From June 24 to 28, the famous orange clutch will be displayed in a glass case at the New York institution. In a press release, Mariët Westermann, CEO of the Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, explained: “People have always found meaning in objects that embody profound cultural moments, and they often go to great lengths to see them. That is one reason museums exist. Like art, basketball at the stratospheric level of the Knicks thrives on discipline, creativity, and teamwork—and on bringing people together.” The statement perfectly sums up the unique journey of this object, which, in just a few weeks, has become a symbol of the city.
Towns himself shared his opinion after Game 4 that the bag’s rightful place was in a museum, saying in an Instagram reel, “The bag did its thing tonight! We’ve got to put this in The Whitney or The Guggenheim.”
“When I heard Karl-Anthony Towns say that maybe the lucky bag should come to The Guggenheim, I was thrilled,” Westermann said in the press release.
Woods, in the Guggenheim’s press release, said she was moved by the display. “New York City means so much to Karl and me, so being able to lend a piece of history—and luck—back to the city is truly an honor,” she said. “The Guggenheim is one of my favorite places, and I never imagined that something I designed would one day be on view at the museum. So many of us are still in shock over the Knicks’ historic run, and seeing the lucky bag at The Guggenheim somehow makes it all feel real.”
Since the Knicks’ championship victory, the Tux Clutch Mini, part of Woods’s own Woods by Jordyn line and currently on back order until October, has led a particularly eventful life. On June 18, it took part in the grand parade celebrating the championship through the streets of New York alongside the players and staff, before crossing paths with several local political figures, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
After the festivities, it’s earned a little rest under the famous dome of The Guggenheim. It just goes to show that in New York, even a simple handbag can transcend its original purpose and become part of popular culture.
As Westermann added, “Just think about it—this bag is the first ever clutch that actually became clutch.”
Originally published in Vanity Fair France.
