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 194 Bellevue Square!

Working Together in Seattle
The TOM BIHN team — design, manufacturing, shipping, customer service, marketing — works closely together at our HQ in Seattle, WA. 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: from humble beginnings as a one-person workshop in Santa Cruz, CA, to a thriving team in Seattle, our mission remains unchanged—crafting the best bags possible.
Tom sewing in his garage workshop, circa 1983.

Tom sewing in his garage workshop, circa 1983.
You
You're as much part of this as we are. 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.

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 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 five 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
Your team at the seattle factory

Aravelia
Quality Assurance Lead
Velia's favorite movie is Alice in Wonderland and her favorite song is “Everything I do” by Bryan Adams.

Ying
Sub-Assembly Prep
Ying loves to spend time with her family and grandchildren. And she loves watching Chinese suspense/dramas on tv.

Zhong
Binding/Sewing Professional
Zhong's favorite color is pink. She loves the weather here in Seattle, even when it rains!

Lulu
Quality Assurance
Lulu's philosophy: living in the present moment and being happy are the most important things in life.

Yanhua
Sewing/Assembly Professional
Yanhua loves listening to classical Chinese music.

Kasper
Goofball
Kasper is a Irish Wolfhound mix!

Tom
Founder
Tom's favorite book is Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean, and he plays the accordion.

Candi
Sewing/Binding/Fabric Spread Professional
Candi plays the piano beautifully. She likes reading books about animals and wildlife.

Juanna
Binding/Sewing Professional
Loves to sew her own projects at home. She's also an excellent cook.