A Nifty Pot

Style On The Dot

Oct 3

Ecco's Pot Bag is cute and compact, and can now be customised

Ecco is so strongly associated with footwear that, sometimes, it is easy to forget that they make bags, too. In fact, there is the Ecco Leather Goods product category that is behind the Danish brand's small but practicable Pot Bag. No bigger than a cartoon of milk, it was launched to considerable fanfare last year, and now comes in a myriad of colours—a boon to those with an aversion to black. Unknown to many of even their superfans, Ecco bags, including the Pot Bag, are made of leathers from the company's own tannery in Thailand, specifically in the ancient capitol of Ayutthaya. In fact, Ecco also operates a factory and manages its retail operations in the city, whence their products, including shoes, are distributed worldwide, according to the head of Ecco Leather Goods, Boondharika Kaweewong. "We have full control of the supply chain," she said. "That's why the quality is always there."

And the gradual departure from their conservative image, especially comfort-over-style for their footwear. These days, Ecco products move in tandem with current accessory trends, and do not shy away from the quirky, such as the Pot Bag. Inspired by a watering can (rather than those used in the kitchen), the Pot Bag is a close cousin of the bucket bag, but is less circular at the base and is narrower at the opening (a boon to those who do not appreciate unwelcome hands in it!). At a height of 19cm and width of 14cm, the bag, for most users, would be considered relatively small, yet it easily packs a smartphone, portable charger, wallet (discount the wallet if you prefer to use credit cards, which can be slipped into the interior pocket), hand sanitiser, and pack of tissue easily without bulking the bag or distorting its silhouette. It comes with an adjustable strap for crossbody or over-the-neck use. For those concerned about the eco-cred of the Pot Bag, it is, in fact, made of the label's signature DriTan technology: the leathers are produced completely without water.

These season, to enhance the shopper experience, the 60-year-old Ecco is offering a custom service—we are the second city, together with Tokyo to launch this—at a pop-up store in the atrium of VivoCity, staffed with leather technicians to help you assemble the Pot Bag with the leathers and studs/fasteners of your choice. There are ten steps in all and the finished product can be collected in thirty minutes. If you like watching the craftsmen at work, you may. This could be half the enjoyment of the purchase—the involvement in the completion of the final product. What is perhaps the main lure of the exercise is that you could chose up to two colours per Pot Bag, which would yield a contrasting front and back (we were told that the navy and grey combination [pictured above] is so popular, it was nearly sold out just after launch). Fun to purchase as it is fun to use: There is nothing potted about that.