Lucky Beggar

Ever since I went to the Museum of Bags and Purses in Amsterdam I feel completely justified in any and every bag or purse purchase I make. They are little pieces of history reflecting the style and design of a period I'm investing in, and who knows, at the rate I collect in 30 years I could be opening my own museum! What a delicious thought.
Which brings me to the feature of the day. I've been cursing myself for never adding George Skelcher's 'Lucky beggar' purse to my collection ever since I left the States. It's a NYC classic. George says “I got the idea to make this leather purse from seeing people use the typical New York coffee cup to panhandle on the Bowery. An area in downtown New York which is know for its homeless shelters and floophouses.” Thus, a very strong social comment of the times we live in.
The Lucky Beggar Purse is available online at the MOMA store. Part of the proceeds of each purse sold is donated to HELP USA, an organisation that has helped the homeless since 1986. It's nice to know some of the money for this goes to the people who inspired it.
My dearest girlfriend picked this up for me from a recent trip to the Big Apple, and so now I own my little piece of NYC history. What a lucky beggar I am.