It’s collab time, and this one will be of particular interest to handbag buffs: Fine leather label Mark Cross has teamed up with Derek Lam to create a series of tailored leather carryalls. But before we suss out the details of this collab, how about a brief history lesson? The Cross name traces back to 1845 when the Mark Cross Company got its start in Boston, with a focus on making saddles and harnesses. The company went on to become known for their no-nonsense approach to leather goods, with luxe details aplenty, sans frills, until they shuttered in 1997. Revived in 2010, the company has now returned back to their roots, with a bit of an edgier touch, and this partnership is certainly proof of that.
For this collab, Lam pulled inspiration from two classic Mark Cross styles: the sharp corners of the Grace box trunk style, and the ladylike sensibility of the Scottie top-handle. “Classic elegance, a sublime refinement, with an All-American spirit is the hallmark of this brand; the Mark Cross legacy has been an enduring touchstone for my own work,” Lam said in a statement. “Re-interpreting the Grace and Scottie styles from the Mark Cross archive, as a modern, softly structural tote bag, is my homage to the Mark Cross heritage.” The totes can be yours to the tune of $2,495 for the small style, and $3,495 for the large style at MarkCross1845.com, Barneys New York, and Derek Lam stores.