I Just Relocated From Berlin to NYC—These 7 Items Are Already Becoming Staples

One thing about life in NYC? You’re going to need a really big bag. As anyone in the fashion community knows, we have a lot of stuff to lug around but that doesn’t mean we’re willing to sacrifice carrying an un-stylish tote to do so. Enter Vee Collective. These are the exact bags I spot near-daily on the subway, on the street, at my local Pilates studio, and in pretty much every corner of the city where busy but stylish women can be found. Newsflash: I’m one of them. On my busiest days, my Porter Marche Tote houses my gym clothes, sneakers, makeup bag, laptop, and water bottle and I swear it rivals the look of whatever designer bag is on my other arm.

So it should come as no surprise to discover that the mind behind the brand is equally as chic. I spoke with co-founder and CEO Lili Radu about the brand’s U.S. expansion, relocating from her native Berlin, and of course, the style staples that are defining her new NYC wardrobe. But let’s back up a bit. For the unfamiliar, Vee Collective is a brand that’s out to disrupt the luxury market with its ultra-practical bags that are a far cry from the canvas totes that most New Yorkers I see carry their essentials around in. The bags are sleek and stylish, but perhaps most importantly, shockingly useful. Made from lightweight materials that are meant to take a beating on your commute, they’re outfitted with thoughtful details like interior pouches, those thicker easy-to-use zippers, and discreet branding.

They’ve grabbed the attention of Goop and Fouquet’s New York who are two recent collaborators, as well as retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman where the totes are stocked alongside the likes of Bottega Veneta and Alaïa, not to much meant as a competitor but a companion to the It bags of the moment.