I found a gym bag that can keep up with my busy lifestyle — and it makes a perfect gift this holiday season
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As a recent grad who just moved to a new city and wants to experience everything it has to offer, I like to stay busy, whether in my professional or personal life. While I love seeing my calendar fill up with things to do and places to visit, truth be told it still makes me anxious when I have to think about how I'm going to get from point A to point E and all the things I have to pack in the morning to ensure I have a smooth-sailing day.
Before I got my hands on a JEMMA Birdie Bag, I usually lugged around an assortment of bags and totes and showed up to places slightly flustered and just sweaty enough to make people a little uncomfortable. It was not a good look or feeling, which is why I was excited to try out this gym bag from JEMMA, a high-end brand designed for modern women who are always on-the-go.
JEMMA was started by Joanna Lau, a former Wall Street emerging markets trader who had difficulty finding a work bag that was high quality, professional, stylish, and that she could carry confidently into the office. Interested in making a statement in both work and life, she designed leather and nylon bags with thoughtfully engineered inner compartments that could hold everything from your laptop and phone to makeup and keys.
After carrying the Birdie Bag, I can confidently say I won't be buying another gym bag anytime soon. Keep reading to learn why it could be the best work-to-gym-and-everything-in-between transition bag you'll own. It also makes the perfect gift for the stylish gym rat or boss lady in your life.
Having trouble figuring out what to get people for the holidays? You can check out all of Insider Picks' 2017 gift guides here.
The outside is made from a soft Italian nylon while the handles and zippers are made from vegan leather.
JEMMAThe water- and weather-resistant nylon is a great for traveling because you don't need to worry about getting it dirty as quickly as other materials. The leather handles are very sturdy, so you get a durable look and feel as you carry the bag, unlike typical gym bags which don't tend to look or feel too sleek.
The bag also comes with a small cosmetic case and laundry bag to help you further organize your belongings.
The interior is roomy, with compartments and pockets for everything you can think of.
JEMMAHere's everything that's inside this 17"x 11"x 9" bag:
- Front slip pocket for a laptop or magazine (fits up to a 13" laptop)
- Large central compartment for clothes, larger laptops, headphones
- Water bottle holder (elastic)
- Wallet pocket
- Phone pocket
- Multiple card slots
- Detachable key strap
- Back zipper pocket with leather puller
- Exterior ventilated shoe compartment
- Exterior side zipper compartment
- Adjustable, removable cross-body strap
- Metallic feet at base
Life suddenly gets a lot easier to manage when you know exactly where your things are stored. In addition to the intuitive organization of the bag, I liked that the base of it was flat so I could lay out folded clothes better.
The ventilated shoe compartment is a major game-changer.
JEMMAIt's something I never realized I needed, but makes total sense. This compartment separates your sweaty sneakers and lets them breathe, so your work things don't have to mix and interact with your non-work things.
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