There was a time when children’s backpacks were either totally plain, utilitarian type affairs, or were emblazoned with homages to favourite TV show characters. Both such rucksacks still, of course, exist, the latter particularly remaining a much-loved and time-honoured accoutrement to early school days. But there is a new a category of kids’ bag too: the fun, colourful, stylish, graphic and sometimes colour-blocked take, often Scandinavian in origin or at least in inspiration. These are the kind of bags that we long to own in grown-up sizes.

By Nancy Alsop
September 2022