Bag Making Secrets: We Answer Your Top FAQs

Who are The Bag Workshop?

We are a design and production bridge. We help brands, businesses, and creators translate their initial sketches or ideas into technically sound, retail-ready bags or bags for influencer unboxing experiences or product packaging. Whatever you need your bag for, we handle the design, material sourcing, and manufacturing management so you don’t have to.

Do you only make certain types of bags?

No. We make all types of bags. Our expertise covers everything from high-performance technical backpacks and avant-garde fashion pieces to sustainable totes and luxury goods with leather detailing. If it can be carried, we can make it.

The design process for branded custom handmade bags

I only have a rough sketch for my one-of-a-kind bag. Can you help?

Absolutely. That is exactly what we do. Our team takes your concept—even if it’s just a mood board or a basic drawing—and develops the Technical Specifications and blueprints required for manufacturing. Complete the bag fact-finder form which begins to outline your bag specifications so our bag designers can create a technical CAD drawing which allows our factory to manufacture the bag.

Can I choose my own materials for a one-of-a-kind bag?

Yes. We guide you through a vast library of materials, including recycled textiles, heavy weight canvas, and custom accessories and hardware. We help you choose fabrics that balance durability, cost, and your brand’s aesthetic. We will ask you what your budget is. This is not so we spend it all, but so we can make recommendations based on what you can afford.

What branding options do you offer for made-to-measure bags?

We offer a full suite of customisation:

• Embroidery & Woven Labels
• Heat Press & Screen Printing
• Debossing & Embossing (ideal for leather and PU)
• Custom Metal Hardware (logo-engraved zippers and buckles)

Production & Logistics for custom bags

What is your Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) for tailor-made bags?

MOQs vary depending on the complexity of the design and the materials used. Generally, custom production runs start at 250 / 500 units, it depends on the technical specification and fabric type. For highly specialised or luxury items, please contact us to discuss lower-volume possibilities- it can sometimes be possible if we’re making a variety of styles for you.

How long does the process take for custom made bags?

The process for making a bespoke bag, typically, the journey from initial concept to delivery takes 3 weeks for sampling and 4-12 weeks for mass production. Shipping can vary from 10 days (air) to 5 weeks by sea.

Do you handle shipping and quality control for one-of-a-kind customised bags?

Yes. We manage the entire supply chain and quality control for tailor-made bag manufacture. Our team conducts rigorous quality assurance checks before the bags leave the factory, and we coordinate global delivery directly to your warehouse or office.

Getting Started

How do I get a quote for a bespoke bag?

The best way to start is by filling out our Bag Design Specifications Form. Once we have an idea of your materials, quantity, and timeline, we can provide a detailed estimate.

The Journey: from concept to cargo for custom-made bags

We’ve refined our process into four clear stages to ensure your vision is never lost in translation.

Phase 1: Discovery & Strategy

• Consultation: We discuss your goals, target audience, and price points.
• The Design Form: You’ll fill out our Bag Design Specifications Form to lock in the “DNA” of the bag (dimensions, style, and essential features).
• Feasibility Check: Our experts review your ideas to ensure they are structurally sound and cost-effective for manufacturing.

Phase 2: Technical Development

• Blueprints: We translate your creative vision into a Tech Pack. This is the “architectural plan” for your bag, detailing every stitch, seam, and material.
• Material Sourcing: We tap into our global network to find the exact fabrics, linings, and hardware that meet your specifications.
• Branding Setup: We finalise the technical files for your logos, whether they are being moulded in metal or embroidered into fabric.

Phase 3: Prototyping & Refinement

• The First Sample: Our workshop creates a physical prototype of your bag.
• Review & Feedback: You get the bag in your hands. We discuss any “real-world” adjustments—perhaps a pocket needs to be wider or a strap more padded.
• Pre-Production Sample: Once you are 100% happy, we produce the “Golden Sample.” This serves as the master blueprint for the entire mass-production run.

Phase 4: Production & Delivery

• Mass Manufacturing: Our production line begins crafting your order with precision.
• Quality Assurance: We don’t just wait at the finish line. We monitor the production to ensure every bag matches the Pre-Production Sample.
• Global Logistics: We handle the paperwork, customs, and freight, delivering your finished collection directly to your door or warehouse.

Technical & Ethics

When clients move past the “look and feel” of a bag, they usually start worrying about the business and technical risks. Since you are the bridge between their idea and a factory, they will look to you for “insider” reassurance.

Here are the most common questions people ask when developing a custom bag:

Sustainability & Ethics

Can you source eco-friendly materials for bags?

Yes. We can source anything. Fairtrade cotton for bags, recycled cotton, RPET (recycled plastic bottles for bags), mix up variations of fabrics for custom bags, they don’t have to be in just one fabric. We can also recommend Piñatex/pineapple leather, recycled ocean plastic, or organic cotton.

How do I know your bag factory is ethical?

