When I first saw one of Clara Twele‘s bags dangling from a friend’s arm, I immediately wanted to reach out and touch it. Shiny and soft, loop after loop, smooth and cool and tempting, the fabric looked supple and firm. The sort of impulse you get watching glistening koi carp swimming in a pond. I knew I wanted one for myself. To stuff my swimming gear in. And groceries. And when going on a weekend trip away, why bring a boring old bag when I can bring a fruit bag? The shape, inspired by typical disposable plastic bags found in beach supermarkets at vacation resorts, is practical, classic and timeless. The internationally studied fashion designer Twele knits them herself from strong cotton yarn — perfection is achieved on the knitting machine in her Kreuzberg studio. Bag from thread to label, so to speak. Each bag is individual in its small handcrafted features. In keeping with the concept, the color palette of the collection spans the entire fruit stand: watermelon, physalis, raspberry or khaki? The decision is a difficult one. The bags can be purchased directly from Twele, online or via Instagram DM. And, if you want to touch them first, you can now find them in a few selected concept stores across the country (there are two in Berlin worth checking out).
Text: Hilka Dirks / Photos: Clara Twele, Johanna Braun & Lexi Sun
Clara Twele
And here: amazing crocodile, Raumerstr.23, 10437 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
Flatmakers, Torstr.155, 10115 Berlin–Mitte; map
@clara_twl
