At first glance, the Tote doesn’t even look like a light. It resembles a luxury handbag made from woven metal, housing three delicate glass orbs that glow with a quiet, magnetic presence. There are no visible cables, no exposed bulbs, no standard lamp elements in sight. And that’s exactly what makes it remarkable.
Designed by Rhea Mehta, whose previous works include monumental lighting installations for the Taj and Marriott hotel chains, the Tote is a seamless marriage of visual poetry and technical mastery. The idea behind it is surprisingly straightforward – create a light that responds to its contents. But the execution is anything but simple. The three hand-blown glass orbs nestled inside the metallic weave aren’t just aesthetic choices. They emit light, yes, but they also reshape the tote itself. Each time the orbs shift, the form of the bag alters subtly. The result is a fluid, ever-changing sculpture that glows from within.
Where most lighting designs are rigid and fixed, the Tote is flexible and animated. The orbs influence the bag’s shape the way groceries affect the slouch of a tote – only here, it’s light doing the work. There’s a tactile sense of softness, despite the sturdy metal material. And astonishingly, the whole system remains wireless to the casual observer. Rhea worked closely with Mumbai-based artisans to hide the cabling through hollow handles, channeling power invisibly into the orbs. What you see is pure form and glow. No distractions.
The lamp stand itself evokes the balance of weighing scales, holding two Tote bags that mirror each other in weight and elegance. Each component – the stand, the tote, and the orbs – functions as its own sculptural piece. And despite its sophistication, the Tote is fully functional and portable. It can be placed on a pedestal, hung as a pendant, or used as a table lamp. It’s one of the rare pieces that’s both fashion object and lighting solution.
Mehta refuses to compromise on materials or vision. There’s no plastic here, no design shortcuts. Just metal, glass, and light, crafted to exacting standards. In a world of over-engineered fixtures or smart lamps chasing gimmicks, the Tote stands apart – a light designed not to shout but to intrigue. Quietly, beautifully, impossibly so.
