Challenge:
The hobby of Historical European Martial Arts is exploding in popularity. About 5 years ago, I joined my local club and as my collection of training swords grew I needed a way to carry them separate from my sweaty protective gear to prevent rust and make transport easier. At the time, there was not a purpose built bag that suited my needs so I sewed a rough one to fit my collection of swords. I posted pictures of it online and had a lot of interest in a dedicated bag so I embarked upon creating the product. I outgrew that first bag and adjusted the design to be more universal. Finding small MOQ bag manufacturers was not easy but I eventually found a local manufacturer that was perfect for my needs and launched the product on my E-commerce site.
Product Features:
- Carry swords up to 55″ long
- Tough, 1000D nylon with
- water-resistant coating
- Made in the USA
- Lay flat opening with double zipper for full access
- Opposing pockets allow for balanced load
- Webbing reinforced spine
- The width of bag allows for multiple complex hilts
- Two large zippered pockets on the exterior of the bag (large enough for bucklers, gloves, books etc.)
- Webbing and hook & loop strap system for organization
- Padded shoulder strap
Process / Role:
- Conducted market research
- Designed the bag
- Created tech pack; bill of materials, etc
- Sourced US sewing manufacturers
- Reviewed samples and made adjustments to balance cost and functionality
- Launched product
