Herschel

Herschel: Founding, Origins and Brand Philosophy

Herschel was founded in 2009 by brothers Jamie and Lyndon Cormack in Vancouver. The brand owes its name to the small town of Herschel in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, where several generations of the Cormack family lived. This connection to the family's own history remains part of the brand identity today and also explains the slightly nostalgic character found in many Herschel Backpacks and Herschel Bags. The starting point for the brand was the brothers' observation that the market offered either expensive designer backpacks or purely functional but rather uninspired alternatives. With Herschel, they wanted to create a brand that combined both: high-quality craftsmanship and a design that doesn't look purely utilitarian. Both founders brought experience from the fashion and sporting goods industry before devoting themselves fully to their own brand in 2009.

Positioned between a fashion and a lifestyle brand, Herschel follows the philosophy of Travel Everywhere, Travel Often. This core idea is reflected in the versatility of the collections: Herschel Backpacks and Herschel Bags are designed to be used from everyday university life through the daily commute to city trips, without losing their character. This means the brand appeals equally to students, commuters, city travellers and design-conscious customers who value a well-considered look. Herschel Backpacks for Women and Herschel Backpacks for Men differ less in function than in colourway and detailing, so that suitable models can be found for different preferences. Students tend to prioritise a spacious main compartment with a padded laptop sleeve, while commuters look more for additional organiser pockets for cables and small items, and city travellers prefer a compact format that fits easily as hand luggage.

The design language and brand image draw on a mix of retro aesthetics and modern functionality. Clean shapes, muted colour palettes and details such as striped linings or faux-leather straps are reminiscent of classic mountaineering and travel gear, without appearing old-fashioned. This balance between a vintage look and contemporary function has turned Herschel, within just a few years, from a small start-up in Vancouver into an internationally known brand for backpacks and bags, now available in numerous countries. Throughout, the brand has stayed true to its original approach of translating family roots and personal history into contemporary product design, rather than chasing short-lived fashion trends.

Herschel Backpacks and Bags for Women and Men

Our range includes Herschel Backpacks and Herschel Bags for a variety of occasions. For everyday life and university, the classic Herschel Backpacks are ideal, with a padded main compartment, separate laptop sleeve and a well-thought-out layout that keeps books, tech and personal items neatly separated. For commuters, Herschel offers models with additional organiser compartments for cables, pens and small items, while city travellers benefit from more compact Herschel Bags suited to hand luggage or day trips. Herschel Backpacks for Women and Herschel Backpacks for Men share the same technical base but differ in colourway, pattern and, in some cases, the fit of the straps.

Which Herschel Bags suit which occasion? Alongside the backpacks, the range includes Crossbody Bags, pouches and smaller accessories that combine well with the backpacks, for instance in situations calling for a more compact format. Robust materials such as hard-wearing canvas and nylon form the basis of many models, ensuring that Herschel Backpacks and Herschel Bags keep their shape even with daily use. These materials are complemented by faux-leather details, such as on straps, handles or small label patches, underlining the brand's nostalgic character without compromising the products' easy care. When choosing between canvas and nylon models, it's worth considering the intended use: canvas has a slightly more classic look and suits everyday life well, while nylon versions are often lighter and particularly suited to travel and frequent outdoor use.

Herschel is also characterised by its clear, minimalist design language: muted colour tones, occasional stripe or check patterns in the lining, and understated branding that presents itself discreetly rather than loudly. This restraint in design allows the pieces to be paired with both casual clothing and slightly smarter workwear, without a backpack or bag ever looking too bold. There are also noticeable differences in size within the range: more compact Herschel Backpacks are suited to the daily trip to university or the office, while larger models with extra volume are intended more for multi-day trips or as hand luggage when travelling. When it comes to closures, Herschel often uses zips with easy-grip pulls, sometimes complemented by drawstring openings in the top main compartment, particularly found on the more retro-styled backpacks.

Herschel at WARDOW: Range, New Arrivals and Sale

A well-known example of the brand's design philosophy is the Little America Backpack, one of Herschel's first and still best-selling backpacks. Its mountaineering-inspired cut, the faux-leather straps and the distinctive diamond-quilted pattern on the closure exemplify how Herschel reinterprets classic elements. Similar design principles can be found in many other Herschel Backpacks and Herschel Bags, creating a clear, recognisable thread running through the range's various collections.

In our shop, we carry Herschel Backpacks and Herschel Bags for women and men from several current collections. New Herschel collections regularly add fresh colourways and refined compartment concepts to the range, while older Herschel Backpacks and Herschel Bags can be found at reduced prices in the sale. When choosing between current new arrivals and discounted sale models, it's worth considering the intended use: anyone mainly looking for a reliable basic model for university or the office is often just as well served by the sale as by a current collection, while limited colourways or collaborations are usually only found among the new arrivals.

From the first sketches in Vancouver to the internationally available range of today, Herschel has stayed true to its original idea: developing backpacks and bags that take functionality and design equally seriously. For students, that means a backpack that safely stores a laptop and documents; for commuters, a bag with clear organisation for the daily commute; and for city travellers, a compact model that fits effortlessly into their luggage. This range of Herschel Backpacks and Herschel Bags for women and men can be discovered in our range, complemented by regular new arrivals and rotating sale offers. Precisely because design and function at Herschel have changed so little since the brand's founding, older and newer models can easily be combined, such as a backpack from a current collection paired with a Crossbody Bag from the sale.