Introducing The Baggammon by L’eterna Vacanza – The New Purse That Doubles as a Game Board, Bringing You Deeper Connections and Style for Your Travels
Backgammon is everywhere now amongst social clubs in NYC, but now you can bring it everywhere with L’eterna Vacanza’s new multifunctional purse.
NYC-born and bred creative Natasha Garoosi has launched a lifestyle brand L’eterna Vacanza, and her first limited edition collection features a unique line of travel bags that beautifully blend her diverse Italian, Iranian, Colombian, and Chinese heritage. At the heart of this collection is the Baggammon—a truly game-changing accessory that combines style, strategy, luck and cultural richness.
We chatted with Natasha about her vision for L’eterna Vacanza and her newly launched Baggammon Bag.
Tell us about the inspiration behind L’eterna Vacanza.
My mom was born in Colombia to Chinese parents and studied abroad in Italy, where she met my dad, who’s Persian and Italian. They migrated to NYC in the 80s, taking a chance at the American Dream. My dad worked in the concierge industry for the Waldorf Astoria and Hyatt Hotels. My childhood was filled with hotel hopping, dining, dancing, and speaking different languages with people from all over the world.
Being part of a family of immigrants was culturally enriching but I also witnessed and experienced the unhealthy stressors of feeling the need to constantly hustle and fit into a new country.
When I was 20, I had my first burnout and decided to travel for 6 weeks in Europe without a phone, hiked every morning to the sea, and picked fresh fruit from the trees. This is when I realized my upbringing in New York didn’t emphasize enough the importance of prioritizing time to pause from work and enjoy life’s simplicities.
Whether physical or digital products, I want to bring a sense of comfort, connection, and joy for people, whether they’re traveling the world or need a reminder to pause and relax in their everyday life.
The Baggammon bag sounds like a game-changer—literally! Can you walk us through how this multifunctional bag works and what sparked the idea to combine fashion with a game board?
In the summer of 2022, I was invited to photograph a family on vacation in Capri and Sardegna. After that vacanza, I had another vacanza in Istanbul for a family reunion. Everywhere I went, there was the aroma of leather, people enjoying tea, and playing backgammon. I had never visited the Middle East and being around this brought the sensation of home.
One night, I saw a girl with a cute leather belt bag and thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun if her bag held your keys, passport, credit cards, phone, and a backgammon board?”
Having zero experience in fashion design, I started searching for the right factory partner to help produce my idea.
When closed, the bag can be used as a Cross Body or Baguette bag. There are two compartments, one for the backgammon pieces and dice and another for your personal items.
What role does nostalgia play in your design process? Does your background and childhood experiences influence your approach to creating products that evoke a sense of comfort and connection?
Nostalgia plays the biggest role in my design process. While the pressure of this rat race we all live in increases, I realize how important it is to time travel to the moments I’ve felt most at ease and the importance of maintaining those traditions for my mental health.
My most nostalgic memories are with my family. My Chinese grandmother was always cooking, gardening, playing mahjong with friends, hosting BBQs where we would karaoke, dance bachata and eat Latin and Chinese food. Her house always smelled of steamed rice and Telenovelas were obligatory at 9 PM.
My Persian / Italian family lived in Bologna so I’d visit during summers, indulge in gelato, tortellini and Persian stews. We’d play backgammon and give each other massages and sing folkloric songs.
With L’eterna Vacanza I want to share these memories like souvenirs. I designed a Telenovela T-shirt inspired by the moments most Latin immigrants experienced bonding with their grandparents.
What are some memorable experiences you’ve had using the Baggammon bag while traveling?
I love meeting strangers. I make tons of friends organically on Instagram or in real life, but I won’t ever use dating apps. The bag is so fun for making friends, lovers and deepening relationships IRL because playing backgammon brings out people’s inner child. It also adds more entertainment to the evening instead of just food, drinks and forced talks.
Backgammon is my favorite because it’s not just about strategy, you need to be open to the spontaneity of luck.
