That familiar paddle “thwack” might be the sound heard around the pickleball courts, but lately, it’s fashion and handbags that are making some noise. The industry’s latest collab, the B&G Pickleball Bag x Made by Alex, blends hyper-real imagery from famed pickle brand B&G with the artistry of New York leather goods brand Made by Alex.
“We are excited to make an official pickleball bag inspired by a legendary pickle brand,” said Alex Dabagh, founder of Made by Alex of his new bag made in New York’s Garment District. “We know combining the heritage of the B&G brand and our history of making bags in New York City will make this bag the must-have for the summer.”
The bag drops at a time when fashion and food collaborations continue to gain ground, creating functional items with a tasty twist and broad appeal. “The B&G brand has been a staple in New Yorkers’ households for over 135 years,” said Frank Rinaldi, senior director of marketing and sales strategy at B&G Foods. “We wanted to get in touch with our Manhattan roots to create something fun and trendy, while still staying true to what we know at heart: pickles. Made by Alex brought the vision to life, and we can’t wait to see the bag taking over pickleball courts this summer.”
Made by Alex already taps into sports leather goods, with a lively range of gym bags, color-blocked footballs, python skin baseballs, high-fashion basketballs and more. Pickleball is the latest sports frontier. Made using Italian leather and a chenille-branded patch, the B&G® x Made by Alex Pickleball Bag retails for $250.
Made by Alex is a second-generation handbag manufacturer based in New York and a part of Park Avenue International, a family-owned and operated business for more than 40 years. Additionally, Dabagh created Anybag, which has diverted almost a million bags from reaching our landfills and waterways into fashionable handwoven handbags.
And like a good New Yorker, Dabagh appreciates the appeal of a good pickle, and opportunity. “When Emily [Blumenthal, designer expert and Handbag Awards founder] asked if I wanted to collab with B&G, I knew it would be a hit. With deep roots in New York City and pickleball’s craze, B&G and Made by Alex’s pickleball bag is a no-brainer.”
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