The upside of wearing a backpack while in Lisbon? An extra hand with which to eat pasteis de nata* (the delicious, and ubiquitous, Portuguese egg tart pastry)
For the two weeks I recently traipsed around Lisbon as part of an international literary program, I’d been supremely envious of a stylish attendee who carried with her a chic black backpack to every event. Heading out for long days with my purse weighing down my shoulder and overflowing with books and accoutrements, I vowed to find an eco-friendly, chic, and travel-happy backpack for my next adventure.
Enter Khepri. A NYC-based maker of recycled/vintage bags, Khepri (named for the Egyptian God of Resurrection) is the brainchild of Emma Allen, who keeps stylish shop in the Williamsburg hamlet of Brooklyn.
Khepri’s Serape Porter Bag: yes, please.
Khepri bags are handmade using vintage and recycled materials. No source is too strange: vintage leathers and textiles are sourced from discarded lambskin garments, vintage leather jackets, vintage blankets, salvaged military tents, homespun cotton grain sacks, recycled cotton, wool and other materials that are remade into accessories that are 100% recycled, sustainable and produced locally in New York City.
While I finally settled on the Serape Porter Convertible Backpack to accompany me on my next adventure, I’ve also got my eye on the Hudson Weekender, the Ikat Wrap, and the Shibori Dress. All equally eco-conscious, equally chic, and equally appropriate for a trip as far as the streets of Tokyo or as near as the supermarket.
Not only for the bag-obsessed, Kherpi also features cool wraps (like this one) as well as clothing
As if you needed further persuasion, here’s a tutorial on how to carry the Khepri convertible backpack. Certainly makes packing easier when your purse also doubles as your backpack and your tote! (For more on packing light, see my pack-happy friend Amy’s guest post here.)
*And now that I’ve got pasteis de nata on my mind, I will likely be making this recipe soon.