I will say I’ve made tons of friends and news lovers who use the bag as an excuse to hang out and play lol.
One night during FW 2024 I was at a party and bumped into a friend from greece and the whole evening while everyone just ate and barely danced, we were playing backgammon in the center of the party and kissing for hours. It was quite fun.
What’s next for L’eterna Vacanza? Are there any new projects or designs that you’re excited about?
At the moment, I’m focused on building a community of people who love to explore the depths of cultures and play games. We’re planning to host backgammon tournaments in beautiful hotels, both as single events and as part of retreats. These would be IRL ways of bringing people together over culture and games.
I think the best way to travel is when you feel like you’re a local rather than fed commercialized touristy things.
I launched a culture newsletter on substack where we can share more stories about travel and friends we meet around the world.
L’eterna Vacanza is all about celebrating cultural diversity. How do you think fashion can play a role in bridging cultural gaps and promoting inclusivity?
My family dinners look like a United Nations conference, with different languages and cultures all in the same room. This definitely helped me cultivate an understanding that really no one is that different. Humans have basic necessities and whatever excuses we think divide us are really just an illusion. I believe people working in fashion brands must genuinely embody empathy so that they take the time to understand how their actions affect how others may feel.
Your brand highlights the importance of relaxation and joy. How do you incorporate these values into your brand?
Studies show that backgammon reduces stress and enhances cognitive function. Basically the purse encourages you to exercise your brain while also enhancing your style. For me it’s been the best icebreaker—when you unfold your bag and invite someone to play a game you start making friends who share common interests. Eventually that leads to building community which I think in these times we’re learning how important cultivating that is.
How do you see the concept of multifunctional fashion accessories evolving in the future? Are there any trends or innovations you’re particularly excited about?
People are seeking meaningful experiences beyond superficial trends. Multifunctional accessories will continue to evolve, offering not just style but also substance and memorable interactions.
Sustainability is a growing concern in fashion. How does L’eterna Vacanza address sustainability and ethical practices in its production and design?
I’m quite obsessed with nature and beauty. Our bags are crafted from Italian biodegradable and renewable leather sourced from Mastrotto, a company that uses 100% certified renewable electricity in its facilities. Additionally, our manufacturing partner provides their employees with three-day weekends, aligning with our values of responsible and ethical practices.
The Baggammon bag combines a game board with a fashionable accessory. Are there any other unconventional pairings or ideas you’re exploring for future products?
I’m obsessed with massages and jump roping. I would love to combine a bag with self-massage tools or a jump rope—we shall see!
In what ways do you think the Baggammon bag can enhance the travel experience for your customers? Are there specific travel scenarios where you think it shines the most?
The Baggammon bag is for people who live for experience. When you wear the bag, you’re in search of adventure. Backgammon is a two-player game so you’ll always need to find a partner for the bag to work its magic. It’s the perfect excuse to make friends with strangers while you’re waiting at the airport or to bring the fun to a friend’s picnic.
If you could take your Baggammon bag on a dream vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Despite current political issues, I would love to visit Iran. It’s where I could reconnect with my roots and engage with people who’ve grown up with the game.
If you could challenge anyone—celebrity or not—to a game using the Baggammon bag, who would it be and why?
I would love to play with Gstaad Guy because he’s hilarious and always features backgammon boards in his posts.
Finally, if you had to choose one core message or value that defines L’eterna Vacanza, what would it be and why?
L’eterna Vacanza is about relaxing and living with an open heart. Stress and pain are inevitable parts of everyone’s life but if we can find healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress daily, we can live more fulfilling lives.
L’eterna Vacanza @leternavacanza
Creative Director Savannah Kodish @savannah__scout
Models Bianca Gittens @biancagittens , Logan Avidan @loganavidan and Jack Kalani @jack.kalani
Photos by Cynthia Villamil @uypt and Cecilie Mengel @ceciliemengel
Styled by Yasmin Maleki @yasminmaleki
