Ever seen the Mothership diaper bag by Fleurville? This was a much-needed response to the new mom’s desire for a big launching pad (bag) for all the tiny baby gear we need to haul (or think we do…), with an ‘escape pod’ for small trips. Brilliant. And great looking. But now your kids are bigger, they’re off to preschool and beyond, and you just can’t deal with a flimsy PBS-character pack from a mass market retailer, especially one that has no chance of withstanding the rigors your kids will dish out. Welcome, welcome to two terrific offerings for the school year from Fleurville: the Kids Messenger and the Lunch Pak. The Kids Messenger ($50) comes in a unisex khaki/camo fabric, accented with orange piping–a great choice this season for the elementary school set. It’s packed with handy features: convertible from messenger bag to backpack, multiple pockets for organizing inside and out, reflective tape, mesh water bottle pockets, and a small but efficient removable insulated lunch tote.
The Lunch Pak ($30) is ideal for the preschoolers who need a pint-sized pack with just enough room for their lunch and a piece of artwork or two. It can be carried as a backpack or with its handle, and has a lot of interior space, with a large bottle holder and hidden ID tag. I love the easy-grab zipper pulls and rugged feet at the bottom of the pack. The insulated interior looks easy to wipe clean (except for the seams, as always) and is heat reflective, too. The blue/grey, orange/grey and pink/grey combos will appeal to the parents, though you might have your preschooler screaming for something with a little more pizzazz. Celebrities who’ve got these bags for their kids include Liv Tyler, Kate Hudson and Jennie Garth.
Both bags have two very nice and uncommon features: they are PVC-free (a cheap and suspect material seen ubiquitously in insulated lunch bags), and Teflon-free. These are tough, smartly-made and stylish enough for all the kids you’re sending back to school this month. Click here to buy Fleurville bags, and CBB Readers save 20% until 10/14/07! Enter coupon code LPCB20 at check out.
