In honor of Women's History Month, we're celebrating the innovator behind one of our favorite travel brands. Actor and entrepreneur Shay Mitchell founded Béis in 2018, with a goal to make products that are chic, functional, and affordable. Her popular line now includes both stylish luggage and bags suited for everyday use, no matter what's on your busy agenda. Condé Nast Traveler editors have been fans of the brand for years, especially the viral Weekender bag that you've likely seen all over social media—simply put, the thoughtful details and smart features incorporated into Mitchell's products will make your travels smoother.
I recently caught up with Mitchell to find out what inspired her to start a travel brand and ask her advice for parents on the go. She also shared what she's most excited about for Béis in 2023, including a few upcoming collections she can't wait to launch. Read on for all of that, plus Mitchell's own in-flight essentials and best-kept packing tips.
What was the inspiration behind starting Béis?
When I was growing up, I was obsessed with bags—makeup bags, purses, my mom's suitcases, my grandma's hat boxes, all of it. I've been very fortunate in my life to be able to travel to a lot of places from an early age and with that experience has come a lot of different suitcases and bags. Over the years, I've gathered these mental notes of what would have been perfect to have on a trip or what could have been better about the bag I was currently traveling with.
I began to think that I could create the product that I've always wanted for myself and that I think other people would enjoy. Nothing excites me more—I could talk about bags and zippers and all of it forever. It’s my passion.
When you started creating products designed for parents, was there something you felt was missing in the market?
All of the designs come from my experience. A lot of time I’m writing it or drawing it down on a napkin or whatever is near me at the moment. It started out with the Weekender—all I wanted was to have a bag that would allow me to separate my shoes from the rest of my clothes, so I drew it myself. The next idea came from my frustration with my bag always falling off my carry-on and everything inside spilling, so I made sure our Weekender had a trolley sleeve so it could easily attach to the handle of my carry-on. All of this continued when I was expecting my first child and I was looking to buy a diaper bag. I wanted something that didn't scream “this is a diaper bag.” I wanted something quieter, chic, and more versatile.
The fun and amazing part of Béis is that I can design things I truly want to use myself. That’s really how the Béis Baby collection came to be. And now as my kids are growing up, we designed a new Kids' collection that will be coming out this year. The Kids' collection is inspired by things I’m noticing now that my daughter Atlas wants in her own bags. It will feature new luggage and bags made for kids to make things like everyday activities, going to school, and traveling easier for both kids and parents.
What women do you look up to for business advice and inspiration?