Latest news with #BoatandTote
Miami Herald
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
This Birkin, LL Bean love child is chaotic genius (and I need it)
I'm a New Englander through and through. I spent childhood summers swimming in New Hampshire lakes or frolicking on the beaches of Southern Maine. And wherever I went, an L.L. Bean Boat and Tote was always in the mix. Monogrammed, oversized, and packed with snacks, sunscreen, and sandy towels, it was the bag that never let me down. To this day, there is always a Boat and Tote hiding somewhere at our family beach house - ready to be tossed in the car or hauled down to the sand when the moment calls for it. Related: Dior suffers major loss as trailblazing designer exits Though the canvas is a little softer now, it holds everything and somehow still feels cool, in that effortless, practical New England way. But like most people, my taste has evolved. I still love the no-nonsense appeal of a Boat and Tote. But I also can't help but fantasize about the Hermès Birkin, that grail-level icon of luxury handbags. It's aspirational, expensive, and in some ways, totally absurd. Which makes it kind of perfect. So when I came across a bag that mashed up both - the Birkin and the Boat and Tote- I did a double take. Ladies and gentleman, this one is SPECIAL. Image source: Hathaway Hutton Enter the Boatkin. The Boatkin is a handmade, tongue-in-cheek luxury bag from the brand Hathaway Hutton. Dreamed up by founder Jen Risk, the Boatkin fuses the iconic silhouette and hardware of the Hermès Birkin with the familiar canvas and stitching of the L.L. Bean classic. According to the New York Times, Risk launched the Boatkin earlier this year. And while it may have started as a playful one-off, the bag has quickly become part of a much larger - and growing - conversation in fashion: the rise of the dupe. From TikTok-famous Stanley cup lookalikes to the now-infamous Wirkin, dupes have become a defining trend in fashion, blurring the line between homage and knockoff. Related: Forget the Birkin bag, Hermès unveils something unexpected They signal status without the sky-high price, and let consumers buy into the look of a lifestyle without the gatekeeping. The Boatkin, with its wink at two iconic brands, offers a different kind of flex - one that says, "I get the joke." It also reflects a generational shift. Consumers are increasingly seeking individuality, irony, and access, even in their luxury purchases. The Boatkin doesn't pretend to be a Birkin, and that's exactly the point. What began as a playful fashion trend is now a fast-moving market. Social media has supercharged the demand for lookalike luxury, with content creators posting "dupe hauls" and brands scrambling to deliver lower-cost versions of high-end designs. According to a report from WARC, approximately 31% of adults have purchased a dupe, with the number rising to 49% among Gen Z and 44% among millennials. The Boatkin taps into that momentum, but stands apart in its craftsmanship. Where many dupes are mass-produced, Risk's creations are made by hand, often using customer-supplied materials. That limited scale adds exclusivity - ironic, given the concept's populist appeal. But it's exactly this contradiction that makes the Boatkin feel so of-the-moment. The legal gray area surrounding designer-inspired goods remains a hot topic. And as luxury fashion contends with shifting consumer values, brands may have to reckon with more than just copycats. They'll have to compete with creators who remix heritage with humor, yet still command a waitlist. For now, the Boatkin remains a standout. Not because it's trying to be a Birkin, but because it's not. It's a reminder that in today's fashion landscape, the cleverest accessory might be the one that doesn't take itself too seriously. And for me? Let's just say...I'm not not on the waitlist. Related: Birkin bag maker faces major problem The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
L.L. Bean drops lawsuit against canvas tote copycat
Apr. 25— has voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit against 4Imprint Inc., a Wisconsin promotional products company that the Freeport-based retailer had claimed was copying its iconic "Boat and Tote" canvas bag. In a federal lawsuit filed in March, charged 4Imprint with trademark infringement, deceptive trade practices and unfair competition for selling a "confusingly similar" canvas bag called the "Boat Tote." lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Portland, claimed that 4Imprint "sells the same goods, to the same consumers, using the same advertising and sales channels ... using 'Boat Tote' in an apparent effort to deliberately free ride on well-known (trademark)." On Thursday, filed a notice of voluntary dismissal, which simply states that its case was "voluntarily dismissed with prejudice" against 4imprint. Representatives of each company didn't respond immediately to interview requests. Under federal rules for civil lawsuits, a plaintiff may dismiss its own case if the court or the defendant have yet to respond. A dismissal with prejudice is final and bars the plaintiff from refiling the same claim. This typically happens when a matter is resolved outside court. As of Friday, there was no apparent item called "Boat Tote" for sale on 4Imprint's website, although there were multiple canvas, cotton and other bags similar to the totes, including bags referencing lakes, beaches, schooners and other nautical themes. When celebrated the 80th anniversary of its "Boat and Tote" canvas bag last year, news stories noted its growing popularity among celebrities and social media influencers decades after the Maine company first sold it in 1944. sells several styles and sizes of Boat and Tote bags, recognizable for their two-tone heavy canvas construction. There's a leather-handled version that sells for $99 and a key-chain miniature bag priced at $9.95, according to the company's website. 4Imprint sells several similar bags, including a "Large Heavyweight Cotton Canvas Tote." It can be custom imprinted with a company or group logo and purchased in lots ranging from 15 bags for $20 each to 1,000 bags for $11.49 each, according to the company's website. Founded in 1912, first sold its tote as a sturdy carrier for heavy ice blocks that were used in iceboxes, which preceded refrigerators. It disappeared from the company's catalog for a while before being reintroduced in 1965 as the Boat and Tote. The lawsuit said the success and commercial strength of the Boat and Tote brand has led to high-profile collaborations and partnerships with other companies, including Tibi, Farmgirl Flowers, Abbode, Noah Kahan and the Boston Red Sox. The digital court document included photos of celebrities seen carrying Boat and Tote bags, including the late Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, who died in a plane crash in 1999 with her older sister Lauren and her husband, John F. Kennedy Jr. Other more recent celebrities who are shown using the bag included the now-divorced actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, as well as actresses Chloë Sevigny and Reese Witherspoon, and model Hailey Bieber. Copy the Story Link
