In an age of ever-increasing security measures and paranoia, this line of bags embossed with distinct silhouettes of handguns and kitchen knives doesn’t seem like the most convenient way to, say, get through an airport security checkpoint or to go anywhere unnoticed.
The Guardian Angel series, from Vlieger & Vandam—a small Amsterdam-based accessories label—are embossed with three-dimensional shapes in leather using a traditional hat maker’s machine. Other items are made out of wool felt, handmade in their workshop in the Netherlands.
The line also includes laptop cases and wallets. In 2006 MoMA added a Guardian Angel bag to its permanent collection. Pop icons such as Fergie and Rihanna have even been spotted with a Vlieger & Vandam bag. The line is said to “narrate the increasing violence and crime in the media, objectifying our addiction to fear.” They might also be an easy way to attract a whole lot of attention.