Dirk Shopping Bag included in the Collection of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

What once started as a practical shopping bag has grown over twenty-five years into a beloved object throughout the Netherlands. The red bag has become an indispensable part of the street scene and is used by a wide audience. The bag also appeared on the catwalk of Amsterdam Fashion Week and was embraced as an unexpected fashion item.

According to the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, the Dirk bag fits perfectly within their broader vision of design. Rein Wolfs, director of the museum:  “Design is not only found in special objects, but also in what people use every day. The Dirk bag is a powerful example of how simplicity, functionality and recognizability come together in an object used daily by millions of people. That, too, is design in the Stedelijk’s collection. And furthermore, it is an example that good design does not have to be expensive. The fact that the bag features the 'Stedelijk red' of our corporate identity is also a great match!” With its inclusion in the collection, the museum aims to show how everyday products play an important role in our visual and cultural identity. 

Main Image: The Dirk bag in situ. Photo: Stedelijk Museum