It’s not like Clare Vivier invented the concept of the tote itself — but, she arguably perfected it — and her classic, tailored designs made the idea of owning one excellent expensive bag into a necessity, no matter your gender or age. It’s very likely that in the early 2000s, or even a few years ago, the idea of a streetwear brand like The Hundreds collaborating with a handbag designer would’ve been seen as ill-fitting. But in 2020? It’s a no-brainer, a blending of two worlds and two local fashion visionaries who have way more in common than is obvious at first glance.

“Don’t get down on yourself because you feel like somebody else has already done your idea,” Vivier told The Cut in a 2018 interview. “My advice is usually to put blinders on and just look forward, instead of looking to the side.” At that point, she was a decade into a career built on a fairly straightforward concept: Make a bag that was functional for a working woman without losing any of the fashionability that permeates high-end handbag culture. The advent of the laptop meant a new item to carry to and from the office, into meetings and coffee shops, in airports, and on commutes. To that end, like so many iconic silhouettes that came before, the design of Clare V.’s initial bag sprang from necessity.

Circa 2008, she began designing what she called “little envelopes for my laptops” by sewing them herself at home, a DIY solution for stylishly transporting her computer. Now, a zippered, leather tote from Clare V. is one of the most sought-after accessories for everybody — not just any working woman, but any person looking to transport computers, accessories, keys, wallets, and other necessities during their day-to-day or when traveling. From her first design, Vivier’s business has developed into a much larger line of all different sizes and shapes of bags, lots of other accessories, and even clothing, but in the ensuing years, her classic foundational staple has taken on a life of its own, too.

In the ‘80s, ‘90s, and early 2000s, there was a codified, rather sexist idea that only women could carry bags, and men were to limit their accessories to pocket-sized, ask wives and girlfriends for space in their bags, or simply go without items they needed for long periods of time. But as smartphones and laptops meant that work was increasingly happening all over, the need for a bag beyond the old, tired briefcase, clunky duffel bag, or juvenile backpack became important for men, too — and for guys hyper-focused on pulling off fire fits, having the correct accessory in this department was as crucial to personal style as the rest of their clothing.

Yes, for all the needling Jerry received for his “man-purse” in a late-’90s episode of Seinfeld, he was more than ahead of the curve on the subject, and the infamous caveat he gave — “it’s European!” — might have been more true than the comic and his writers realized. For one thing, Clare V.’s designers are heavily influenced by Parisian and French culture, and the sleek, understated style of her totes is part of what makes them so easily adaptable as a staple for both genders. Defined by the idea of “insouciance,” or careless-seeming, effortless elegance, the kind of bag she designs blends into an outfit seamlessly, barely drawing any attention to itself.

And as the importance of a bag has shifted from something that’s not just used to carry goods or belongings but as another form of self-expression, the versatility and flexibility it offers as a functional accessory means it has also become one of the most meaningful ways people can make a statement. Not everyone can afford to own multiple multi-hundred dollar bags, but everyone should have at least one classic, iconic bag they can use to bring an outfit, a meeting, or an event to the next level.

In the same way that The Hundreds started off with the simple idea of a T-shirt, and grew that into an ethos, a lifestyle, and a way of celebrating creativity in the world, Clare V. has elevated leather goods, and particularly work totes, into a new staple for style, function, and self-expression. Both brands are rooted deeply into the LA community, and as the impact of the pandemic threatens to weaken and even shutter smaller, local companies, there has never been a better time to invest in a staple piece that’s stamped with the values of its creators right on the surface.

When it comes to supporting local, small LA brands during a time of global crisis and economic downturn, there is no better place to put your dollar. After all, the designs of Clare V. have now spread into six retail stores across the country and had a global impact on the way bags are used and portrayed in culture. None of that happens without the local community of Silverlake embracing her designs first, and this limited-edition collab will stand as a monument to that support and resilience when all this is over — that even a pandemic can’t stop the fearless innovation of Angeleno style. Maybe one great bag can’t change the world, but it can certainly change how your day goes.