Through My Rare View: Rama Day Backpack
By Chilaeya Ezell
The backpack has a history which spans centuries.
The world’s earliest backpack dates back to 3300 B.C. In 1877, Henry Miriam designed a sheet metal knapsack for the U.S. Military. Frequent mountaineer Gerry Cunningham introduced the first zippered backpack in 1938. And, with his cousins, Skip Yowell created the famous JanSport backpacks nearly thirty years later.
Today, Aisha brings us her collection of travel accessories via her company Through My Rare View. Through My Rare View combines the beauty of Ghana with the functionality of (you guessed it) backpacks, totes, duffel bags, and other travel essentials.
For nearly a month, the company’s Rama Day Backpack and I have gotten to know each other quite well. Handmade in Ghana, with all items sourced locally, The Rama Day Backpack boasts a cheery blue, yellow, and white African print well-placed against a black leatherette base. It is certainly a looker. Carrying this bag in my day-to-day - from work to the farmer’s market - yielded numerous compliments and added a bright accent to any outfit.
Looks aren’t the only thing this bag is packing (pun intended). This backpack boasts three well-sized zipper pockets. The primary measures approximately 17.5in in height and 6in in width. The front two zipper pockets are approximately 15in and 10in in height each. A single black pocket, accented with the company’s logo, graces the front and has become my favorite place to store my sunglasses. There are also two exterior water bottle pockets, each donning the same happy print as the front of the backpack.
The Rama Day Backpack is also padded, lightweight, and has adjustable shoulder straps. I have a rather large laptop for work; we’re talking a laptop with a built-in ten-key number pad and DVD reader…it’s long and heavy, it’s a dinosaur really. Anywho, it fits perfectly within the main pocket with ample room still available for the various supplies I may need and my small purse. On multiple days, my lunchbox has even fit comfortably in there as well. I’ve used the front pockets to house things such as the book I’m reading that week, a snack, and keys. The backpack has maintained its structure and, even with the weight of my monstrous laptop, is comfortable to carry using a single strap or both.
Earlier I mentioned the primary pocket measures approximately 6in in width. The backpack does have some give though, which enabled that 6in to reasonably expand to roughly another 1.5-2in. This was particularly handy during my weekend trip to Houston - which, if I am honest, is what sealed the deal for my adoration.
The Rama Day Backpack was the only “luggage” I used for the trip and it carried everything I needed, plus a little extra. For that weekend I packed some sweatpants and tank, a pair of jeans, a pair of leggings, and four tops along with a pair of flats, a small purse, and my toiletries bag all within that primary pocket! It zipped easily and I had plenty of space leftover to use the front pockets to house my small personal laptop, which is about 13in long, a book, and other miscellaneous small items (such as my charger and keys). Plus, a water bottle was neatly tucked into one of the side pockets.
Completely packed up and zipped, the seams weren’t stressed and after the weekend those pockets which were stretched returned to their original shape. Cleaning the back post-trip was also easy to do by simply wiping with a damp cloth (the backpack can also be hand washed).
As a fan of utility pockets, my only criticism is that this backpack does not include any. Many of the bags I’ve used previously include a laptop compartment within their main pocket and their front pockets have individual compartments along with pockets for items such as pens or small notepads. I have accommodated for the Rama Day Backpack’s lack of these by utilizing my own small pencil bags and being intentional about how I organize the things I need to carry.
so this hasn’t put a damper on my fondness for this bag, however if those are must-haves for you it is something to be aware of.
Overall, it’s functionality and design make the Rama Day Backpack a winner in my book. I’ve rarely left home without these past weeks and don’t anticipate that changing anytime soon.
To shop for this backpack or to see the entire collection, visit Through My Rare View’s website at https://www.throughmyrareview.com/