Telfar.... the Bushwick Birkin
If you know, you know…. is what comes to mind when I see the Telfar embossed, unisex, vegan leather shopping bag that has been dubbed the Bushwick Birkin. The bag comes in 3 different sizes and sells out for every drop including the most recent Oliver green that dropped 2 days after Valentine’s Day. Over 19 different colors (not including restocks, apparel, shoes, and other small accessories) are not available in a matter of 2-5 mins. The Liberian-American designer makes it clear that these days look nothing like what he’s had to go through to get here.
After reading several interviews and doing research I’ve learned that for one, Telfar Celemens has put in work you hear me?! He has been doing this business for 15years before he was ‘seen’. He’s had a loyal following since then and he praises and makes it clear to all new comers on his sight that his team is lean and to be patient. In a recent interview he credits and praises his small team for he believes that is what allowed his business to see the other side of 2020. As we know many retailers did not make it out without having to make changes or completely shutting down entirely. Telfar runs a small crew so they face challenges on the regular... 2020 had nothing on them while I know many big businesses were scrambling and unprepared (let that be a lesson). Telfar had done many runway shows, but couldn’t get a review for the longest time until VOUGE finally decided to in 2015 and Opening Ceremony picked up the bag to be carried in store. He talks about how he has been in fashion for a while, but his hard work and efforts went unnoticed.
Telfar stuck by his bag and reason for creating it “ not for you- for everyone” as the slogan for the brand reads. When featured on the Tamron Hall Show she describes the handbags as the first status bag that’s not meant to be a status bag. Telfar explains that he creates and designs things that he’s always wanted to see at attainable prices both now, and when he was growing up. His fifteen year strive has allowed him to be featured in Harpers Bazaar, New York Times, he has been awarded the CFDA Accessories Award, partnered with UGG for an exclusive drop this past holiday season, featured in Oprah’s holiday O-list, and most recently crowned in the next top 100 most influential people by times and featured on the covered (photographed by Quil Lemons,hair by Latashia Chong, and interviewed by Solange Knowles... all brown people) which was featured on the Telfar Instagram and captioned “Took Time” extremely literally, genius, and intentional. Telfar Clemens is the example of “do what you can with what you have” and is history and history in the making. Get you a Bushwick Birkin and be part of his(tory).
