Telfar's Next Bag Security Program Will Be its Last

Telfar, maker of the ultra-popular Shopping Bag tote dubbed the "Bushwick Birkin," announced the end of its Bag Security Program, but not before one last drop.

The fifth and final Bag Security Program opens on June 16 at 12:00 p.m. ET and ends on June 18 at 6:00 p.m. ET. Also of note: Bags will be made and shipped much faster than in previous drops, starting within two weeks of pre-order (between June 26 and August 31).

The Bag Security Program, a unique method of releasing products, started in the fall of 2020: For a limited time, customers could place a pre-order for the frequently sold-out style in any size or color, without any risk of them selling out, as opposed to waiting for individual drops. It offered a new way to shop the Shopping Bag and make it more accessible — a core tenant of Telfar Clemens' brand. (Though it's been around since 2014, the tote became especially popular post-2019, and began appearing on resale sites at a higher price than what Telfar sold it for).

"Bag security changed our lives and changed fashion. New York literally looks different — and we were able to leave the fashion system. We literally do exactly what we want as a company," Clemens said in a statement. "That's exactly what we are doing by moving on from it, too. We want people to be able to get our bags — but also for people who get our bags to get us. Otherwise what is it? So we want to make it both easier and harder. Because it's never been about money. So it better be about something."

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So what does that mean for securing a Telfar bag in the future? A press release noted the brand is looking at "new strategies beyond the drop model" that rely less on social media platforms. Instead, it's focusing more on its TelfarTV streaming platform and getting ready to open brick-and-mortar stores in 2024.

The Bag Security Program was one of a string of recent retail experiments by Telfar. Last week, it alerted customers via text about a secret sale. In March, it debuted live pricing, allowing customers to buy certain pieces closer to wholesale value than retail. Last fall, it hosted a store takeover with its bags in Brooklyn that had fans lined up around the block.

For anyone who has been deliberating on joining the Bushwick Birkin crew, this might be a good time to do it.

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