We already know that knowledge is power, but all that knowledge won’t necessarily help you carry all the books you need to get those smarts up. So, in addition to picking some of our favorite books in the industry, we’ve also picked our favorite bags to help carry all that new information. This is your shopping guide to get smart and look even smarter.
Louis Vuitton x Supreme Apollo Backpack Monogram Camo
You never want to fade into the crowd, especially when you’re going back to school, but this is a kind of camo that will never disappear. A favorite from the incredible and groundbreaking Louis Vuitton x Supreme collection, the Apollo Backpack takes the Monogram Camo textile and applies it all over an understated bag. The minimalist design makes this bag feel luxurious without being obnoxious. This makes a statement without rubbing the flex in everyone’s face.
Louis Vuitton Discovery Backpack Monogram Eclipse PM Black
If you want to put a little more moxie on it, the Discovery Backpack in Monogram Eclipse from Louis Vuitton offers a similar shape to the Supreme Camo bag with that iconic, and much bolder, Louis Vuitton print. The textured leather is the perfect canvas for the sharp blacks and greys of the monogram, and hide an appropriately effective interior for scholarly pursuits: the main pocket holds books, a laptop sleeve holds your computer, and a front pocket is for the pens and paper (and we don’t mean for essays).
Supreme Rizzoli Book Multi
Whatever you’re spending this fall studying up on, we know it’s all building to your master plan. But don’t forget that self-education can be for pleasure, as well. If you’re a fan of Supreme (and if you’re reading this, chances are you are), we know there’s something in Rizolli’s Supreme monograph that will speak to you. Clocking in at 304 pages, penned mostly by James Jebbia, the brand’s founder, featuring contributions by Aaron Bondaroff, a former Supreme employee, and journalist Glenn O’Brien, the book is chock full of history drawn from the brand’s first 16 years. KAWS even makes an appearance in this unique, and educational, tome.
Supreme Vol. 2 Book (With Slipcover) White
Once you make your way through the Rizzoli publication, it’s time to catch up on everything that went down at and around Supreme from 2010 to 2018. Published with Phaidon, Supreme Vol. 2 hit stores last winter clocking in at 351 pages of work that includes poetry, essays, and projects with the likes of David Sims, Nobuyoshi Araki, Kate Moss, Dash Snow, Harmony Korine, and Carlo McCormick. This is the official history, so sharpen your pencils: this will be on the exam.
OFF-WHITE Easy Backpack Black White Yellow
It’s all in the name. This East Backpack from OFF-WHITE is the easy choice for going back to school. A massive branding moment on the face of the backpack continues through straps in the vividly recognizable bright yellow. These huge hits let everyone around you know where this bag is from. Even while the branding is heavy, the construction is light, adding no more baggage to the bag than is necessary. This will carry your books, and whatever else you need, without any excess.
OFF-WHITE Arrows Tote Bag Black White
If slinging stacks on your back isn’t your flow, this Tote from OFF-WHITE will hold everything you need without wrinkling your shirt. Big enough to hold way more than just your books, the color scheme will match whatever your own school uniform is, whether you’re headed back to campus, or keeping it scholarly on the couch. If heading to the beach instead of the classroom is more your flow, the familiar texture of the bag will provide for you just as well on the sand as on the quad.
Virgil Abloh Figures of Speech Special Edition
As a curator of your own education, you’ve got to study what you love. And if you love OFF-WHITE, and any of Virgil Abloh’s work, there’s no better place to start than the Figures of Speech Special Edition book. Printed as a part of Abloh’s first-ever solo show at the MCA in Chicago, the nearly 500-page book offers a unique insight into thousands of projects that Abloh has touched, giving unprecedented access into his process and inspiration.
Virgil Abloh x MCA Figures of Speech Pyrex Vision Flip Book Multi
If a 500-page hardcover book is a little more than you’re ready to carry around and crack on the subway, this flip book that highlights Virgil Abloh’s work on Pyrex will give a shot of insight into that formative chapter of Abloh’s career. Released as a part of the Figures of Speech show at MCA in Chicago, this portable piece of brand history may be the exact bit of inspiration any reader needs to make something massive out of what’s immediately within reach.
