Neocon 2010 opened today at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. NeoCon brings about 40,000 professionals in the contract design industry together for three days. It’s a big event. Day one? Remember your first day back at school? The excitement, the energy, the non-stop conversations? That’s the first day of NeoCon. Bringing that many design professionals together guarantees lots of conversation. Every year, there’s one question, so important, you hear it everywhere. “Where’d you get that bag?” In the halls, the coffee lines, the showroom floors, even the elevators you hear “Where’d you get that bag?” The give-away bags at NeoCon matter. For most women, a bag isn’t just a bag. A bag has meaning. When the women in question are designers? A bag REALLY has meaning. When designers design a bag FOR designers? It’s an important project. Something special happens. The best give-away bags at NeoCon are coveted items. The best bags typically disappear after Day One. Everyone wants the best bags. After polling 50 women here are The Best Bags of NeoCon 2010.
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celebrates it’s 40th birthday at NeoCon. This year’s influences; an important anniversary, new fabric lines and new fabric technology all focused the design of their tote bag. Kimball ‘s showroom is across the street from the Mart. All of Kimball’s NeoCon events occur in their showroom, not at the Mart. Kimball’s bags so good – they weren’t even in the mart for its presence to be felt. THAT’s good design. Partnering with Key alliance material partners, Kimball created one-of-a kind tote bags for this year’s event. Multiple fabric lines and various key material designers contributed to creating these special bags. Attendees recognized that. Just ask the women on the elevator. What to learn more? Call: 800.482.1818. Showroom: 325 N. Wells Chicago
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created an impressive bag for this year’s show. Their bag’s design relevance related directly to specific corporate adjustments made this year. A new logo, new branding and new color palette speak to this company’s growth and design sensibilities. Hon’s tote bag succinctly summarized those changes. “Inspired practicality”. Attendees responded to this consistency in applied design esthetic. My friend in line just caught me up to speed. Want to learn more? Call:
800.553.8230 Showroom: Mart suite 1130
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used the launch of their new textile lines Through Light and Shadow as inspiration when creating their tote bag. Utilizing their new fabric in the bags construction allows attendees a hands on personal experience with their fabric. Sara Balderi created these lines while focusing on the interplay between – and visual juxtaposition of – urban architectural elements. And as expected, attendees felt the quality in these bags. The girl at the coffee shop knew it. Want to learn more? Call: (312) 494-0574 Showroom: Mart suite 10147
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has a
great company story and two unique women to guide its future. This mother and daughter team pour their hearts into their business. It shows and it’s driving their success. No wonder their tote bag made the NeoCon Top 5 Tote Bags list. Rebecca Boenigk pays attention to details two and three layers deeper then “necessary”. Their goal when designing their bag? To create a tote that women would really use. Measuring shoulder strap lengths, including a zipper, proportioning the size of the bag’s body for ease of use – mission accomplished. Or so said the girl in the lobby, excited about her new beach bag. Want to learn more? Call: 800·446·3746 Homebase: Bryan, TX
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created a bag with two clear goals. To solve a client problem and have fun. Their clients, designers, need to carry sample tile pieces – which are awkwardly sized & shaped. This bag’s specifically sized to hold several time samples with a shoulder strap that’s long enough to accommodate that usage. The having fun requirement can be seen in their bag’s silver metallic iridescent pattern. Attendees really responded to this element of fun. As heard in the hall, the girls HAD to get one. And they did. Want to learn more? Call: (773) 794-7900 Showroom: Chicago, IL.
It’s interesting how small things show so much. These tote bags, these give-a-ways show a lot. We learn about the companies and the designers who create them. These bags are coveted because they’re good. Because these bags tell a story. And the companies and designers involved? They really do care. Just ask them. They were thrilled to be on the list.
