Since 1972

We've been designing and making bags since 1972 and became an official company in 1982. Some of you have been around for the whole ride, others are new. This is our way of sharing the timeline of our company story with everyone.

A group photo of TOM BIHN crew outside of their factory, enjoying ice cream in front of an ice cream truck.

2021

Our first group photo in two years!

Outside the Seattle factory having some ice cream.

Nik and Irma at the Seattle factory discussing a marker. There's a rainbow flag and an American flag in the background.

2020

We designed, made, and donated over 200,000 reusable cloth face masks. 

We were also proud to play a small role in cloth mask material studies conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Mike, Nik, and Matt discussing shipping procedures and logistics.

2019

We implemented various new systems and procedures to support continued, sustainable, and quality growth, including our Pre-Production Batch (PPB) procedure for each new design.

Mike, Nik, and Matt discussing shipping procedures and logistics.

A picture of the Certified B Corporation Logo, a black background with a white letter B in a circle. The text reads "This company meets the highest standards of social and environmental impact'

2019

We became a Certified B Corporation, joining thousands of businesses big and small who meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance.

Becoming a Certified B Corporation also inspired us to become members of the 1% For The Planet network.

A person holding a beaver transfer bag with a mountain beaver inside.

2019

We worked with wildlife biologists to create our first pro bono design to support wildlife: the Beaver Transfer Bag.

Amanda Keasberry of Cascade Forest Conservancy carrying a transported beaver in the bag.

A group photo of the TOM BIHN crew and the Seven Star Women's Crew

2019

Seven Star Women's Kung Fu came by to teach all of us the basics of self-defense.

On the blog: "Top Three Things We Learned in Self-Defense Class"

Person carrying an Olive Guide's Pack on a hike; there's a double rainbow in the background!

2018

We were proud to become operationally carbon neutral. 

We're not separate from the environment. We are part of the environment. We're literally all in this together.

 

This is us at our holiday party! Note the guest of honor in the photo: June Johnson, TOM BIHN Production Manager Emeritus.

2018

Launched our pre-order system, debuted 10 new designs, and made several adjustments to existing designs based on customer feedback. A busy year, as usual!

This is us at our holiday party! Note the guest of honor in the photo: June Johnson, TOM BIHN Production Manager Emeritus.

Sau Ling, Zhong, Mike, and Kat. Everyone's waving and smiling and there's huge stacks of shipping boxes behind them.

2017

We worked together to ship the most bags ever. It was crazy busy and (mostly) crazy fun.

Group photo taken just before everyone left for the day.

 

A group photo of the TOM BIHN crew inside the factory, along with Ichiro the dog.

2016

Our 2016 Holiday crew photo.

That's our legendary canine friend Ichiro. He spent many days at the factory over the years.

Nik, Lisa, Fong, and Ben: everyone's holding tools like they're about to demolish the old showroom!

2015

We designed and built our new Factory Showroom at our Seattle headquarters.   

Nik, Lisa, Fong, and Ben getting ready to do some demo.

Purchased by Tom in 1980, this Consew 206RB is still in use at the factory today. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

2014

Purchased by Tom in 1980, this Consew 206RB is still in use at the factory today. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 

Today, Tao uses this Consew to do three-fold bias binding.

The Skookum Dog woven logo label shows a person sitting next to their dog with the moon and stars and mountains in the background.

2013

The canine-specific Skookum Dog line is launched, 2013.

Tom, Lisa and Fong using their hands to block the camera from seeing a large piece of paper with a drawing of a new design on it..

2013

Fong, Lisa, and Tom trying to make sure Darcy doesn't reveal the new design that's being developed.

These three collaborate on the manufacturing and production engineering of all new designs.

Juanna, Mei, Fong, Lisa, Zhong, and Ying all wearing scarves knitted by the TOM BIHN Ravelry group.

2012

The first year that the generous TOM BIHN Ravelry group surprised us with wearable gifts for the entire crew.

