How the 212 Was Created

The idea for The Effect 212 bag wasn’t born in a boardroom or during a carefully crafted design sprint. It started with something much simpler: a problem I kept having.

Living in New York City, I found myself constantly juggling bags. I’d load up a big tote with everything I needed for the day—laptop, gym clothes, whatever else—but when it came time to meet friends for dinner or go out at night, the last thing I wanted was to drag that same oversized tote around. I wished there was one bag that could do both: be roomy and functional during the day, but sleek and minimal enough for nights out.

That frustration stuck with me.

Having studied fashion business at FIT with a focus on economics and entrepreneurship, I had always loved the idea of creating something practical yet beautiful. My early experiences working in fashion (and modeling) gave me a firsthand look at design and production, but it wasn’t until this personal need kept coming up that I knew I had to make something of my own.

So I sketched, researched, and started working with local manufacturers here in New York City. I wanted the bag to feel like a piece of New York—bold, adaptable, and never doing just one thing. The result is The 212 bag: a convertible shoulder-to-tote design made from genuine leather and durable nylon, perfect for the realities of city life.

This isn’t just a bag. It’s a solution to the in-between moments—when you’re going from work to dinner, from gym to coffee shop, or from day to night—without having to switch bags or compromise your style.

That’s the effect I wanted it to have.
And that’s how The Effect came to be.