It’s not often that BYBBA introduces new styles. As a brand that’s cautious about pushing more “stuff” into the world, we sat down with BYBBA founder, Pam Seidman, to hear exactly what it takes for her to give a new style the GREEN LIGHT.
She recently traveled to London and Biarritz, France with The Ripple Tote. Here, some photos from her trip and the inside scoop on her vision for the collection.
Q: What are the most important criteria you consider when developing new styles?
PS: While we’re constantly thinking about what’s next in our collection, there are three simple questions we ask with each before getting started – first, how will it be additive not excessive? We’re aware that there are a zillion tote bags on the market, and we go the extra mile to make sure we’re putting out a product that’s clearly differentiated. Second, Versatility- does the design allow it to be used in the most ways possible and lastly- how long will it last?? If an idea can pass the trifecta of these three criteria, then the fun part—what will it look like, how will it feel and the many design details that come into consideration.
Q: What styles are included in the collection. Tell us about them?
PS: There are 2 key styles – The Tote Bag and The Duo Pocket. The Tote Bag is our first zip top style. We received a lot of requests for this so we dug deep to consider just the right size and features. We always begin with our fabrics and what goes into them. The Ripple features our new Technimatte™ Nylon- which is a gorgeous recycled matte fabric made from upcycled plastic sourced from the ocean. It’s a thicker fabric than the Balos which we felt was important to add soft structure. Its an all around tote bag sized to hold all the essentials from laptop to gym gear and get you through a long day without getting heavy. The Duo Pocket is sized to fit inside the Tote as a shoe carrier primarily but also as a wine tote or amazing to hang off a stroller for bottles- it holds 2 – one for mom- one for baby, its also great for Pickleball and holds a racquet and balls. The key for us is thinking about the most ways any product can be used and designing into them. That plays into our philosophy of using less to do more.
Q: What are your favorite features on The Tote Bag?
PS: The luggage pass through is amazing. Its an easy fit with every suitcase we tried it on. Recently, I had to run through the Paris airport with my carry-on suitcase to catch a flight and having the tote neatly attached to it made it possible. Also, the side pockets. I love that a water bottle fits in comfortably. Even if its moist on the outside, the water resistant Technimatte™fabric resists the moisture plus its easy to access. On that same trip, I was in rainy London and got to see firsthand how it held up in the weather without getting the contents wet.
Q. Tell us about the sustainability of the bag?
PS: Our Technimatte™ is a 51% recycled fabric comprised of recycled ocean plastic combined with some non-recycled elements. While we always strive for a 100% recycled product, we also honor the way it feels, its thickness, we even consider how it smells. In this case, we’re excited about Technimatte™ because it has a rich feel and isn’t crunchy. We use vegetable based dyes and this fabric has a deep saturation level to deliver rich colors. Also- when designing we’re also thinking about how to use material in the most efficient way possible and without excess. The way we color block and add pockets takes this into consideration with the least amount of waste.
Q Lastly, how is it different than what’s out there?
PS: Quite simply, it’s the combination of the features- handle length, pocket placement, toggles, volume, weight proportion—all of it. As we like to say- we stive to make the perfect cocktail. Cheers!