Lisa (Production Manager) working with Mei (Sewing Professional) on the production floor.

2010

We moved to our current headquarters at 4750A Ohio Ave S. in Seattle, more than doubling our square footage which allowed us to hire more crew.

Lisa (Production Manager) working with Mei (Sewing Professional) on the production floor.

Tom, June, Lisa, and Fong at our second (current) factory space in Seattle.

2005

We moved to Seattle to grow and expand. Almost overnight, we became a company of over 20 people!

Tom, June, Lisa, and Fong at our second (current) factory space in Seattle.

An early sketch of the bag that became the Aeronaut 45.

2004

An early sketch of the bag that became the Aeronaut 45.

Line drawing of the Super Musette messenger-style shoulder bag, circa 1998.

1998

Line drawing of the Super Musette messenger-style shoulder bag, circa 1998.

Tom and his friends on a chilly hike in Yosemite: everyone's wearing brightly colored outdoor gear.

1997

Tom and friends on a snowless but chilly winter hike in Yosemite, 1997.

Tom wearing a santa hat and suspenders, standing outside his Santa Cruz shop in 1996.

1996

Christmas at the Santa Cruz shop, circa 1996.

The Black Bag label has a black background; the text is bright blue and says "Black Bag Santa Cruz California"

1996

In the mid-1990s, Tom briefly manufactured under the label Black Bag: this turned out to be a bad idea. Live and learn.

The photo shows Tom's hands blurred as he sews a TOM BIHN label onto a bag.

1996

A photo taken by Tom's friend Dave Giannini, in Tom's original Santa Cruz shop.

Tom's original "Here"/"Gone" sign: the text says GONE Hours Tuesday - Saturday but it's mostly crossed out and says "Who Knows" and "See you next Year"

1996

Back in Tom's original Santa Cruz shop, he didn't have an "Open" and "Closed" sign but rather a "Here" and "Gone" sign. He modified this one on his way out the door on New Year's Eve 1996.

A really yummy looking cake that Tom's mom Bobbie brought to celebrate the anniversary of his shop: it has flowers and yellow and brown frosting.

1995

Cake! For a party celebrating Tom's first five years in his retail store in Santa Cruz, California. Cake courtesy Tom's mother Barbara Bihn.

A basic book bag on the ground: a person is pulling books out of the main compartment.

1994

The Basic Book Bag V1, ~ 1994.

Tom sewing at his first shop!

1993

Tom at work in his first shop in Santa Cruz.

Yes, that's a San Francisco Mime Troupe t-shirt.

A photo showing the inside of Tom's Santa Cruz shop. There's vintage TOM BIHN designs on the walls, window sill, and benches!

1992

Tom's retail store / workshop in Santa Cruz California, circa 1992. Every bag you see, every bag in the store, was made by Tom - designed, cut and sewn.

Tom wearing a bike helmet and carrying a backpack with his dog Faux Pas in the backpack itself!

1992

Tom's dog Faux Pas (usually pronounced Fox Paws) sometimes rode in Tom's backpack when he commuted to work on his bike. Faux was a constant fixture in Tom's workshops and stores from 1984 until 2001.

Backside of an early print catalog — in this case the "catalog" was a 4" x 6" postcard.

1990

Backside of an early print catalog — in this case the "catalog" was a 4" x 6" postcard.

Tom stands leaning in the doorway of his first shop in Santa Cruz.

1990

The first TOM BIHN shop — 109 Locust Street in Santa Cruz, California; 275 square feet. This photo was taken just days after the store opened in December 1990. Photo by Barbara Bihn.

Sketch for the layout of an early print catalog.

1989

Sketch for the layout of an early print catalog.

Tom designed and made a bag-less backpack that strapped to a kayak and allowed you to portage solo, late 1980s. He's using it to carry a red kayak!

1988

Tom designed and made a bag-less backpack that strapped to a kayak and allowed you to portage solo, late 1980s.

