▣ ampersand AS apostrophe

“Century-old letters hold secrets we may never know, but more mysterious still are the mailbags that once transported them. Jessica Park, the founder of Ampersand as Apostrophe, recognized the intrigue behind the humble postal sack. By reworking 100-year-old mailbags into chic, modern carryalls, Park has found a way to marry its dueling natures: romance and utility.

Because the upcycled shoulder bags echo the shape of the letters they transported, Park manages to maintain the mailbags’ original story. “Ampersand as Apostrophe’s preferred method of solving design challenges is to refine what’s there instead of focusing on what’s not,” she says. That’s one sentiment we’re not about to return to sender.

“The first bag was an experiment for myself because I couldn’t pass up designing something from the bags,” Park tells Ecouterre. “I loved the history and the stories that they must have held. By the time she brought her finished bag on its first outing, Park, along with a bevy of admirers, was hooked.”

by Ecouterre