When the Wall fell, popular culture rose to a new level of social relevance. Wind of Change? More like a tsunami! The Nineties washed over the increasingly globalized media landscape in a tidal wave of catchy tunes, cult movies, TV series and show stars. FACES rolls up the decade – and publishes an encyclopedia on the age of grunge, girl groups, GZSZ and – Eastpak.
And another trend that is spilling over the Atlantic into Europe: originally produced for the US Army, Eastpak backpacks are now backing half the globe.
Invicta bags and fur satchels? At the end of primary school, such specimens embark on a one-way journey to the attic. Style-conscious not-yet-children-not-yet-adults zip their math notebooks, Discman, Hackysack and everything else they need to take with them on the go into the backpacks from Boston-based brand Eastern Canvas Products USA: Eastpak is the name of the model. Without CK, mind you!
The company has been sewing bags, garment bags and all kinds of other robust textile parts for the US Army at its main plant in Boston, Massachusetts, since 1952, thanks to a contract negotiated by Managing Director Monte Goldman. The backpacks’ reputation precedes them across the pond; in European stores, Eastpak bags (and their imitations made in China) find underage customers à gogo in the nineties – who, among other things, hide illegally obtained cigarette packets from their parents’ eyes.
