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If you've ever spent more than a few hours in New York City, you're familiar with the energy of "e City at Nev- er Sleeps." Whether you're surrounded by the hustle of reusable-coffee-cup-clad business people on their way to work via the A-Train or the post-work rush to Manhattan's downtown hotspots, there's one main observation that can be noted— life in e City moves at a fast (and some- times furious) pace. When working days seem longer than skyscrapers are tall, a quintessential part of urban living is to have a versatile, active wardrobe. Dare I say, the most important investment one can make is in a bag that supports your lifestyle and can store everything you use along the course of a day's journey. A bag that carries everything from headphones and laptops to water bottles and workout clothes at the same time seemed like a dream, until we discovered Caraa. Even though the athleisure market is valued at nearly $35 million, there seems to be a lack of handbags that encourage active living. While it sits at a high price point, Caraa's bags do away with the deci- sion many have to make between carrying a designer bag that is stylish but not func- tional, or using a traditional gym bag that is practical but hard on the eyes. Founded in 2015, Caraa is a New York City-based sport-bag and accessory com- pany that reimagines handbags and back- packs for today's modern and active life. At the head of this operation is CFDA award-winning designer Carmen Chen Wu and Aaron Luo who believe that a love for travel and working out should not dis- count someone's desire to do so in style. Caraa's very first bag, the Studio #1, can transition from a satchel to a cross-body bag, and can be worn as a backpack, all by attaching and detaching varying straps. Having the option to alter the structure of "the only bag you'll ever need," as some say, changes the game and allows for the opportunity to personalize the bag to one's active lifestyle. CARAA BUILT FOR ACTION BY KIERA MITRU V U E N J . C O M 51

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