I was in love with this bag the entire article until I got to the end and saw the $220 price tag that followed with it. The bag has to last a minimum of 10 years to compete with the cheap messenger bags that I just buy yearly.
Even if this bags lasts 10 years the problem is I'll probably have to buy another one before that because what we're carrying is rapidly changing. 5 years down the road a new device could come up that is shaped in just such a way that this messenger bag doesn't work well with it.
I've thrashed the bag over the last few months in terrible weather, and it's been outstanding. Jeff's quality of work is second to none, and I'm very happy with the product for what I paid. Why buy a bag yearly when this could last for 10 years? It fits 13 and 15" laptops, and I couldn't see myself using anything else for the foreseeable future.
My $80 Manhattan Portage bag has lasted six years so far. It's made of Cordura, not canvas, so it's essentially indestructible.
I'm not sure there's any reason I would buy the bag from OP rather than one from a more established manufacturer. The construction (waxed canvas) and detailing (leather straps) also strike me as incredibly trendy. This kind of bag has become quite popular in the last few years, but will likely not stay popular for a decade.
> The construction (waxed canvas) and detailing (leather straps) also strike me as incredibly trendy. This kind of bag has become quite popular in the last few years, but will likely not stay popular for a decade.
Is that a thing that matters to you ?
I looked at it and thought "man, that's a nice looking bag". I did not think "I bet my peers would think that's a nice looking bag".
If I'm spending hundreds of dollars on a fashion piece, then yes, I obviously care what other people will think about it. On the other hand, if I'm buying something timeless, it will never be out of fashion.
If your target market is twenty-something trendy men with disposable income who want something made in the USA, $220 is nothing to them. Pricing it cheaper would just be giving money away.
People have different levels of taste, some just can't stand being surrounded by ugly stuff (e.g. designers/artists). Also it uses a good-quality leather and handwork, it probably cannot cost less (just like a good developer).
Even if this bags lasts 10 years the problem is I'll probably have to buy another one before that because what we're carrying is rapidly changing. 5 years down the road a new device could come up that is shaped in just such a way that this messenger bag doesn't work well with it.