The Sundrift Panglao backpack that is designed to fit female curves comfortably.

Do you get my drift?

You know I’m a fan of a holiday, and while I’ve never been on a very long and extensive backpacking holiday, I do use a backpack whenever I go away. I find them much easier to carry around and too many times I’ve been the victim of a wonky suitcase wheel that has meant it’s extremely unpleasant to be hauling a suitcase after me.

Plus, you can pack so much more into them and sneak them onto low budget airlines when the cabin crew are distracted. However, while they are beyond practical, I have yet to meet a backpack that was very aesthetically pleasing or that fitted perfectly when I put it on my back.

Enter Sundrift, a sustainable backpack designed to fit female curves comfortably, and what’s even better is that it’s a brand created by Cork native Fiona Parfrey.

An avid globe trotter, Fiona found herself getting frustrated with the range of backpacks out there for women, and during a five month solo venture island hopping through the crystal clear waters of the Philippines, she wondered why all backpacks were so “dull, boring and masculine”.

As Fiona says: “As I continued my travels through Nepal and Kenya and spoke to more female travellers, I realised I wasn't alone and so I decided to solve the problem. I got to work designing a backpack that would fit the female body comfortably, that was lightweight and durable, that would stand the test of time with high quality, and that (arguably most importantly) looked damn good.”

In keeping with Fiona’s love of nature, the backpacks are made from recycled material and are as sustainable as possible. Plastics are collected, sorted and recycled and then this is made into flakes that can in turn be made into products like the Sundrift backpacks, and what’s more, for every 25 backpacks sold a tree is planted in the west of Ireland on behalf of Sundrift through Hometree, a registered Irish charity. So if you’re in the market for a stylish and sustainable piece of luggage, give Sundrift a go.

In other news I’m thoroughly sick of all this talk about Black Friday. In my personal opinion there’s never that many great bargains and it’s really just another chance to get rid of underperforming stock before Christmas. It also puts ridiculous pressure on independent boutiques and retailers to try and compete with the bigger high street chains and it’s just not realistic.

Some stores even do a whole week of Black Friday which is just taking it to a whole other level. Don’t go mad this Friday and buy pieces that you know you’re not going to wear.

Really think before you buy. Will you get wear out of this item, does it fit in with your existing wardrobe? If the answer is no, it’s not a bargain and it’s just going to stay unworn with the tags left on.

If you really want to treat yourself on Black Friday why not go and support a local business? Here are a few items I’d like this Friday: a 2020 daily planer from my favourite stationery designers, Leanun Designs, some gym gear from Queen B Athletics and I’d like someone to treat me to some yoga from Alchemy School of Yoga. I’m also going wild and treating myself to a new ear piercing at the Maria Black pop up in Samui as it’s a piece of quality, fine jewellery I’ll have in my ear forever.