Tom volunteering at an event for the Resource Center for Nonviolence in Santa Cruz, California. Late 1980s, photo by Tom's friend Doug Rand.

1988

Tom volunteering at an event for the Resource Center for Nonviolence in Santa Cruz, California. Late 1980s, photo by Tom's friend Doug Rand.

A frameless, top-loading pack from the late 1980s. Photo by Dan Bihn.

1987

A frameless, top-loading pack from the late 1980s. Photo by Dan Bihn.

An artistic arrangement of bags for a photo shoot at the Carmelita Cottages in Santa Cruz, California.

1987

An artistic arrangement of bags for a photo shoot at the Carmelita Cottages in Santa Cruz, California.

Tom's friend Doug Rand with a Limpet backpack, late 1980s, at Union Station in Tacoma, Washington.

1986

Tom's friend Doug Rand with a Limpet backpack, late 1980s, at Union Station in Tacoma, Washington.

Tom at work in his garage/workshop, 1982. He was making cases for bowed psalteries — who woulda thunk it?

1982

Tom at work in his garage/workshop, 1982. He was making cases for bowed psalteries — who woulda thunk it?

Tom's grandfather's table in the tent that Tom lived in in the Santa Cruz mountains.

1981

When Tom was 13, he and his grandfather built a table for cutting fabric. When Tom was 20, he lived in a tent in the Santa Cruz mountains for a couple of years, and the table did a brief stint as an outdoor kitchen (above). Rescued from the woods some years later, the table went on the be used in Tom's various workshops/retail stores. In the 1990s it was rebuilt and fortified by Tom's friend Rob, and still does regular service in Tom's design studio.

Tierra del Fuego, 1977. Tom was dropping out of high school, so the obvious thing to do was for he and his dad to take off for South America.  Yes, that's a "60/40" mountain parka, made by Tom.

1977

Tierra del Fuego, 1977. Tom was dropping out of high school, so the obvious thing to do was for he and his dad to take off for South America.

Yes, that's a "60/40" mountain parka, made by Tom.

Tom in one of the down jackets he designed and made, circa 1977.

1977

Tom in one of the down jackets he designed and made, circa 1977.

Tom on a solo backpacking trip in the back country of Yosemite, 1977. The pack hiding behind him was built by Tom for a classic Kelty external frame called the Massif.

1977

Tom on a solo backpacking trip in the back country of Yosemite, 1977. The pack hiding behind him was built by Tom for a classic Kelty external frame called the Massif.

First TOM BIHN woven logo label. Artwork derived from The American Boys Handybook, from Tom's grandmother Bess.

1975

First TOM BIHN woven logo label. Artwork derived from The American Boys Handybook, from Tom's grandmother Bess.

Tom hiking on a foggy beach back in 1974.

1974

Hiking the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, Canada, 1974. Tom carried a pack, a sleeping bag and rain gear he'd designed and made himself.

A business card of Tom's from 1972 (yes, when he was 12) advertising his custom-made down jackets.

1972

In the early 1970s, Tom made custom made down-filled jackets and sold them to friends, family and teachers at school. Some folks still have those jackets!

The very first "TOM BIHN" label, sewn in a couple of dozen down jackets in the early 1970s.

1972

The very first "TOM BIHN" label, sewn in a couple of dozen down jackets in the early 1970s.

A person holding open a yellow leather handbag

1970

A purse made by Tom's mother Bobbie, who was the first person to inspire and mentor Tom in his own efforts making bags and gear.

Barbara (Bobbie) Bihn's initials in one of the handbags she made. 

Tom (center), seems always to have had a thing for bags. Flanked here by the other Brothers Bihn, Dan (right) and Greg (left). Tom's father Michael flew for PanAm.  Departing for the East Coast, circa 1965.

1965

Tom (center), seems always to have had a thing for bags. Flanked here by the other Brothers Bihn, Dan (right) and Greg (left). Tom's father Michael flew for PanAm.

Departing for the East Coast, circa 1965.