The Power of a Backpack

Graphic by Izzy Chun. Image via Connecticut Post

If you’re reading this article, you probably care about what you wear. You’re aware that the way you dress affects how people see you, how you represent your personality. Quirky, smart, fun, comfortable. There are so many ways to present ourselves. And when it comes to our backpacks, something I’m assuming most of us use almost everyday, the need to express ourselves is as important as ever. More than a t-shirt or pair of shoes, for most people, a backpack is a staple of our wardrobe, especially for a student. Walking to class, I can recognize people by the bag they chose for themselves. The classic Peer Adviser grey Under Armour backpack. The student athlete black or purple backpack with the name tag falling off the side. They can speak to who we are before anyone sees our face. 

If you can rock a square Fjallraven, you definitely stay on trend with the new, chic-hipster style. A JanSport — classic, timeless — can tell a person that you’re loyal, you appreciate good shoulder support and don’t necessarily sacrifice comfort for style. Respect. Or maybe you opt for a less mainstream brand, a raggedy or eclectic thrift store cop that’s followed you on road trips and summers abroad and acts more like a child than an object. Because backpacks, apart from carrying our books, have the capacity for emotional attachment. 

Photo by Eli Gordon

I’ve heard of people who’ve stitched up holes in the backpacks from so much use. People who sew on souvenirs and patches they’ve collected from their life — buttons that turn a backpack into a platform for what they care about. Freshman Arthur Lebowitz took his red North Face backpack from his gap year travels to Northwestern with scrapes and souvenirs — carabiners and pins hanging off the sides. To him, his backpack holds just as many memories as it does books. Personally, I ditched my old, battered Hershel backpack for a sleek new grey one in an attempt to revamp my look, which proves that just as accessories can be used to hold on to your personality, they can also help redefine it. 

Photo by Eli Gordon

And I’m not narrowing my scope to two-strap, over-the-back bags. There are satchels, a washed-up beach bag, the ever in vogue body bag or maybe even a briefcase (because students can be professional too). Anything we can use to transport things has the chance to transport us closer to obtaining a more perfect, unique style. 

Photo by Eli Gordon

So, moving forward, don’t forget to look around on your way to class, to work, on the way home or on the subway. Notice what we have over our backs, around our waists or clinging to our hands. Bags, bags, bags! Whether it’s subtle or stunting, neon or nude or patterned or monochrome, notice. We put so much effort into choosing what to carry with us. The least we can do is appreciate how others choose to show themselves off.