LONDON — Cynthia Erivo is navigating a demanding schedule, seamlessly transitioning between the intense rehearsals for her one-woman production of “Dracula” on London’s West End and a high-profile collaboration with Mulberry. This week, she cohosted a cocktail party at The Dorchester, unveiling a limited-edition series of the brand’s iconic Bayswater bags.
Mulberry is celebrating its 55th anniversary with the special collection, revisiting the Bayswater – first launched in 2003 – with a focus on sustainability. The line features 55 unique styles and colors, all crafted from surplus and sample leathers sourced from the company’s archives. This initiative aligns with Mulberry’s “Made to Last” manifesto and its B Corp certification, demonstrating a commitment to responsible production practices.
The bags themselves showcase a vibrant palette, including shades of gold, silver, pink, and green, alongside textures like crocodile and suede, accented with glossy leather trims. Priced at 1,855 euros, the first drop of the collection will be available on the Mulberry website starting Friday.
Erivo’s connection to the Bayswater runs deeper than a simple promotional partnership. “The kid in me was very excited when the opportunity came, because when I first started looking at luxury bags, Mulberry was one of the first brands I looked at,” she shared in an interview. She recalled admiring a tan Bayswater owned by a former agent, a bag that sparked her initial interest in the luxury market. “I had an old agent who had a tan Bayswater, and I remember eyeing the bag and going, ‘What’s that?’ She was Mulberry.”
At the time, Mulberry was financially out of reach, making this collaboration particularly meaningful for the actress. “It felt like a full-circle moment — and I also love the bags. They are endlessly classic, go with everything and are just nice to carry. Mulberry has something for everyone. I’m very, very edgy and can always find pieces that work.”
During Sunday’s event, Erivo carried a dark brown suede Bayswater, uniquely decorated with the brand’s name spelled out in a playful arrangement of colorful, mismatched letters. She highlighted the bag’s practicality, noting its ability to comfortably hold essentials like a thermos, phone, a protein bar, and even extra jewelry for quick wardrobe adjustments.
Erivo’s current role in “Dracula,” adapted by Kip Williams from Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, is a significant undertaking. The production is notable for its ambitious scope – Erivo performs all 23 characters in the play, marking a new challenge in her already impressive career.
“It’s just a new adventure that I haven’t really been on before,” Erivo explained. “I’ve done shows, I’ve done concerts, but I’ve never done a play where I’ve had to play all the characters on my own.” She admitted to having never tackled a solo, one-woman show before, emphasizing the novelty of the experience.
“It is a mountain that I am currently climbing and has challenged me in a way that nothing else has challenged me before,” she continued. “And I think that’s the thing that drew me to it, the fact that it scared me s–tless. And I was like, ‘Well, if that’s what it’s doing, I know that I’ll have to learn from it.’ I think that’s the thing that drew me toward it, it forced me to learn a new thing about who I am creatively and what I want to do.”
The Bayswater bag itself has a rich history, first introduced in 2003 and quickly becoming a style icon. Designed by Nicholas Knightly, its understated elegance and practicality resonated with fashion enthusiasts, including celebrities like Kate Moss, Jennifer Lopez, and Rihanna. The bag’s popularity led to waiting lists and, two decades later, a place in the V&A’s “Bags: Inside Out” exhibition, showcasing its enduring appeal.
Over the years, the Bayswater family has expanded to include variations like the Bayswater Tote and the Soft Bayswater, all maintaining the core design philosophy of creating wearable, versatile bags. In 2023, Mulberry celebrated the Bayswater’s 20th anniversary with a campaign featuring photographer Ronan McKenzie and models Alva Claire and Lily McMenamy, exploring the theme of love. More recently, in 2025, a pre-loved Chocolate Bayswater made a cameo appearance in the film “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,” carried by the film’s protagonist.
The limited-edition anniversary collection, and Erivo’s involvement, represent a continuation of the Bayswater’s legacy, blending classic design with a commitment to sustainability and a touch of contemporary star power.
