Timbuk2 "Grows" Hemp, PET Bags
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 03. 6.08
New from Timbuk2: The Grown Collection, a line of 13 different styles, including totes, backpacks, and laptop bags, all made from a hemp/PET blended fabrics—or in the PVC-eschewing bag manufacturer's words, "66 percent hemp, 33 percent PET, and 1 percent Al Gore mojo." And if that's not crunchy enough for you, the buckles are made of corn-based resin. The Hemp Cargo Tote even has an interior water-bottle holder, so you can secure your own reusable canteen for those jaunts to the farmers' market. Another one of our favorite features is the red key tether, which is long enough that you don't have to unfasten your keys to unlock your door.
With laptop-friendly backpacks now included in the mix, eco-geeks on the move can hoist their precious electronic cargo more ergonomically. Super-durable, waterproof, and pockets aplenty (always a bonus with us), the bags' only downside is that many of them are manufactured abroad, unlike most of Timbuk2's iconic messengers, which are made in San Francisco. ::Timbuk2
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Any idea why they're importing these instead of making them in SF like the others? That's a bummer. Maybe they're feeling the pressure from Chrome and feeling like they need to keep costs down?
Yeah, I'd like more detail from TH, not just a free ad for TB2. Greenwashing or not?
Hi.
Patti here from Timbuk2 with an answer to the "need more info".
The first truth:
We are importing these bags because our manufacturing facility in SF is set up to make a few bags VERY well and not more complex bags like the Wiki, Coder, and backpacks.
We are (literally as I type) updating our SF facilities to accommodate more styles and better efficiency.
In fact, we are planning to launch a customizable SF made Cargo Tote in May 2008.
Second truth:
It is pretty damn hard to offer competitive pricing with other manufacturers if we do not manufacture abroad.
We are super proud of the factories that we work with oversees and their partnership's have allowed us to bring many new products to market without incurring major capital expenses with new equipment.
Third truth:
Our bag's (SF Made or oversees) last a long FREAKING time- longer than a lot of crap in the market place. Product life really should be taken into consideration more often in these discussion.
Hope that helps you make a more informed decision.
-Patti