Louis Vuitton Neverfull LV Escale MM Pastel
We know that not everyone is into the traditional student look of thick glasses, argyle sweater vests, and the strapped backpack that goes along with it. So if you’re an academic that’s looking to run in the other sartorial direction, this Louis Vuitton Neverfull in the brand’s tie-dye styled Escale print might be exactly what you need. The bag is big enough to fit all your textbooks, and you know those LV handles are made to last no matter what you pack the bag with. Plus the added pouch can hold all your smaller collectibles.
Gucci Slim Backpack GG Black
Earlier we suggested a minimalist looking backpack with massive branding that offered a flex without too many bells and whistles. Well, this one is also minimalist, but while it features branding through every stitch of the bag, it’s a much more subtle look. Gucci’s classic GG woven nylon makes up the entire exterior of the bag, making for a texture that fades into a shimmering chainlink look to the undiscerning eye. Surprisingly big, despite the low profile, this bag will hold more than you might expect. Plus all the extra pockets can keep you organized.
Daniel Arsham Snarkitecture Book
We don’t have to tell you that there’s levels to this art stuff, and as you dig into creators and collaborators you’re bound to hit some faves. One of our all-time favorites is Daniel Arsham who, with his studio, Snarkitecture, has been able to bring his dismantling perspective to our cultural icons. Always an explorer of time and the collaborative forces of decay and development, this monograph highlights those explorations from detailed fine work to massive commercial installations. The breadth and volume will overwhelm and inspire.
Takashi Murakami The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg
You already know Takashi Murakami from his collaborations with Louis Vuitton, UNIQLO, Supreme, Pharrell, Comme Des Garçons, KAWS, and so many others that even the longest list will leave off certified classics. But you don’t need to break your wallet to learn from the internationally celebrated Japanese artist. The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg is the companion publication to his 2017 MCA show of the same name, a major retrospective that puts all of the creator’s work into proper context. Over 288 pages, this exhibition catalog reveals his inspirations, development, and references in one comprehensive volume
Supreme Back Pack SS20 Black
If you’re a student on a budget, your first move may not be to grab a designer backpack, and that’s totally cool. There’s no reason to let your fiscal priorities get in the way of the drip. We love this Supreme Backpack in Black that’s basic in the best usage of the word. It gives you everything you need from a backpack, from comfortable straps to a plethora of pockets. Plus you get a facsimile of the iconic logo all across the front. This is the sporty bag flex for the season, and worth every penny.
Telfar Shopping Bag Small Black
The Small Shopping Bag from Telfar is pretty small. At just under 5 inches high and 7.5 inches wide, the bag won’t help you carry a ton of books, but it can definitely carry your style into the new season. And there’s no direct correlation between huge bags and huge knowledge: a pocket Constitution will fit perfectly in this diminutive bag with plenty of room for more.
Hypebeast Magazine Issue 8: The Perspective Issue
Any degree-required course is going to include a syllabus ripe with thick, hardcover books that are full of stale information that you’ll cram for cookie-cutter exams. And while that can be critical to your academic trajectory, it in no way represents the be-all and end-all of responsible discourse. Issue 8 of Hypebeast Magazine exists to give its readers perspective. Mediations on minimalism, imperfection, and the staying power of particular aesthetic movements will remind you that it’s not all about the classics. Your education is a living entity that must be fostered, and it demands continuous tending from the sources that inspire you the most.
Hypebeast Magazine Issue 20: The X Issue – Virgil Abloh Cover Book Multi
The 20th Anniversary issue of Hypebeast, The X Issue, features interviews and projects with an incredible roster of talents like Benjamin Edgar, FACETASM, Advisory Board Crystals, and Chrome Hearts founder Richard Stark. A collaboration with Virgil Abloh, the current Louis Vuitton Artistic Director graces the cover to remind you whose vision is coming to life.
