Here at Sassy HQ we’re always on the lookout for stylish things that make our lives easier – which is exactly why Tribe hit our radar with their collection of oh-so-stylish but practical bags and accessories. As we know, it’s not often that function and fashion go hand in hand… But seeing is believing, girls, and after extensive road-testing from our very own Maura and Hester, we can definitely declare these Sassy-approved!
What started off as a luxe baby bag brand with its hugely popular Singapore Sling baby bag (a personal fave of Gisele Bundchen… hey, if it’s good enough for Gisele, who wouldn’t want a piece of the action!) and the bestselling Changi Travel Wallet (keeping even the most unorganised organised on their travels!) has now spread its fashion wings and extended its collection… and we are now super excited to get acquainted with the new members of the Tribe family.
Although at a lower price point than their uber luxe sisters, the quality of the new collection does not disappoint; the new bags are made from Saffiano leather (a material used extensively by Prada in its handbags and accessories collections), which is durable, does not absorb stains as easily as other leathers, is easy to clean, and has high scratch resistance. Sounds like it ticks all our boxes then!
You can take your pick from the new Balmoral Bag (an elegant tote in fab colour palettes), the Rocks Bag (an edgy shoulder and cross-body bag), and the funky Whitsundays Carryall/Beach Bag… And we just can’t wait to meet them all in person!
So, who do we have thank for this super stylish brand? Rosie Jansen is a Singapore-based Aussie mum (and of course, staunch handbag lover!); after picking up a few MBA textbooks, Rosie’s entrepreneurial spirit was sparked and she left behind a successful career in law to develop “The Ultimate Breed of Baby Bag” with Tribe. Not only has she achieved this, giving parents who value style and luxury a stand-out baby bag, but she’s created a range of chic but practical accessories that are certain to please mamas and non-mamas alike!
But don’t take out your credit cards just yet because we have a special Sassy Sale coming to your inbox this Thursday with our five favourite Tribe products – so start putting together a mental wishlist now! We’ll let you know when the sale starts… and just as a little teaser for you, there is even going to be a buy one, get one free deal going for one of the products too!
As usual, we’ve already started compiling our own wish lists (hint hint) – here are our top Sassy picks!
Kate: This Whitsundays Carryall is the perfect beach bag for my tribe. I’m loving the funky colour and gorgeous woven pattern, while junior is simply thrilled with all the space for buckets, spades and toy diggers! The zipped pocket will ensure that my phone and keys are safe from little hands, and the water-resistant lining will ensure that soggy swimmers don’t ruin my day on the way home from the beach. Pink perfection!
Katie: Being a Mama, I’m often seen carting around a big baby bag, so I’m loving this Rocks Bag, which is positively minute in comparison to what I’m normally seen hauling around, but big enough to carry the essentials. With a strap that can be worn across the body, it means I can be hands-free perfect for nipping around town, whether it’s shopping, the school run or catching up with friends. Oh and it has studs… they rock, and so does this bag!
Rach: Given that my current handbag is neither the same colour, shape or texture as it was when I originally bought it, it’s definitely time for an upgrade! My friends all used to call me Mary Poppins because of the amount of random stuff I’d tote around (…what? You mean Percy Pigs aren’t an absolute essential?!), and I think I’d be able to fit most of my life into the Balmoral Bag. Hopefully the serene grey/turquoise colour combo will have a calming effect on my usual daily chaos!
Maura: I just had a baby girl (little Eve!) and I must say that the superficial part of me did wonder how my style would suffer once I had to lug around a boring diaper bag. Well, I own the Singapore Sling Bag and let me tell you, it is seriously the chicest mama bag around! It’s a well worth it splurge and if you’re a mama-to-be and don’t want to splash out the cash yourself, why not hint to your friends that this would be great as a group baby shower gift?
Vivien: I’m the kind of girl who has a tendency to pack last minute and get to the airport 40 minutes before my flight leaves. This means that while I’m a pro at dashing through airports while frantically rummaging through my carry-on for tickets and passports, my travel documents tend to end up worse for the wear (my previous passport somehow managed to fall in a snow puddle and half my photo melted off!). This year, I’m determined to be more organised… and hopefully this Changi Travel Wallet is the key to achieving that!