Deceptively spacious this bag has many useful pockets will accommodate everything necessary for a day trip or a night flight.
This bag also fits A4 magazines, a 13" Macbook Pro along with other everyday bits and pieces.
It has recently completely redesigned to now work equally well worn on both the sides of the body as well as several new features including a concealed base pocket.
I've recently redesigned my entire range of bags so they function equally well for both right and left handed users (with all zippers and pockets now being completely symmetrical)
Along with this significant improvement I've also added these features:
💡 Secret MYKI pockets
💡 Concealed pocket in base
💡 Redesigned internal pockets
💡 Main zipper cord zipper pulls
💡 Sandblasted metal pin for branding
Control the visibility of branding
As part of this redesign I have also updated my logo which is now a nonagon (nine is my favourite number) with a single m.
As this is an enamel pin/badge the logo can be placed wherever you'd like on the bag (or even removed altogether if preferred).
Make it easy for people to be kind
Each and every product now has a subtle handprinted lining inside the internal pockets (so not visible unless you open the pocket).
This gives details of where the Travel Shoulderbag was made (so great when giving to friends and family overseas) and details about the Lifetime+ Guarantee.
It also has a handwritten Serial Number which links to the new online archive.
By entering the details you can view photos of it being made, how long it's been in use and even calculates the cost per day (which gets lower the longer it is used).
But perhaps most importantly this also makes it possible to have your product returned should anyone ever find it!
Open your bag without looking
All bags now have a dual YKK #8 main zipper with paracord zipper pulls, allowing the bag to be closed to either side (or middle) and locked when travelling.
Larger zipper pulls also allow the bag to be readily opened and closed if wearing gloves and/or by those with limited dexterity.
Commute easier when your hands are full
By refining the external pocket I've been able to add two hidden (yet accessible) card holders at the top edge.
While these were designed to hold a MYKI (or similar) travel card (so you can simply tap on with it in the pocket) they are also an excellent place for backup cards or cash (especially when travelling).
Makes your bag more durable & waterproof
First developed for the A4 Shoulderbag the reinforced edging for the printed fabric panel is now used on every bag.
This deeper base minimises wear on both the edge and corners while also improving waterproofness if placed on the ground.
As this is the most common area needing patching and repair in my older bags this update will greatly improve the longevity of your bag.
Always have your shopping bags and umbrella
My very favourite new feature is the sneaky zipper pocket in the base.
I designed this pocket to be expandable and fit items like umbrellas and reusable shopping bags (which also act as padding to protect your iPad or laptop in the main compartment).
If used to store a wet umbrella the lining is waterproof so the rest of the bag will stay dry.
It has an inverted double zipper and internal webbing loops to attach a waist strap for bike riding to either corner of the bag.
Durability, sustainability, ethics and supporting other local businesses are all very much part of the way I choose to run my business.
This certainly isn't the cheapest way to make a bag, though doing things the right way does mean you'll have a bag that you'll love for many years to come.
Below you'll see the cost of every element that directly contributes to making my bags, hopefully by being completely transparent and sharing this information we can as a society start having a conversation about the true cost of the objects we create and use.
This is the first version of this, so happy to hear any suggestions and/or answer any questions you might have; thanks for your interest!
Design$3This is an estimation of the time spent developing and refining the design of this bag over the past ten years and is usually a hidden expense for a business.
This is lower than the embedded cost of design in most fashion products as this has been spread over potentially thousands of bags over many years rather than redone every season.
Materials$55This is the average cost of materials for a Travel Shoulderbag, and equivalent to 42% of the total cost of making this bag.
Includes the printed fabric, outer canvas, lining, zippers, webbing, custom aluminium buckles and thread.
Production$42This cost includes time for cutting, fusing the fabric, sewing and finishing the bags.
I've charged this at a standard rate you could expect to pay a skilled machinist of $24/hour (this includes a premium for superannuation etc).
As each bag is actually sewn by myself (with twenty years experience of producing these bags), it is reasonable to think production would take longer for other machinists and so cost closer to $45 per bag.
Operations$9This includes the admin and organisational tasks directly related to each order like order management, personalised customer updates and any other small jobs (that tend to add up).
Marketing, tax management and other more general tasks aren't included in this figure.
Delivery$16
As you would expect this is the average cost of posting an order within Australia and includes packaging; a recycled cardboard box, recycled tissue paper and printed collateral (postcards etc) as well as the direct postage paid to Australia Post.
Because I don't charge extra for standard delivery these costs come directly out of the product/s themselves.
Whilst it would be possible to slightly minimise this expense by using plastic postal satchels, this is far from sustainable and also doesn't do anything to protect your bag in transit.
Tree Planting$6For every bag I produce I now pay to have a tree planted.
This is to more than offset the embedded carbon produced by the materials, production and postage (which I've designed to be as low as possible), so it can be considered to be a net carbon negative product.
I have selected to do this through Carbon Neutral Charitable Foundation based in Western Australia as they seem to run the most considered tree planting program with the highest positive longterm environmental impact.
I'm very proud of the quality of the bags I create so now offer the Lifetime+ Guarantee on both new and existing products.
Rather than just covering loose stitching and/or manufacturing faults this new guarantee now also covers upcycling your bag into a new product/s when it does eventually wear out!
This is only possible because I use the best materials to originally make my bags and while I've also designed them to be readily repaired (such as zippers and printed fabric) at a certain point often a bag is no longer serviceable.
At this point rather than consigning a bag to landfill (or the back of a cupboard) I now encourage the materials in the bag that are still useful to be reworked (or upcycled) into a new product/s such as a pouch or smaller bag.
Along with greatly increasing the useful lifespan of the materials used it also allows the emotional connection with the original bag to be retained, for example if it was a birthday gift or if originally purchased for a particularly memorable trip.
If you've an existing bag you no longer use please get in touch and we can discuss what might be possible :)
While I've always been more than happy to repair and renovate my bags I've recently put extra effort into refining the design and way I sew them to make this as easy as possible; I call this the MAKE2MEND ETHOS.
For example I only use standard YKK zippers in my bags so they can be readily repaired or replaced if needed, either by myself or pretty much any competent sewer.
I'll be posting more about this on the blog soon ....
Most bags are made-to-order so need to be sewn before being delivered.
STANDARD POST is FREE and generally takes about ten days to be sewn and ready to deliver or collect.
Selecting EXPRESS POST ensures your bag arrives as quickly as it can (I will also do my best to expedite sewing your bag).
If you need your bag to arrive by a particular date just let me know and we can work out the best way to make this happen!
A small number of bags are marked as ALREADY SEWN and will be posted the sameday (if a weekday) so usually arrive within a day or two.
Orders are delivered in a locally made recycled cardboard box, with recycled tissue paper and paper packing tape.
This is the best balance I've found between protecting your bag and reducing impact on the environment.
The only plastic used is the Express Post tape from Australia Post (though looking for alternatives).
“ I LOVE my bag. I've never liked a bag this much so quickly. ”
It's a perfect size, it sits well on my body and everyone comments on how much they like it.
It's made out of a really durable material so I have no fear about it wearing out quickly.
I was originally going to use it as my work bag, as I need a durable one for outreach with clients, however I am going to use this ALL the time.
I ordered my first mattt bag at a stall in the park next to the Art Centre in Melbourne.
The bag goes everywhere with me.
I have travelled overseas and it is totally functional, practical and durable.
“ There are pockets for my passport, mobile phone, purse, documents and everything else! ”
I would highly recommend the mattt bag.
I am also a mother of two young children and I use the bag everyday.
Thank you Matt
