I wanted to revive this long-dead Twitter thread I wrote a few years ago about my favorite backpack of all time after watching some Matt D'Avella videos on Youtube about sensationalist clickbait articles. This really was the best backpack I'd ever owned, but not because it was a particular brand.
It was because I'd modded the shit out of it.
Here was the beaut in its glory. Black on black Herschel, $70 from 2014 pic.twitter.com/AgnqOgkfNg
— βΎ π³ππππ π. π³πππππ βΎ (@helenvholmes) November 16, 2017
I donβt really believe in branded things so I tore out that Herschel tag. For a bit I kept swapping out different patches and eventually settled on this embroidered circle I did myself pic.twitter.com/OZylJiN2Dk
— βΎ π³ππππ π. π³πππππ βΎ (@helenvholmes) November 16, 2017
On the back I sewed on the bottom of a Salesforce backpack I got for free so I could throw it over a rolling suitcase pic.twitter.com/RgCxhVqp0P
— βΎ π³ππππ π. π³πππππ βΎ (@helenvholmes) November 16, 2017
One side had the stitches hidden and then I couldnβt figure out how to do the other side, so here it was pic.twitter.com/wWNnyzBZZl
— βΎ π³ππππ π. π³πππππ βΎ (@helenvholmes) November 16, 2017
Scariest bit because I have the tendency to abandon projects and this was my only backpack???: also from Salesforce backpack, tore out a zipper to sew in a side zipper for the laptop compartment pic.twitter.com/SrC28e59Fk
— βΎ π³ππππ π. π³πππππ βΎ (@helenvholmes) November 16, 2017
Canβt see it very well here but it was hella badly done, hahaha. Used blue thread and white thread on the inside, totally ruined that black on black aesthetic but it was so convenient pic.twitter.com/qZFYWlIlN8
— βΎ π³ππππ π. π³πππππ βΎ (@helenvholmes) November 16, 2017
Hereβs what ultimately did it in, the thing that made @bnap48 tell me βDamn it Iβm just getting you a new bagβ: broken strap. Sewed it once, broke again.
— βΎ π³ππππ π. π³πππππ βΎ (@helenvholmes) November 16, 2017
R. I. P., dear backpack. Iβm sorry I didnβt give you a proper burial. pic.twitter.com/m9CZlH9Y12
This was from back in the day when I didn't know how to sew with a machine yet, so everything I did was hand-done. Couture it was not, but I loved it until it died.
These days I carry around an incredibly beautiful, unmodded briefcase from LΓ©o et Violette that Brian bought me during our travels in France. The stitchwork on it is (unsurprisingly) much better than my own. Should it give out on me I intend to bring it to a local shop and have it repaired.
To my old backpack, R.I.P. you beautiful piece of fabric.