Field Notes from the Farm: If simplicity had a form – the story behind the new MARAI fanny pack

Field Notes from the farm. The longer I live here on the farm, the more my perspective on things changes. Maybe it's because nature never lets you rush. Out here, there's no algorithm telling you what's important. No surface trying to grab your attention. Things can just be.

An old wooden beam carries the marks of decades. A stone has been lying in the same spot for years. A plant doesn't grow faster just because it wants to be prettier. Nature never tries to be more than it is. And maybe that's exactly where its strength lies. It's clear. It's honest. It's timeless.

These thoughts often come to mind when I'm creating new MARAI pieces. I don't just ask myself: What does a product need? I also wonder: What feeling should it bring into our lives? In a world where everything's getting faster, louder, and more complicated, another question has been on my mind lately:

If simplicity had a form, what would it be?

I'm not imagining a perfect form, or one that feels cold or distant. Instead, I picture a shape that radiates calm, one that just feels natural and effortless. It's a shape that isn't trying to grab attention, and that's exactly why it has so much character.

Maybe it would be graphic and clear. Not because less is automatically better, but because clarity sometimes creates more room. Room for what's essential.

Simplicity Sling Bag - Launch on July 26

From an idea to a form

A few months back, we hopped on Instagram and asked you what your dream belt bag would look like. I really wanted to know what *you* truly wished for, not just what was trending. I wanted to know what kind of piece would really stick with you through your daily life. The answer was super clear: a simple, clean shape. No fussy details, just something timeless that can grow with you and be a reliable companion.

These thoughts went into developing our new fanny pack. It's perhaps one of the most graphic designs we've created at MARAI so far. Its shape is clearer, and its lines are more intentionally placed.

And still, it keeps what MARAI is all about: warm, natural, and connected to a story. That's because this piece is also made from leather that already has a past. We use vegetable-tanned leather that would have otherwise gone to waste. It's a material that doesn't start out perfectly new; it's already lived a little. We give it a second life and a fresh new shape.

Maybe that's also a form of simplicity: not always looking for something new, but recognizing what's already there.

Things that are here to stay

I think, more than ever today, we're really longing for things that aren't just made to last a moment.

Things that don't just vanish after one season.
Things that become part of our lives.
That pick up little marks along the way.
That gather stories.
And grow more meaningful with time.

For me, simplicity isn't about having less. It's about more awareness, more clarity, and choosing to surround yourself with things that still feel right tomorrow.

That's the idea behind our new fanny pack. It's a design born from a sense of calm, a shape that's truly here to stay. I'm super excited to finally show you our new fanny pack on July 26th!

I've actually been wearing it myself for several months now. It's been my daily companion, whether I'm working on the farm, out and about, or just enjoying all those little moments in between.

It's even more wonderful for me to officially share them with you now and pass them from my own little MARAI world into your hands.

More Links & Inspiration:
Here you can find our July Edition all about Simplicity.
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