Riding off the overwhelming success of their spring/summer ’08 collaboration, Eastpak and Raf Simons are back in cahoots with a sleek stunner in time for end of the year festivities. Putting his understated yet chic aesthetic to the ruff and tough duffle bag, the newest incarnation from Eastpak / Raf Simons’ autumn/winter ’08-’09 collection is a quilted nylon sac. Made to resemble a down jacket, the bag perfectly marries the Belgian designer’s sharp design aesthetic with the sensibility and trademark of an Eastpak bag—making it a sturdy option for winter and a perfect carry-all for both men and women.

Eastpak has been right on trend with the rising popularity of backpacks among the fashion crowd, harnessing big name designers for their innovative collaborations. The resistant bag brand has already teamed up with London-based brand Eley Kishimoto for a spring/summer ’09 line of limited edition bags boasting Kishimoto’s signature Flash print.

Sadly, the upcoming s/s ’09 collection will be Simons’ last output for Eastpak, so make sure to get your hands on the bags for its fashion collectible potential. Found at retailers Colette, Harrods, Barneys, 10m Corso Como, Oki-Ni and Lane Crawford, you shouldn’t have any trouble snagging one of the duffles in time for the holidays. And with a €140 price tag, you might want to jump at the chance.

For more information, visit 87.106.137.70/rafsimons.

 
—Kyle Landman