Repurposed Bag Collection.
It's no secret that we love vintage military fabrics; they're materials that we are always on the hunt for, and we are always looking for ways to integrate them into special projects. We have a heavy appreciation for fabrics that were built for a utilitarian purpose, that age well, and that can serve another generation even after they've been put through the wringer. Our first project consisted of caps made out of deconstructed USN deck pants and we've also sourced vintage sleeping bag covers for all our collaborations with Crescent Down Works. But one of our favorite materials to work with are US Army Shelter Half tents. They are packable heavy twill tents that come in sets of two; soldiers would typically carry half while a partner would carry the other. When it came time to pitch the tent, they would take out the stakes and poles and put their two halves together to create shelter for the night. These Shelter Halfs come to us in different levels of wear; some are deadstock and a deep olive, while others are sun-faded or patched up. Some have "US" or military contract information stamped on them, others have names written on by hand. No two are alike.
The Repurposed Collection is an umbrella that we're going to start putting projects under that make use of found, deadstock or vintage fabrics. We are excited at the prospect of decreasing industry waste by making use of textiles that otherwise would not have any use, but the real passion comes in finding new ways to use beautifully weathered fabric that has so much character. First up in this new initiative are a set of bags that were designed in-house and produced for us by our friends at DSPTCH. The two bags are on opposite ends of the spectrum: we have a daily shoulder sling that holds all your daily essentials as you run errands around town, and a large tote that works well for trips to the farmers market or to lug a towel and some drinks to the beach.
The Sling features heavy-duty G2 nickel zippers that are made in the USA just like the bag itself. We lined the bag with a tough nylon that has a water-repellant treatment to keep moisture out, and also included a hidden pocket with zip closure against the body for your wallet, cell phone or passport. This bag can be worn over the shoulder or across the body either on your back, under your arm or in front. We've wear-tested this silhouette for almost a year and find it to be super comfortable and easy to use as it contours nicely to your body. The strap is deadstock military cotton webbing that can be adjusted to the perfect length for how you like to wear the bag.
The Tote looks simple from the outside but features extensive organization built into the inside. We view it as the perfect combo of new & old as it features beautifully weathered military fabric but also provides the functionality of a laptop sleeve, notebook and pen organizers, and a water bottle holder. Large totes can sometimes get a bit disorganized when you toss everything in, but this bag has a home for everything important so that you can access what you need quickly. The straps are also found military webbing - albeit thinner than what's found on the sling - and have a 9.5" drop that allows you to throw it over your shoulder, or held by hand as you go about your day.
Both the Sling and Tote will launch on Friday, July 24th at noon EDT via 3sixteen.com exclusively.
