Took a tour of Tom Bihn's factory in Seattle today, thanks to Darcy - escorted by Tom himself - thank you, Darcy! Thank you, Tom!
I highly recommend making arrangements to see it if you're in Seattle. If you're a sewer, just seeing all those industrials (each station set up for a specific purpose) can make your heart go pitter-patter with serious lust. Let me not mention the cutting table - if that fit in my living room I'd get one tomorrow.
Anyway, one of the perks of such a tour is the possibility of seeing a new item. This is the second time I've been so lucky; the first time I lucked out and saw the prototype Western Flyer.
There's a Ultrasuede Cafe Bag coming (Yes, Darcy gave me permission to tell everyone about it). The Ultrasuede is waterproofed on the outside, sueded side, with DWR coating, and also on the inside with a heavier coating like the other fabrics use. This is truly Seattle-rain-proof stuff, here. If you've had other non-animal suede items from other companies, and had to worry about getting it wet, forget the worries with this bag. The bag I saw was a Cocoa Ultrasuede with a Wasabi liner, and it was.... GORGEOUS.
It's hard not to pet fabric of this quality; it snuggles up to your hand and body just begging for attention. I don't have any colors to state; the Cocoa might not be a production color, Tom stated, but with fabric this nice it won't matter. The Wasabi was not Ultrasuede, by the way, just the outside Cocoa. No other changes were made to the bag.
If you'd like to see Ultrasuede's own website, click HERE .
If you've always wanted a Cafe Bag but wondered if the current fabrics would blend into your office or work environment, worry no more. This bag rocks!
I highly recommend making arrangements to see it if you're in Seattle. If you're a sewer, just seeing all those industrials (each station set up for a specific purpose) can make your heart go pitter-patter with serious lust. Let me not mention the cutting table - if that fit in my living room I'd get one tomorrow.
Anyway, one of the perks of such a tour is the possibility of seeing a new item. This is the second time I've been so lucky; the first time I lucked out and saw the prototype Western Flyer.
There's a Ultrasuede Cafe Bag coming (Yes, Darcy gave me permission to tell everyone about it). The Ultrasuede is waterproofed on the outside, sueded side, with DWR coating, and also on the inside with a heavier coating like the other fabrics use. This is truly Seattle-rain-proof stuff, here. If you've had other non-animal suede items from other companies, and had to worry about getting it wet, forget the worries with this bag. The bag I saw was a Cocoa Ultrasuede with a Wasabi liner, and it was.... GORGEOUS.
It's hard not to pet fabric of this quality; it snuggles up to your hand and body just begging for attention. I don't have any colors to state; the Cocoa might not be a production color, Tom stated, but with fabric this nice it won't matter. The Wasabi was not Ultrasuede, by the way, just the outside Cocoa. No other changes were made to the bag.
If you'd like to see Ultrasuede's own website, click HERE .
If you've always wanted a Cafe Bag but wondered if the current fabrics would blend into your office or work environment, worry no more. This bag rocks!
assorted Stuff Sacks/Pouches/Key Straps, 4 Shop Bags. 2 Absolutes, 2 Strap Wraps, a #5 Brain Cell, 3 Clear Quarter Packing Cubes , 3 Aeronaut cubes, a 3D, a Kit, a Convertible Shoulder Bag and Convertible Backpack for my Indigo/Solar Aeronaut. Last, 3 Lifefactory Bottles and my Plum Field Journal! Plus a blue (natch) FOT. All bags decked out with Tom Bihn luggage tags 
.
I do have an additional question: Is the current Cocoa/Wasabi bag (offered via the website) a Cordura bag or an Ultrasuede bag? I suspect the answer is Cordura, but I want to confirm that as I am gearing up my next purchase and read that the Ultrasuede will be in Cocoa. If it is not the Ultrasuede, when will Ultrasuede be available (ballpark, not specifically)?
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