US-made bags for RFs?

[vdonovan]

Hi Friends, I'm looking to add a line of camera bags to my shop, and I would love to feature a quality US-made bag. I'm looking especially for a stylish, compact bag for rangefinders (NOT DSLRs!), either in leather or canvas. I know about the Bare Bones Bag and CourierWare. What else is out there that I should look at?

many thanks!

 

[back alley]

I think ona bags are u.s. made....their bowery bag is ideal for rf cameras...

tell them joe sent you if you contact them...

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Domke bags are American Made. Tamrac's high-end models are too. They make cheaper bags in China. Black Label Bags sold by Photo Village are American made clones of some of the Artisan & Artist bags. A&A are made in Japan. Courierware bags, including the ones they made for Bare Bones Bags, are also made in USA.

I own several Tamrac bags, a couple of Domkes, and two Artisan & Artist bags.

 

[vdonovan]

I think ona bags are u.s. made....their bowery bag is ideal for rf cameras...

tell them joe sent you if you contact them...

Hi Joe, thanks for the tip. I don't think they are made in the US. They certainly don't say so on their website, and other forums say that their products are made in the Dominican Republic.

That said, they are certainly drool-worthy bags...

 

[rhl-oregon]

Robyn Porteen / Porteen Gear. Some of us have ordered custom bags from her. Don't know whether she'd like to be part of someone else's stock, but it would be considerate to ask. Back Alley/joe, Vince Lupo, and I have RF-sized Porteen bags.

 

[back alley]

Hi Joe, thanks for the tip. I don't think they are made in the US. They certainly don't say so on their website, and other forums say that their products are made in the Dominican Republic.

That said, they are certainly drool-worthy bags...

i've seen them referred to as 'american made' in reviews...

 

[Al Patterson]

Domke bags are American Made. Tamrac's high-end models are too. They make cheaper bags in China. Black Label Bags sold by Photo Village are American made clones of some of the Artisan & Artist bags. A&A are made in Japan. Courierware bags, including the ones they made for Bare Bones Bags, are also made in USA.

I own several Tamrac bags, a couple of Domkes, and two Artisan & Artist bags.

Which reminds me that in another thread I had said that Think Tank were made in US, but I finally found the paper which says "designed in California, made in Vietnam". I still like their bags, but wanted to correct my post in the other thread, but couldn't find it...

I wonder if I have any made in USA bags.

 

[kxl]

Domke bags are American Made.

While Domke bags are indeed American made, some of the materials used in making the bags originate from SE Asia.

 

[Addy101]

In this day and age there is no such thing as "made in the US" (or Japan, Germany, UK, Europe). Even of the final assemblage is local, parts often come from far and away. I don't know why it is important for your business that it is made in the US, but why not simply stick with an US company?

 

[Dante_Stella]

I could put a bug in the ear of Shinola. That would result in a Horween leather bag that would outlast its owner.

Tenba and Tamrac sporadically make bags in the U.S., though you wouldn't know until you received it and looked at the label.

I'm not sure whether textiles with "Made in USA" emblazoned on them are particularly more humane. If made in New York, it's often with slave-style labor and if in the USVI or Guam, very low wages.

Have you looked at a vintage leather shop?

Dante

 

[back alley]

just heard back from ona...i was wrong, tha bags ARE made in the dominican republic...

 

[back alley]

let us keep in mind that rff is a photo forum...not a political one!

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Tenba and Tamrac sporadically make bags in the U.S., though you wouldn't know until you received it and looked at the label.

With Tamrac, you can tell where the bag is made. Look at its model number. Three digit model numbers (eg. 613xp, 426) are American made. Four digit numbers are imported. Tamrac's website explains this.

 

[bob338]

Timbuk2 still makes some of their bags in SF. Their website says they make the custom orders in the City. Maybe you can be a custom order shop?
I have the Snoop small and it's probably the best camera bag I've owned.

 

[kokoshawnuff]

I have a couple belts from Tanner Goods (Portland), and recall they make camera bags

 

[benlees]

Courierware make great bags.

 

[Al Patterson]

Courierware make great bags.

And I do need to check them out, as I see they are still made in Vermont. I currently have a Timbuk2 messenger laptop bag, but I forgot where it was made.

 

[tomtofa]

Rickshaw bags are made in SF.
http://www.rickshawbags.com/

They make messenger/iPad/backpack bags, rather than padded camera bags, but I've used one of their messenger bags for a while now for my camera and daily gear - works great.

They customize them, too. I just got a new one, weatherproofed and with an internal bag insert. Now I'm ready to venture from California into the real world, where, I hear, it rains.

 

[bobkonos]

Take a look at the camera bags from Tanner Goods in Portland OR. Made there of leather and canvas-really nice. Gerat for a small SLR kit, too.

 

[hrzlvn]

I have a few bags/backpacks, only Mission Workshop is made in USA, great materials and wonderful craftsmanship, they are tough and good looking.