Today's busy young professional wears many hats. You go from the morning commute to the office, to the gym, to dinner with friends, home and back again. Every working woman’s life is different, but we all have one thing in common: We have a lot of stuff to carry around.
For years, women have been on the quest to find the perfect work-life carryall. Backpacks haven't really been an option since most of them were either too casual for the workplace, too techy, or too masculine looking. But in 2019, women are ditching their large totes and handbags for a more practical toting solution. They say they'll never return to a single shoulder bag.
See why the world of practical-yet-stylish work backpacks are everything you need to make it through your day:
1. No More Juggling Multiple Work Bags
A majority of professional women carry multiple crossbody bags to the office. They look to men’s bag brands for utility, carrying sturdy but less than desirable looking laptop bags and have a separate, prettier handbag or leather tote for smaller items. Every day, there's the "great morning purse transfer" of moving your wallets, keys, notebooks, and workday essentials from one satchel to the other.
I saw a woman juggling three bags on her commute today and it just made me so grateful for my backpack. https://t.co/6r9OYVvBio
— Julie Bogen (@JaBogen) May 8, 2019
For the switchers to a leather laptop bag, being able to carry one bag for an entire day is a huge weight off their shoulders (pun intended). "It’s all about the convenience. Not having to worry about dropping your phone or passport as you're running through the subway or airport. Being hands-free is refreshing" says Beth Goldstein, NPD’s accessories analyst.
Preparedness is the ultimate power move.
How many items do you carry every day? Some backpacks, like The ISM Backpack have separate zippered compartments for storing your laptop. iPad, and everyday essentials.
2. Hands-Free Travel & Commuting
Once you backpack its hard to go back. They're a little bit of everything at once -- professional and casual, spacious enough to fit your Macbook and gym sneakers, designed with just enough pockets and zippers to store the things you need. Whether it's for the morning commute or a long haul trip, having one bag instead of multiple handbags lets you seamlessly go from one event to another. The best work bags are also water-resistant, so you're never left stranded in the unexpected New York rain.
My laptop, food, workout clothes and well, just about my life go into my lady backpack every workday. No more shoulder pain! https://t.co/MQqlqqRZKD
— Maegan Vazquez (@maeganvaz) May 3, 2019
For the road warriors out there, a backpack can be the ideal travel bag, especially when airlines these days have a strict one carry-on bag limit. A business travel backpack paired with a sturdy carry on luggage can be all you need for a work trip or weekend away. Bonus points to a backpack that has a separate laptop compartment and top handle -- which makes going through TSA feel like a breeze.
See The Backpack
3. No to Back Pain, Yes to Comfort
Just like the rise of athleisure and sneakers as officewear, comfort is king. Women have stopped accepting that beauty has to be painful. Some women have sustained chronic shoulder and neck injuries from lugging around heavy tote bags or purses -- something that chiropractors and doctors alike have confirmed can be the direct result of carrying a heavy crossbody bag on a single shoulder.
i struggled with serious back and shoulder pain when i used to carry a tote bag for work - wearing a backpack instead for the past year or two has been THE BEST. https://t.co/OzK468O18o
— Sarah Jorgensen (@SarahLJorgensen) May 3, 2019
Unlike a hobo bag or canvas tote, backpacks distribute weight evenly between two shoulder straps. The equal weight distribution provides relief on your shoulders and back caused by heavy single shoulder bag or sitting at a desk for hours on end. The best work backpacks are also designed with memory foam and mesh padding on the straps and back panel for an extra soft touch.
Many modern work bags have mesh and EVA foam padding on the straps and back panel, like the genuine leather ISM Backpack.
4. A Bag That Goes With All Of Your Outfits
The backpack is making a seamless transition to the runway too, with designers from Jeremy Scott, Chanel, to Loewe making their own rendition. “Backpacks are having a more prominent presence with the ‘90s resurgence, and many designers and brands are creating ones as pretty as they are practical,” explains Nicole Russo, stylist and founder of Let’s Get You.
YES. I switched to a backpack about a year ago and haven't looked back
— Michelle Garcia (@mzMichGarcia) May 3, 2019
In a work environment, the best backpack needs to look the part – neutral colorways and smart, low-key designs all contribute towards creating an air of dependable professionalism. Minimal logo placement and premium quality materials like full-grain leather or nylon can add to the work-appropriate look in a leather bag.
Finally! The Perfect Work Bag For Women
We wanted to address the problems that many working professionals faced with current bags -- shoulder pain, bag juggling, bags that are either too expensive or too bulky. The one bag that we could use to seamlessly go from one event to another. Something made with quality leather materials that would last years, not a faux leather Madewell tote or cotton canvas backpack from Everlane.
To do so, we took our favorite aesthetic pieces from designer bags and combined it with the functionality of a tech bag and the comfort of a hiking bag. The result is a backpack that looks good, fits everything you need, and won't cost a few month's rent.
WHY did I spend years carrying a painfully heavy work purse?? I’m at the airport with my new @ismbags backpack, looking fly as hell, professional, and comfortable. (AND supporting a POC-led business 🙌🏽). Goodbye forever, shoulder aches!
— Bahareh “Berry” Soltani (@Berry_Soltani) February 19, 2019
Meet the ISM Backpacks. One bag in two sizes depending on your fit. We use premium materials and provide a lifetime warranty on the bag (it's made at the same manufacturer as TUMI, Longchamp's Le Pliage tote bag, Tory Burch, Mansur Gavriel, Kate Spade, and other premium designer brands.)
For every day, I have been loving the ISM. It has a very clean high-end-but-not-overly-fancy look.
— Jessica Hische (@jessicahische) April 13, 2019
The laptop compartment has a slot for both my 15” laptop AND my 12” iPad Pro & it has just the right amount of space / pockets in the main area. A+https://t.co/qBPSFiAVrp pic.twitter.com/THVwytEN8v
