The Barbican Series

The Barbican Series, a collaboration between architect-makers Isabel Vares and Michelle Wong. A collection of three tote bags, handcrafted in London taking inspiration from the shapes, forms and textures of the Barbican Estate. The totes are made with a natural untreated canvas and oak tanned leather, that contrast and complement each other at the same time.

Isabel and I met at an International Women's Day market back in March and bonded over our love for architecture, interest in materiality and appreciation for craftsmanship. We are both architects working on our own craft projects, with Isabel using the most beautiful natural fabrics to create items for daily life, whilst I use vegetable tanned leather to make minimal yet functional pieces. Our collaboration came about during lockdown, taking inspiration from our time spent at the brutalist Barbican Estate.