Ritika Suhas Sankpal wins the second edition of Polimoda's Think Bag

A limited edition of the bag designed by a Polimoda student will be on sale and the proceeds will be donated to Meyer

It is by Ritika Suhas Sankpal, an Indian student of the Polimoda Master in Bag Design, the winning bag of the second edition of Think Bag that will be produced and sold in a limited edition and whose proceeds will be used to support the Meyer Paediatric Hospital Foundation.

In fact, the final of the didactic project promoted and supported by Leather & Luxury magazine in collaboration with the Florentine leather goods company Loipell was held at Polimoda. A collaboration started in 2021 and repeated this year, to invite the school's young talents to design and create the iconic accessory par excellence: the bag.

The Think Bag participants - third-year Leather Technology and Master's in Bag Design students - took part in a series of workshops aimed at designing their own design and selecting the best materials based on criteria of feasibility, innovative design and functionality. Accompanied by a team of experts and thanks to the materials provided by Leather & Luxury's partner companies, they then created their prototypes at Loipell's laboratories and followed their development through in-company meetings.

In front of a jury of experts consisting of Polimoda representatives, industry professionals and representatives of partner companies, five finalists from different nationalities presented their projects. Versa Bag by Anastasia Peredriy (Russia), a versatile yet elegant bag made of nappa leather in two colour variants - black with an electric blue interior and brown with a yellow interior - with a distinctive diamond pattern. Carry Bag by Ritika Suhas Sankpal (India), a small seamless clutch with a removable shoulder strap, in three colour variants - black, blue and mustard - with contrasting suede lining and original packaging inspired by take-away boxes. Flow by Ciler Sevingen (Turkey), a minimalist pouch bag in ice-coloured nappa leather with a handle and ruthenium metal accessories that refine its geometric and futuristic style. Persona by Gaeul Lee (South Korea), capacious tote bag in denim-coloured nappa leather with a camel interior, designed for the multitasking woman, characterised by details such as mignon and asymmetrical stitching. Heart Bag by Yinfan Zhou (China), a bag with a square construction reminiscent of the Orient with tree branches and cherry blossoms, in two versions, pink and light blue, with embroidery running from the inside of the bag to the shoulder strap.

Ritika's style proposal won over the jurors. Her Carry Bag will be presented at MIPEL and LINEAPELLE next September and then produced by Loipell in a limited edition to be put on sale both on online channels and at major Italian stores.

The proceeds from the sale will go entirely to the Meyer Children's Hospital Foundation, for the support of the hospital's diabetology department, an Italian excellence for the care and health of children and a point of reference for national paediatrics in terms of research, innovative methods of treatment and child care.