The inspiration behind The Porter's Portmanteau was derived from a desire to connect with the proletariat of the turn of the 20th century. While researching the historic textiles and designs in collaboration with The Charleston Museum, my intention was to gather inspiration from the clothing and uniforms that may have been used by the working class in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

I decided to design a duffle-style courier bag that could have been used by the chauffeur who once wore the Linen Driver's Duster. My ambition in coalescing The Porter's Portmanteau along with The Linen Driver's Duster was to conciliate the dichotomy between high fashion and the common laborer.

The design, function, and presentation of The Porter's Portmanteau, I believe, are an embodiment of immutable elements that are reflective and symbolic of Charleston's past, present, and future.