Renzo Piano has designed a limited-edition handbag for the Italian fashion brand Max Mara to match his newly completed Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. The leather, top-handle bag, inspired by the "pure design and sophisticated materials" of the Whitney, features distinct ribbing inspired by the museum's facade.
"Our aim was to apply one of the most characteristic elements of the museum project - the facade - to the bag: hence the idea of the modular strips enveloping the exterior," said Piano in an interview with Max Mara. "We tried to maintain a simple, pure design, working only on the details by applying a creative use of technology and placing the accent on respect for the materials."
The leather, top-handle bag is lined with red suede and is being offered in black, bordeaux, tan and a collector's edition in light-blue grey. Only 250 bags will be sold. All profits will be donated to the Renzo Piano Foundation, to help fund its cultural and educational projects.
"This is our first such experience, and I believe it will remain the only one," Piano added.
News via Max Mara
