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!
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.
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.
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.
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
Miao
Joining Professional
"I love to cook! My favorite food are Dim Sum dishes like ShuMai."
Kim
Joining Professional
"I love listening to Vietnamese country music. Sewing clothes for my family is one of my hobbies."
Muoi
Double Needle Professional
"l like to travel, and my favorite destinations are California, Vietnam and Malaysia. My second love is cooking Vietnamese noodle soup."
Thao
Sewing Professional
Favorite flower to grow: orchids. Likes to visit Vietnam and spend time with family.
Thuy
Joining Professional
Likes to spend time with friends and being there for them in times of need. Enjoys cooking and sewing her own clothes.
Ying
Assembly & Quality Control Professional
Loves to go on road trips to explore and discover new views of mountains and interesting natural landscapes.
AiQing
Single Needle Professional
Love to play Mahjong with her friends and family. Also enjoy occasional travel.
Tang
Strap Assembly/Sewing Professional
Tang loves fashion and the experience of shopping in-person (as opposed to online!)
Yumei
Single Needle / Binding Professional
Yumei loves to travel and explore new destinations. She loves animals and wishes for world peace.
Jenny
Joining Professional
Jenny enjoys going to work, spending time with family and friends, travel, cooking and exercise.
Thuy
Sewing/Joining Professional
Thuy loves to travel, near and far. Her favorite destination: Hong Kong.
Dau
Sewing/Assembly Professional
Dau loves traveling to and throughout Vietnam and reading about its history.
Yin Mei
Sewing/Assembly Professional
Mei likes to play Candy Crush. She's an accomplished cook and her specialties are baked chicken and cakes. She loves watching Korean soap operas.
Kieu
Lead Bartacker
Kieu likes to go on urban walks. The secret to her good health? Eating lots of vegetables from her own garden.
Lin
Joining Professional
"I love to cook! My favorite thing to make is traditional Chinese dessert soup."
Honguyen
Sewing Supervisor-In-Training
Honguyen bakes amazing things. Amongst her specialties: cupcakes. Favorite song: "Happy" by Pharrell Williams.
Kuen
Sewing Professional
Kuen's passion is music and healthy eating (lots of vegetables!) She loves living in the United States.
Lucy
Assistant Shipping Lead
Lucy loves playing soccer, digging holes, and chasing her cat around the house.
Nik
Advisor
Nik also loves playing soccer, digging holes, and chasing his cat around the house.
Matthew
Documentation Lead
Matthew loves games of all sorts.
Ling Feng
Sewing/Joining Profesional
Likes to exercise to stay healthy. Philosophy: we never stop learning.
Hong Hai
Sewing Professional
Likes to cook. Signature dish: Bún riêu
Trung
Fabric Cutter
Likes to play soccer and is passionate about traveling -- especially to Vietnam.
TianYing
Zipper/Floor Professional
Loves to shop, especially shoes and kids stuff!