Sherpani Soleil Wins the Global Innovation Award

The Sherpani team has some special news to share! Last week in Chicago, our best-selling Anti-Theft bag, the Soleil, received the Global Innovation Award (GIA) for Excellence in Product Design!

A globally recognized honor from the International Housewares Association (IHA), the Soleil was chosen over four other finalists in the Luggage, Travel Goods and Accessories category. The awards are part of The Inspired Home Show, an organization with a rich trade show history. The IHA has recognized and celebrated standout designs for decades; the Global Innovation Awards for Product Design officially began in 2016. This year's awards took place on Saturday, March 4th, 2023.

The remaining finalists offered some tough competition. These innovative products by respectable brands included a device that prevents pump-style bottles from dripping during travel and a sleeping bag the user can wear during a flight. We knew, however, that our functional design would hold its own. When it comes to this tried-and-true Sherpani favorite, we couldn’t help but think that the Soleil had it—pun intended—in the bag.

So, what about this design earned the Soleil this prestigious award? We’re glad you asked!

While the concept of an anti-theft bag is not new, the products on the market offered bulky solutions at best. At worst, manufacturers might as well have been attaching backpack straps to a safe.

Sherpani reinvented the anti-theft bag with the Soleil by creating a lovable, functional bag designed for women to have peace of mind every day, in every place.

The cumbersome bulk of existing anti-theft bags would encourage users to return from their travels and, unsurprisingly, banish the heavy bag to the back of the closet. It seemed most anti-theft designs were being treated as single-use purchases. As an eco-conscious company, we were thrilled about this.

The Soleil offers everyday functionality that negates single-use consumerism. It's crafted from 100% recycled materials, including ocean-bound plastic and stylish vegan leather. Sherpani bags make for responsible and sustainable purchases; each Soleil diverts forty-two plastic bottles from landfills and waterways!

The Soleil has unique, three-in-one functionality: It can be worn as a backpack, crossbody or tote. With padded backpack straps that can be tucked away and hidden, you can go from an ergonomic backpack to a casual crossbody if you run into a "no backpacks allowed" sign at a shop or museum. The adjustable crossbody strap is completely removable, while the fixed tote bag handles provide a fun and functional asset to the design.

As part of Sherpani's Anti-Theft Collection, the Soleil is equipped with security features that make globetrotting a breeze! With locking zippers, a wire-loop chair lock, a ReturnMe Tag, RFID protection, a slash-proof bottom, and an anti-slash crossbody strap, you can travel more and worry less.

It's worth mentioning that most slash-proof material is achieved through internal wiring, which results in a heavier product. Plus, wires can get bent out of shape and even cause pain as they cut into the wearer's shoulder. Sherpani’s proprietary wireless slash-proof crossbody strap is a standout feature, the first and only of its kind to provide comfort and safety in one.

Dining on an outdoor patio? That’s where the chair lock comes into play, an easy-to-use system that secures the bag to a chair. Worried about petty theft on public transportation? The external pockets of the Soleil have locking zippers. Concerned about cyber security at a big conference? RFID-blocking technology stops cyber theft in its tracks. The ReturnMe Tag feature is a digital bag tag that connects the Soleil to a highly successful, user-generated network that acts as an international lost and found, all without displaying personal information.

We wanted to create an anti-theft bag that was fashionable and functional, useful and reusable, comfortable and comforting. The Soleil is a lightweight, everyday solution to security. Made with sustainable materials and responsible business practices, Sherpani’s award-winning Soleil is the must-have bag for travel and everyday use.

A big thank you to the folks at The Inspired Home Show for the recognition. We are honored to have accepted the GIA for one of our favorite Sherpani designs. We appreciate your support as we continue to do what we do best: design the best bags for women to travel in style.

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By women for women, the Sherpani Travel Blog talks about all things travel (and all things Sherpani!). From unique travel guides to general travel tips to personal stories from the women in our community, this is a space to celebrate our belief that travel restores the human spirit.