How Jean Became Blixen

In early August 2021, a special visitor came for a studio visit to chat bags - and most importantly to discuss her quest for something chic enough to wear to an event.. but hardy enough to spend a day in the saddle, riding wild, in Uruguay. A bag that wouldn’t flap about at full gallop.

A belt bag seemed the obvious fit and I showed my visitor the “Jean” - named after my fiery, fantastic and fiercely independent grandmother. I first designed the Jean in 2018 - the perfect size to hold the essentials; phone, keys and cards. On a belt so as to be ‘hands free’

The Original Jean. My grandmother

In 2021 I added a shoulder strap option to the Jean and loved how this perfect little bag sat cross body. The belt and the shoulder strap are both detachable so the bag can also be used a clutch - however up until this point it had not occurred to me to use the shoulder strap AND the belt at the same time.

Rhona Mitra and her “Blixen”

The genius that is Rhona Mitra took one look at Jean, harnessed up with shoulder and belt .. and christened this new version of Jean.. The Blixen. Her unflappable gallop proof bag, chic enough to take from the Uruguayan Pampas straight to a party!

Belt and Braces

So from that point forward - a Jean bag with both shoulder strap AND belt, was called the Blixen!