Braun Büffel, the German leather house renowned for its timeless, classic bags, is shaking things up. In April, they launched the Kath bag. A redesign of an archival staple, it comes in a fetching, trim circle, a little larger than small. At rest, atop its round body, the trimmings of its two zips resemble two halves of a bow, imbuing the bag with the cute charisma of a gift box. But its sensibility is far from quaint. Surprisingly modular, its clever straps mean the bag may be carried in three ways: as a shoulder bag, a clutch and a top-handle carry. The handle also carries a secret whimsy, thin and stiff, it can double as a stand, propping up the body of the bag so that it assumes the shape of a vintage tabletop vanity mirror—a delicious tribute to its vintage roots.
In keeping with its modern classic air, the colour palette is fresh and bold; featuring duo-toned beauties of mustard-and-tan and emerald-and-black with a pop of orange. Amid this energetic mix, one stands out: a single snow white option. To celebrate the launch of Kath, a limited quantity was produced in all-white Nappa. This pristine base became the blank canvas onto which local artists were invited to bring their visions to life.
At a launch party meets art jam jointly hosted by Vogue Singapore on a bright Thursday afternoon in April, creatives gathered to paint, bead and embellish their blank Kaths any way they liked, no holds barred; for the Kath, a quirky reimagining of an old favourite, is at its heart a celebration of creative expression.
The guest list included some of the trendiest local artists. Alvin Tan of Phunk collective went with zesty acrylics, turning his Kath canvas into a dashing landscape of orange, pink and sky blue. Tiffany Lovage took a more graphic approach: with a fine nib, she painted an intricate whirling pattern on hers. On display were past works by Vogue Singapore collaborators, including one bearing a terracotta statuette of an ancient female goddess sculpted by Eduardo Enrique and a flamboyant floral number by multimedia artist Aeropalmics.
Customers will get to join in the fun too. For a limited time period and a price of $499, they will be able to customise their Kath bags as well on bases of Optic White, Yellow Freesia, Setting Sun and Farm Green. Custom pieces by the artists will also be on display across Braun Büffel stores from the end of May.
