Working with Andrew at 3sixteen has opened my eyes to the world of manufacturing and American-made goods. Just about every Tuesday, Andrew updates me on some of the items he currently has in production and I sometimes get to see early samples. There’s something about holding something that you know is made on these shores that totally plays with your perception of material items. While many imported goods feel cheap and impersonal, American goods are usually the complete opposite. They feel sturdy, strong, and in a way instantly classic.
To that end, I want to highlight Steve Opperman and his wonderful line of bags at Temple Bags. Steve sent me an old army messenger bag he created and it surely is wonderful! The outside is a very old and worn-in canvas material and the inside is lined with soft flannel creating a nice contrast from inside to out. On the top of the closing flap is a zipper pocket also lined with flannel. The flap stays down via a nice distressed leather clasp/fastener.
The extra-large padded shoulder strap is a nice welcomed addition to the bag and definitely something that should be done by more companies. It’s very comfortable sitting on the shoulder simply because it is so wide and cushioned (I guess it spreads out the weight over more shoulder space or something).
Anyway, check out Steve at Temple Bags and see if you’d like one of his many different creations. I think he’ll even custom make something for a decent price so it wouldn’t hurt to email him and ask.
Thanks again Steve for the awesome bag! I love it and I hope to use it for a very long time! Check out some more bag details in the gallery below!
