimate (and shipping cost estimate if applicable).
Once your TRAVELBAG is ready, you receive another email message.
We’re looking forward to creating a beautiful product for you!
TRAVELBAGS is a design that exudes ease of use as much as poetry, for anyone who wants to continue the story of the wandering human.
Billyjean on the project:
In times of war, viruses and natural disasters I kept coming back to questioning and amazement about man as a wandering being. Since its origin, man has known a nomadic existence and even today we still travel en masse, be it to survive or by choice. That makes the established negative connotation with migration all the more strange. Recreational travel, tasting the world, is encouraged and seen as a positive, personal development or status symbol. However, when people are (semi-)permanently driven to other places because of war, natural disasters, political or gender insecurity,... they become ‘refugees’ or ‘aliens’ and they are often seen as unwanted, even criminal.
In my environment, there is an increasing focus on diversity and inclusivity. The importance of representation, of recognizing and normalizing our super-diverse society is of course great. However, for this project I was inspired by things we have in common: at the core we all want to be seen, feel safe, be able to express ourselves, offer our children a bright future,… Universal human values.
My research led me to an object that evokes strong connotations in people from different cultures and sectors, from disgust to nostalgia. This object is initially a very simple utensil, but it tells many stories and is known by many names. In Antwerp it is known as ‘Moroccan bag’, while at the Antwerp fashion academy they are rather known as ‘Chinese’ or ‘Japanese bags’. In Germany it is called the ‘Turkish suitcase’. In large parts of Africa it is the ‘Ghana Must Go’ bag, a bitter reminder of a dark chapter in Nigerian and Ghanaian history.
Without us even thinking about it, there are objects or materials that make the connection between us all: this woven plastic bag transcends borders, cultures and worlds. A humble carrier that inadvertently connects all of humanity. For me, this iconic bag symbolizes man’s long history as a nomad, and its fabric became the raw material for a new object.
As a designer I went looking to translate all these elements into a design. For this I went back to another classic and recognizable shape: the ‘carryall’ or ‘duffle bag’. Originating sometime in the 17th century, possibly even in the Flemish municipality of Duffel, this form of baggage has been given a place in the collective memory of the traveling person. The choice for this form was partly inspired by the fact that it is gender- and timeless.
