When it comes to filmmakers with distinct aesthetics, there’s simply none more clearly defined than Wes Anderson. The director of countless classics, such as The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), Moonrise Kingdom (2012), and Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), has established one of the most identifiable visual worlds in cinema throughout his many films. Each shot of a Wes Anderson film feels picture-perfect and meticulously considered, with distinctly saturated color palettes and satisfyingly symmetrical compositions, all with a dash of hand-crafted storybook charm.
The New York City-based design studio Nik Bentel Studio has recently paid homage to Wes Anderson’s aesthetic and his beloved filmography by creating a handbag replica of a pastry box from Anderson’s 2014 feature, The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Nik Bentel is no stranger to the clever and creative handbag game, having previously “broken the internet” with his Pasta Handbag in 2021. Bentel’s Box Bag, however, represents the first product creation by Bentel to be inspired by a film. “As a studio, we’ve already explored reimagining paintings to foods, but we have not yet explored stories told in films,” he told me. “Our mission is to tell stories through objects that are big, small, and in between. Films are one of the best ways we humans currently have to tell stories, and what better story to choose an object from than a cult classic film like The Grand Budapest Hotel!”
Bentel’s Box Bag is a spot-on 5-inch-square recreation of Mendl’s patisserie box from the film. The pink pastel exterior is made from genuine leather and lined in suede, with a delicately decorated rich pink serif that reads “Bentel’s” instead of the original “Mendl’s,” accompanied by ornate swirling flourishes. A blue ribbon encircles the box with a bow at the top, which cleverly serves as the bag’s handle. As a limited edition item with only 300 units released, each bag comes with a metallic identification card for authentication.
Bentel told me that while this is the first product from his studio inspired by a film, it certainly won’t be the last. “I would love to reimagine the worlds of more films!” he said. Bringing concepts from the silver screen into the realm of physical objects feels like exciting new territory for Bentel and his team. “Being able to tell stories through objects opens new doors to storytelling because there are no language barriers. All of one’s senses are activated when you hold an object in your hands. In designing an object, we get to think about every aspect: the presentation, touch, smell, etc. It’s not just a visual experience. You have so much more ability to add depth and detail with an object than many other mediums.”
The question remains: What would Wes Anderson himself make of Bentel’s Box Bag? Bentel hopes he’d appreciate the interpretation from a fellow craftsman. “I hope that he sees the project and appreciates it as a unique take, inspired by the films he creates!” said Bentel. “I also hope he appreciates the attention to detail, or at least the detail that a small studio can include in such a project.”