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!

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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.

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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.