Fashion / Shopping

The It Bag for Men Gets an Artful Texas Makeover: Dallas’ Mural King Brings a Distinctive Eye

BY // 06.13.18

If there’s such a thing as an ‘It’ Bag for men, it’s the Hook & Albert Garment Weekender Bag. When the Dallas-based accessories label released its sleek travel bag several years ago, it was quickly endorsed by GQ, Esquire and Conde Nast Traveler. Now, it’s getting an artful makeover, along with a few other of Hook & Albert’s most popular pieces.

The brand just announced a collaboration with up-and-coming Dallas artist Kyle Steed, the man behind the expressive murals at Sixty Vines Uptown, Earl’s Legacy West, Oak Cliff Coffee, Trinity Strand Trail and more. Steed, whose talents have garnered him more than 150,000 followers on Instagram, handpainted a limited number of the Hook & Albert’s luxe leather goods for a capsule collection dropping June 19.

The collection is comprised of eight of the brand’s Garment Weekender Bags, seven Slim Briefcases, six Dopp Kits, four Wallets, three Card Holder Wallets, and two Foldable Glasses Cases.

“This is the first time we’ve ever done something with an artist, and we couldn’t be more excited,” says Hook & Albert co-founder Adam Schoenberg.

For a brand which was built on practicality as much as it was on style, the collaboration is a creative departure.

“By putting out a limited edition and treating it as art – I mean obviously the bag is the bag, and if you want to use it, wonderful. But, if people want to buy this and just look at it or put it on their wall or frame it, I think that’s really cool.

“It’s the balance between function and art which we’ve never played with before.”

Both parties understood that in order for the collaboration to be successful, Steed needed to have complete creative freedom.

“When Hook & Albert asked me to collaborate, I was super excited, based on the fact that they’re just so open and willing to let me conceptualize and work freely and not really have a lot of constraints,” says Steed.

The artist chose to work with plain black leather bags and white paint, creating a bold, patterned motif that reflects his graphic style. The results are super cool; detailed without being fussy; a perfect marriage of classic and funky. While the goods are targeted to men (Hook & Albert will introduce women’s products later this year), I don’t see any reason a woman couldn’t rock these hand-painted art-cessories.

“We believe it’s something that’s not only visually beautiful but has an opportunity to be valuable over time,” says Schoenberg. “We truly believe in Kyle and his growth as an up and coming artist and we believe he’s going to be a major force on a national and international level within a short period of time.”

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