There’s something wonderfully self-indulgent about this 2,500 USD Loro Piana Extra Pocket L19 bag – the 19 referring to the 19cm length across its base. What we admire most is how it doesn’t scream, it whispers, with no logos or identifiable quilting. Indeed, it effortlessly fits into the quiet and normcore style that has become so hot in the last couple of years, epitomising the enduring attraction of simplicity in a world that is sometimes marked by excess and extravagance. The elegance of the L19 lies in its design, materiality and construction. But let’s dive in a little deeper because, like any LP product, it's all about the details.
Loro Piana has a history of championing the world's finest materials like baby cashmere and vicuña. In fact, it has become the world’s foremost cashmere processor and has even created ultra-luxurious Merino wools, denim silks and traceable linens, but its ability to source the finest leathers can’t be overlooked either. This bag’s creamy, soft calfskin exterior and lambskin interior both lay testament to that fact. Yet, if they had constructed it with obvious stitching or too many glued edges – as quite a number of other designer labels do with their bags – it would have detracted from the end product. So, instead, the bag is entirely cut and sewn by hand and the finish shows.
Honestly, the only real downside of this mini bag is that its growing popularity has surged to a point that, if you now want one then they you’re going to have to build a relationship with the sales staff before you have a chance of even getting on the list. That’s a bit much. Maybe Hermès can get away with such behaviour when it comes to its coveted Birkin but why Loro Piana thinks that's appropriate (especially when it only started making such accessories after its acquisition by LVMH in 2013) is a bit rich. Still, what a bag. We just love how people who buy the L19 buy it for themselves, not for others. Get one if you can.
