The Origin of Our Bags

A simple Google search for Coffee Bag Totes will net you over a million results. There are thousands of people making and selling coffee bag totes, purses and messenger bags. So who should get credit for the origin of the idea to make tote bags and messengers? The first tote bag traces its origin back to 1900. This style was popularized in the 1940's. The messenger bag design was used throughout history in such famous ways as by Pony Express riders. It became popular in the US mainstream during the 1950's. All current variations of these styles of bags owe their inspiration to unknown designers that are long dead. They are what is know as public domain. No one can claim ownership or rights to their design.

What was the inspiration for our bag designs? Early in our journey we were approached by a coffee shop that asked us to start making bags for them. We were looking for a product that would help us empower and employ people. My wife is an accomplished seamstress, so she began to research design ideas. She developed a design that was unique in structure and assembly. She made it so that unskilled workers could take part in the production and gain skills as they learned. The new venture was up and running.

Over the last 8 years the design has been modified for improvements and efficiency. The bags we sell today are much different and much better quality than what we started with. We have added products as the venture grew. We now have a small messenger, 2 sizes of journals, wallets, clutches, and have made many custom items over the years.

The reuse of burlap coffee bean bags not only makes for a great unique gift idea but also helps to curb a huge waste problem. Thousands of empty coffee bean bags are thrown into landfills every week. We can only play a small part in the solution to this problem. I am excited to see so many people making bags and other products from old coffee bags and helping to reduce, reuse and recycle these products.

So with over a million search results making totes and messengers from old coffee bags, why should you buy ours? Our bag business has helped numerous single moms get a second chance. All of the proceeds go to our non-profit and are used to rebuild our community. Your purchase helps people in a very real way. With millions of bags hitting the landfills every year we encourage you to pick up some bags from your local roaster, look at what is being sold out there and start sewing.