Fall 2025 Factory Update FAQs

In response to our Fall 2025 Factory Update blog, we noticed that many of you had similar questions, so we’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions and provided answers below. 

Before we dive in, thank you to everyone who read, shared, and sent us thoughtful feedback! We’re deeply grateful for this community, and your engagement and care mean a lot to all of us at TOM BIHN.

Here are the questions we will cover:

• What bags will be made in Seattle vs. Vietnam?

• How can I differentiate which products are made in Seattle vs. Vietnam?

• Was the bag I purchased recently made in Seattle?

• How did you evaluate factories when tariffs only went into effect a few months ago?

• Will X/Y/Z bags be made in-house as well as overseas?

• Will the bags produced in Vietnam be priced differently than the bags made in Seattle?

• Why not partner with another factory in the U.S. to expand production capability?

• Will international customers be able to buy bags directly from Vietnam instead of through the Seattle factory?

• Could you share more about your partner in Vietnam?

• Is TOM BIHN owned by private equity?

• What will happen to the Seattle factory?

What bags will be made in Seattle vs. Vietnam?

For most accessories and several models of tote and crossbody bags, the most common colors will transition to being made by our partner while we continue to craft seasonal colors and special editions for these items in-house.

Below is a list of accessories, tote, and crossbody bags, made by our partner in Vietnam, that we will be gradually rolling out. 

• Cache

• Strap keeper

• Key Strap

• Ghost Whale Organizer Pouch

• Small Travel Tray

• Large Travel Tray

• Small Snake Charmer

• Large Snake Charmer

• Small Cafe Bag

• Medium Cafe Bag

• Handy Little Thing, Size 1 & 2

• Pop Tote

• Truck

• Monster Truck

We may adjust this mix over time, so the list of accessories, tote, and crossbody styles will likely evolve — but never abruptly. Each style on this list went through multiple rounds of sampling and review before receiving our approval. 

How can I differentiate which products are made in Seattle vs. Vietnam?

As we mentioned in our previous blog post, we will clearly note on our website in the product pages where each product and colorway is made.

• For products where all colorways are Made in Seattle, you will continue to see the “Made in Seattle” icon on the product page.

• For products where certain colorways are made in Vietnam, you will see Vietnam identified in the “Materials & Transparency” section of the specific colorway swatch.

Was the bag I purchased recently made in Seattle?

At the time of publishing the Inside the Factory: Fall 2025 Update (October 23, 2025), all products available on our website are made in our Seattle factory. We wanted to make sure we made the announcement about our partnership before stocking any products that are made in Vietnam. 

Going forward, you can review the “Materials and Transparency” section located on every product page for more information or confirm using the care label sewn inside.

How did you evaluate factories when tariffs only went into effect a few months ago?

We began evaluating factories months before the tariffs went into effect. The cost challenges we discussed in our Fall 2025 Factory update blog had already been escalating since COVID, long before the new tariffs were introduced. When the tariffs took effect in April 2025, they intensified those existing pressures and added urgency to our search for a sustainable long-term solution.

Will X/Y/Z bags be made in-house as well as overseas?

The Synik, Synapse, Techonaut, Aeronaut, and all other backpacks, travel bags, and briefcases will exclusively be made in Seattle. 

For the accessories and certain styles of totes and crossbody bags, our goal is to continue crafting seasonal styles in-house while ensuring the most common colors stay in stock through our partnership. At this time, we won’t be able to specify the exact mix as it will depend on production capacity and demand.

Will the bags produced in Vietnam be priced differently than the bags made in Seattle?

No, pricing will be the same regardless of where a product is made. We price our bags to reflect the total value that goes into making them — design and development, materials testing and ordering, logistics, quality assurance, and long-term durability — rather than just the labor cost of cutting and sewing. Historically, we’ve also priced conservatively relative to the full cost of making our bags the way we do in Seattle, so we believe our pricing continues to be fair and true to the value.

Why not partner with another factory in the U.S. to expand production capability?

We explored domestic options before visiting factories overseas, but we didn’t find any that met the level of quality and craftsmanship we require.

Those who’ve followed TOM BIHN for a while may remember that we’ve worked with several U.S. contract manufacturers in the past. Before COVID, for example, our Aeronaut bags were cut in-house and then finished by a local partner who eventually shut down during the pandemic. And prior to the 2000s — before we opened our own factory — nearly all TOM BIHN bags were made by domestic contract manufacturers, most of whom have since shut down.

Many of the talented sewers from those former partner factories were hired into our Seattle factory. Unfortunately, the number of U.S. factories left with the skill, specialized equipment, and consistency required for our bags has become very limited and subscale.

During COVID, we also partnered with a few domestic contractors to produce face masks. Those partners were excellent at working with lighter materials, but technical bagmaking demands a different level of expertise and machinery.

Will international customers be able to buy bags from Vietnam instead of through the Seattle factory?

Not at this time. All orders are currently fulfilled from our Seattle factory.

Could you share more about your partner in Vietnam?

We’re so glad some of you are asking about this! When members of our team visited this partner, we were very impressed.

The partner factory we chose has multi-generational experience making bags, totes, and accessories. That long history translates to a deep bench of skilled crafters — much like our own team in Seattle.

Here are a few casual, iPhone-shot photos below.

Pictured above: End-of-line quality control process (and no, those aren’t our shoulder straps!). In addition to end-of-line checks, production leads perform in-line quality control, while a separate quality assurance team conducts its own review. We’ve also brought in a third-party quality inspector to provide an additional assessment of the finished products.

Pictured above: “Broken Needle Replacement” procedure — a standard in quality manufacturing — ensures that any broken sewing needle fragments are immediately found, documented, and removed to maintain product safety, quality, and compliance.

Not directly related to manufacturing: Our CEO, Cindy, who is also a mom, immediately noticed the renovated nursing rooms at the factory and appreciated learning about the generous paid parental leave benefits and ongoing support for moms returning to work.

Since our visit, we’ve also brought back some insights to our Seattle factory on ways to improve our own operational processes. If you’re interested in learning more about initiatives we’ve implemented, let us know! We could cover this topic in more detail in a future blog post.

Is TOM BIHN owned by private equity?

TOM BIHN is not owned by private equity. 4 years ago, the company was acquired by local investors, including our CEO, Cindy. There are no private equity firms or venture capital firms involved. Our owners are committed to a long-term vision for preserving and growing TOM BIHN, with consideration for our products, employees, and community.

What will happen to the Seattle factory?

As we shared in our original blog, we plan on retaining all of our team members and continuing to grow our Seattle factory production, with a focus on our core products, which are also our most complex — the Synik, Synapse, Techonaut, Aeronaut, and all other backpacks, travel bags, and briefcases. These will remain Made in Seattle. 

Our Seattle factory gives us the flexibility to prototype new designs, iterate on construction methods with our expert production leads, respond quickly to customer feedback, experiment with new colors, and craft limited editions that keep our creativity alive.

Thank you again to everyone who’s followed along, shared thoughtful feedback, and asked such great questions. If there’s something we didn’t cover here, let us know — we’re always happy to keep the conversation going.