Our factories are SEDEX audited. You can request to see the certificates.

Can a custom bag be ‘vegan-friendly’?

You can specify at the point of design, that you require a vegan bag. This includes checking that glues and dyes don’t contain animal by-products.

Durability & Testing

How much weight can the tailor-made bag straps actually hold?

We can perform load-bearing tests to ensure the handles won’t snap if you can advise the weight it should be able to carry.

Can the custom-made bag be waterproof or just water-resistant?

There is a huge technical difference. Durable Water Repellent coating vs. seam-taping vs. waterproof zippers. You need to specify at the point of design which you require.

Intellectual Property (IP)

Who owns the bespoke bag design once it’s finished?

You own your bag design. We make bags individual to our client requirements, we don’t replicate them for our own use or anyone else’s.

Will you sign an NDA for my tailor-made bag?

Yes of course, we sign your NDA so you have peace of mind that we will not disclose your concept to anyone else.

Sampling & Costing

Why do you sample a tailor-made bag before mass production?

Creating your technical specification and understanding what you want to achieve happens up front. We need to know we’ve made the bag you want to make and that you approve that prior to full production. That is then used as the standard benchmark for finish and quality.

What is the ‘landed cost’ of a customised bag?

We price your bag including shipping, duties, and taxes delivered to their door. There are no hidden charges or taxes that are added once we’ve made the bag.

Can you ‘value engineer’ this custom bag?”

If your target bag is too expensive, we can make recommendations on how to achieve your price point. This is why we ask you at the beginning of the project what your budget is, so you know what you can afford. We will suggest swap outs to meet your desired price point.

Industry standards

What should I look for when choosing a partner for bespoke product development?

The most critical factor is ensuring your partner provides custom bag manufacturing with UK quality standards. This ensures that every stitch, fabric choice, and finishing detail meets the high durability and aesthetic expectations of the British market, providing you with a product that truly reflects a premium brand identity.

Quality Assurance

How do you ensure that your overseas production maintains local expectations?

We bridge the gap between global scale and local excellence by overseeing all our projects through the lens of custom bag manufacturing with UK quality. By implementing rigorous British-standard quality control protocols at every stage of production, we guarantee that the final product feels as though it was handcrafted in a boutique UK studio.

Packaging & “The Unboxing”

Does my tailor-made bag come in a dust bag or a box?

We package your order in cardboard cartons, your bags are packed, usually in a quantity of 10, into a compostable bag. They are then placed in the carton and taped up securely. If you want the bags to be packaged differently, you can specify when you order, we will include this in the price.

Can you handle the retail packaging too for a one-of-a-kind-bag?

Yes, we can create retail-packaging for your bags and deliver them in marked with SKUs etc if appropriate. Considerations you need to think about for retail packaging include swing tags, barcodes, and silica gel packets.

Why Choose A Bespoke Bag?

Why should I design a bespoke bag instead of buying a ready-made off the shelf product?

Ownership and differentiation. An off-the-shelf stock bag is a template that anyone can buy; a bespoke bag is your Intellectual Property. When you build from the ground up, you create a unique bag that cannot be found elsewhere, ensuring your brand stands out in a crowded market rather than blending in with a generic that other people are producing.

Is bespoke bag design only about aesthetics?

Not at all. Bespoke bag design is not just about aesthetics, although they are a major factor, most bespoke projects are driven by utility. Generic bags are designed for the “average” user. Bespoke bags allows you to solve specific problems—whether that’s creating specialised internal housing for tech equipment, perfecting ergonomics for a specific body type, unique product packaging or choosing high-performance fabrics for extreme environments.

How does making a bespoke bag help with my sustainability goals?

Off-the-shelf bags often use standard, high-waste materials to keep costs low. By going bespoke, you have total material control. You can specify recycled fabrics, bio-leathers (like mushroom or pineapple), and plastic-free hardware. Furthermore, we can “value engineer” the pattern to minimise fabric offcuts, reducing waste before production even begins.

Is bespoke bag manufacturing more expensive?

A bespoke bag has a much higher “perceived value,” allowing you to command a premium retail price. Additionally, because the bag is built to your quality standards, it could last longer, acting as a high-quality “walking billboard” for your brand for years to come.

Does working with you, make it more complex? Why can’t I just go straight to a factory?

Most factories are “makers,” not “creators.” If you go directly to a factory without a professional Tech Pack, details often get lost in translation, leading to costly errors and multiple failed samples. We act as the bridge: we provide the technical language and blueprints the factory needs to get it right the first time, saving you time and money. We have many clients who come to us after attempting to go direct to a factory that they’ve not worked with before and need help bringing their design to life.

I’m not sure if a customised bag is for me, can you help?

Yes, we can help you work it out. Give us a call, drop us an email. 01225 667979 [email protected]

Make a start by completing the Bag Design Specifications Form so you can frame your concept. It helps us understand what you need.