What Is Max Mara's Whitney Bag? All About the Italian Brand’s Iconic Top Handle

The Whitney Bag debuted in April 2015 in time for the opening of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. Conceived in collaboration with RPBW, the bag’s design pays homage to the museum’s contemporary facade.

Initially, Max Mara unveiled the piece as a limited-edition release, the sophisticated tote soon became one of the brand’s most coveted accessories. The museum itself, designed by RPBW, opened the same year in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District.

In a press release, Elisabetta Trezzani—partner at RPBW—shared that Max Mara reached out to them to design a bag that would somehow capture the building.

“It was the first time we’d been part of something like this, so we had no idea what kind of response it would generate. For sure, we never imagined we’d be celebrating its tenth anniversary!”

Since then, the partnership has since remained active, with both teams refining the Whitney across seasonal collections. As Elisabetta noted:

“We’ve kept a close relationship with the Max Mara team, gathering every year to choose the colours for the various collections and to create new sizes that complement the more classic versions of the bag. All this while remaining faithful to the original design.”

The Whitney’s ribbed surface, echoing the museum’s modular façade, has made it a reference point in contemporary Italian design. In fact, it now resides in the permanent collections of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

The Whitney is defined by double top handles, a detachable shoulder strap, protective leather feet, and an internal zip divider.

Crafted from soft calfskin with a matte finish, the exterior features its hallmark ribbing, accented with understated brushed palladium hardware. Inside, the bag is lined with luxurious suede and designed with multiple compartments. Select editions include asymmetrical strap attachments and ring hardware.

For its anniversary, Max Mara introduced thirteen colorways, from muted pink and camel to metallic silver, ocean blue, lichen green, deep brown, and classic black. Six sizes are now available, complemented by a new five-rib version. Paying homage to the Whitney Museum, a special-edition release comes in aluminium-toned leather with red nappa lining, each stamped with “Designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop.”

In the Philippines, prices range from P108,150 for the smallest size to P174,750 for the largest. For availability, visit the country’s sole Max Mara boutique located in Greenbelt 3, Makati City.

In the last decade, the Whitney Bag has been spotted on elite fashion personalities from all across the globe. A-listers like Gigi and Bella Hadid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laura Dern, Pia Jauncey, and more have all been spotted with the tote.

See how the Whitney easily adds an air of sophistication to their ensembles.