Many years ago, in the agricultural regions of interwar-period Greece, locals spent most of their time in their fields. They would wake up early in the morning, pack their large cloth day-sacks carried over their backs with food supplies, and take off for the fields.

For the siblings Giorgos and Fotini Kyritsis, this is the lasting image they have of their grandfather going about life’s duties on the island of Serifos in the Cyclades. 

Now, as grown-ups, the two grandchildren are viewing their grandfather’s sack, known as a tourvas, from a different perspective.
Wondering whether they could make fashionable sacks inspired by tradition, the siblings decided the prospect was feasible. They then established the Tour-vas brand. The new version of their grandfather’s day-sack acquired large pockets, both interior and exterior, a double layer of canvas to endure loads, as well as durable handles made out of wick, all making it a very useful travel bag. It is well suited for tours in the city, mountain hiking, and afternoon strolls. It can be depended on to fit everything needed for the day. All items are very accessibly placed too.

The duo has adopted a “life is simple” attitude. Old clothes and fabrics may be taken to its small manufacturing facility and be transformed into new custom-made tourvas.

All bags are hand-crafted and made at the facility, located in Neo Faliro, southern Athens. The brother-and-sister team also offers a floral hat-hood hybrid design that was styled along the lines of hats worn by workers of yesteryear in the fields for protection against the sun.
It’s a fabulous blinker-like design that restricts viewing to the left and right, making this hat ideal for reading books at the beach.