About Page

About Us

Since 1972, TOM BIHN has been designing and manufacturing premium, durable bags and accessories. Specializing in high-quality backpacks, travel bags, crossbody bags, tote bags, organizers, and other travel accessories, we combine artisan craftsmanship with innovative design. Each bag is handcrafted in Seattle from top-grade materials, ensuring longevity and practicality for daily use, travel, and gifting.

Local to the Seattle area or visiting? Visit us at our factory showroom at 4750A Ohio Ave S or our retail store at Bellevue Square!

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visible lifestyle^^A person wearing a Synik 30 at a Seattle pier.

Working Together in Seattle

All 66 of us here at TOM BIHN — design, manufacturing, shipping, customer service, marketing — work in the same 16,000 square foot location. We collaborate, problem-solve and innovate in ways that are only made possible by sharing the same space. We think this results in a better bag for you, and it’s more fun for us too.

Taken at our HQ & Factory, located at 4750A Ohio Ave S

Taken at our HQ & Factory, located at 4750A Ohio Ave S

How We Began

When Tom was 10 years old, he asked his parents for help in getting the equipment he wanted for hiking and camping. They suggested two options: get an after-school job and earn money to buy it, or "just figure out how to make it yourself." Tom chose the second option. His grandmother had an old Singer home sewing machine which his brother Dan helped get running; Tom's mom taught him how to sew and his dad provided the foundations of the necessary engineering.

And the rest is history: Tom has spent the last 40 years designing and making backpacks, travel bags, and briefcases.

Tom sewing in his garage workshop, circa 1983.

Tom Bihn sewing in his workshop

Tom sewing in his garage workshop, circa 1983.

You

You're as much part of this as we are. I mean, think about it: the fact that you buy our bags allows us to exist as a company. And that you use our bags and provide constructive feedback on how they either work or don’t work for you helps us to build a better bag. We literally couldn't be doing what we do without you. Thank you.

Guy walking with a baby and a TOM BIHN bag

Our Own Way

Here's a few things to know about us and how we work:

Our company is big enough that we can do cool things like develop our own fabrics while small enough that it still feels like we’re one big family. Our capacity is limited and we don't have plans to significantly increase it. That means that you can expect many of our bags to be In-Stock while other bags are In Production. Read more about that here.

Our creativity is what drives us — and we make space for it. Doing stuff like working on new designs, developing new materials, improving existing internal procedures, programming our own software, updating the website, taking new photos — we do it ourselves because A) we’re kinda control freaks and B) we love our work.

We think experience counts. We have spent over four decades designing and making bags. That’s a whole lotta learning over many years about what works — and what doesn’t — when it comes to bag design and fabrication. We use that experience to make a bag that will better serve you.

Our Philosophy

Back in 2013, we wrote down some aspects of our company philosophy and made it into a book. Some of the people we work with asked us to make a public version and in 2016, we did.

Here's an excerpt:

"Coworkers, boss, manager, customer, delivery person and anyone else you deal with during your work day: imagine yourself in one of their positions and try to see things from their perspective. Gain some understanding of what it looks like on the other side of things. And, hey, don’t just imagine it: if you wonder something, ask. Being curious is a wonderful thing to be: it frees you from the burden of thinking you know everything! Ask Bob our UPS driver: “How’s the holiday season busyness going so far for you?” or, ask him if it works better for him if we stack boxes “this way” versus “that way.” Most folks will be pleasantly surprised by how you're paying attention."

Read more: Our Company Philosophy

The Crew

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Edelmira

Senior QA + Floor/Preassembly Professional

Edelmira retired in 2022 after 10 years with TOM BIHN, but she loves us so much that she decided to retire from retirement in 2023 to come hang out with us everyday!

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To

Bartack Specialist + Joiner-in-Training

"I am looking forward to traveling with my wife to Europe next year to visit family!"

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Li Zhen

QA + Floor/Preassembly-in-Training

In her spare time, Li Zhen likes to watch romantic dramas. Her favorite vacation spot is Hawaii.

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Cam

Floor/Preassembly-in-Training

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Run

Joining Professional

Run enjoys gardening and staying healthy.

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Li Mei

Sewing/Assembly Professional

Li Mei enjoys staying healthy through exercise outside of work!

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Daikon

Assistant (to the) Regional Manager

Daikon is a connoisseur of bowties, pet-friendly travel, and chicken.

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Shunkun

Sub-Assembly Professional

Shunkun enjoys shopping, swimming, and watching TV outside of work.

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Maia

Social Media and Creative Content Lead

Maia loves all creative pursuits – when she isn’t working you can often find her painting, writing, modeling, or thrift shopping!

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Jose

Designer

Jose loves spending time with his family, watching soccer, cycling and finding great places to eat.

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Cindy

CEO

Cindy's idea of fun is going on a 5 to 10-mile run or hike, then followed by a glorious shower and lots of Chinese food after.

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Irma

Fabric Cutting Manager

Irma likes to take vacations. Her favorite song is Despacito by Luis Fonsi.

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Kat

Customer Service + Shipping Professional

Kat loves cats, musicals, zombies and most nerdy pursuits of happiness.

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Tam

Binding/Bartack Professional + Machine Mechanic

Tam loves to watch soccer, travel, and listen to a wide variety of music.

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Esther

Sewing/Label Placement/Plant Care Professional

Esther is an avid reader. Her favorite book is Shogun: The Life of Tokugawa Ieyasu by A.L. Sadler.

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Hong

Shoulder Strap Specialist

Hong enjoys spending time with with her children and shares: "I recently bought a house - it's my American dream!"

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You

Yeah, you! You're part of our crew, too.

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Kim

Director of Administration

Kim believes in karma and random acts of kindness.

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Matt

Shipping Manager

Matt moved back to Seattle after 5 years in Southern California. Matt is cold all of the time.

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Zhi Fang

Joining Professional

Enjoys spending her free time relaxing and watching Chinese soap operas. 

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Fong

Production Manager

Fong's philosophy: experience gratitude for happiness and health and don't take it for granted.

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Thu

Joining Professional

Loves the natural beauty of sunsets and listening to romantic Vietnamese Bolero music.

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Buu

Shipping Department + Findings Professional

"I enjoy napping/sleeping, feeling refreshed after a good night sleep.  My goal is to retire early."

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YanFang

Single Needle + Bartrack Professional

"I love to watch Chinese soap opera and I also enjoy outdoor aerobics and dancing."