08|15 bags blog

And now: laptop bags

Another item we have been working on are laptop bags. Finally we can offer bags for 13 and 15 inch computers.
They are heavily padded and have a long zipper closure to give easy access to your loved one. They are available in all our 15 standard colors, so if you are interested, contact us and we will have your own one produced in no time.

Roller Bag

In the last two weeks we were playing around with the concept of a roll-down closure for shoulder bags. This is our first result: the 11/15. I think it is a real beauty but we still are not 100% shure about the closure and the shoulder belt. We use Velcro on the inside of the closure to keep it closed even when it is not buckled down. But then again some people don’t like Velcro at all because it has the tendency to eat delicate material like silk or cashmere. Then on the other hand these bags go much better with sportswear than haute couture…

Another thing is the shoulder belt: It is terribly convenient if you want to carry the bag on your back but a little irritating if you want to just hang it over your shoulder.
So if you have any opinion on this, post a comment, let me know.
Anyway with 27×47x18 cm it is quite spacious and you won’t have any problems with rain leaking in or anything. Perfect for sports and outdoor activites. Check it out in the 08|15 bag online store.
TF

Bunny Bag

China is looking forward to the year of the rabbit. According to the traditional Chinese zodiac we may look forward to a quiet year that gives us some time to relax after the struggles usually associated with the year of the tiger.

People born in the year of the rabbit are normally very tidy and possess a strong sense of fashion. So, all you rabbit people, here is something to look forward to:
Together with Nathan from brand nü, we took a rabbit design and put it on 08/15 messenger bags in a classy gold print.

We are especially happy to introduce a new line of laptop bags:


The two models currently available will be called 07/13 (for 13 inch laptops) and 07/15 (for 15 inch).
All of these bags show a golden rabbit and the brand nü logo. . They are produced by Miaolosophy, a workshop that provides employment to disabled and members of ethnic minorities. Brand nü also offers T-shirts with the rabbit print. So do some good, support Nathan’s cause, support Miaolospophy’s cause and stock up on your bunny items!

Available @
Brand nü, Wudoying Hutong
Palma Boutique, Nali Patio, Sanlitun
And in our online-shop

Truck-Tarp-Bags – old vs. new

As I do frequently, I was browsing the websites of my competitors when an interesting question crossed my mind:

How does my ecological balance sheet look like in comparison with my competitors?

By now there are already a lot of players in the field offering messenger bags made out of truck-tarp. Some of the more well-known use recycled tarp with the original prints. One of these producers describes his production process:

1) delivery of the used tarp by the former user/owner (probably by truck; the bag producer is based in middle Europe)
2) checking the tarp
3) washing the tarp (using industrial washing machines)
4) cutting the pattern (probably using a maximum of 30-40% of the tarp)
5) transporting the cut patterns to the factories where the bags are actually produced. These factories are based in southern Europe and northern Africa (transportation probably using trucks)
6) producing the bags in the factories
7) transporting the finished bags back to the ‘producer’ (transportation method? probably trucks again)
storing the bags
9) delivering the bags to retail stores and online customers (transportation method? probably trucks and air freight)

As for my bags, the whole process looks like this:
1) new tarp produced in Beijing
2) ordering tarp (whole rolls) and delivery to workshop within the Beijing city area using small truck
3) Cutting the tarp patterns and producing the bags at the wirkshop (we can use ca. 85% of the tarp, the rest is defective or cut-off)
4) delivering of the finished bags using electric bikes (or small trucks for large orders)
5) storing the bags
6) delivery to local shops using electric bikes (or using postal service for other customers and stores in other cities)

Now, what does my ecological balance sheet look like? Of course, I know that producing PVC isn’t the most environmental friendly process. On the other hand, the environmental regulations in Beijing are pretty strict and I can visit the factory at any time (not only after registering a visiting date and a subsequent “facelift” or clean-up at the factory). Thus, I am pretty sure that the production process is quite OK. Moreover, the PVC is not produced at the factory but they use granulated PVC which is melted and then applied to the polyester mesh.
Compared to other bag producers I also wonder: even if the tarp they use is recycled, how environmental friendly was the production of the tarp in the first place? And how much of this ecological burden does the tarp still carry with it?

Even transport by electrical bike (a widespread means of transportation in Beijing) is a tricky one: if you hear about it first, you might think: nice, no combustion engine, no CO2 emissions. But if you consider that almost 90% of the electricity here in China is generated from fossile fuels (around 76% from coal; German source: www.gtai.de), you start seeing little virtual fume clouds around all the electrical bikes…

So many aspects I would like to know more about. What do you think? Please share your thoughts!

TF

LG, TF

Ökobilanz von LKW-Planentaschen

Ich bewege mich ja nicht im luftleeren Raum und als ich neulich mal wieder die Angebote meiner Konkurrenten unter die Lupe genommen habe, bin ich auf folgende Fragestellung gestoßen:

Wie sieht eigentlich meine Ökobilanz im Vergleich zu der meiner Konkurrenten aus?

Inzwischen gibt es ja bereits sehr viele Anbieter, die (vornehmlich) Kuriertaschen aus LKW-Plane herstellen. Einige bekannte Anbieter nutzen dazu gebrauchte und bereits bedruckte Plane. Einer der Hersteller beschreibt die Arbeitsschritte zur Herstellung seiner Taschen:

1) Anlieferung der gebrauchten Plane durch den vorherigen Nutzer (wahrscheinlich per LKW, der Hersteller selbst sitzt in Mitteleuropa)
2) Inspektion der Plane
3) Waschen (in Industriewaschmaschinen)
4) Zuschnitt (wobei wahrscheinlich maximal 30-40% der Plane genutzt werden)
5) Versand der Plane an die Fabriken, die nicht in Mitteleuropa sondern in Südeuropa und Nordafrika liegen (Transport wohl per LKW)
6) Fertigung der Taschen in den Fabriken
7) Verschiffung der Plane zurück zum “Hersteller” (Transportweg? siehe oben) Einlagerung
9) Lieferung an Geschäfte oder Online-Kunden (Transportweg, wohl vorehmlich LKW, wenn nicht sogar Luftfracht)

Für meine Taschen sieht das ganze folgendermaßen aus:
1) neuwertige LKW-Plane in Peking gefertigt
2) Bestellung der Plane und Lieferung der Rollen per Lieferwagen an die Schneiderwerkstatt (innerhalb des Pekinger Stattgebietes)
3) Zuschnitt und Produktion der Tasche in der Werkstatt (wobei ca. 85% der Plane verwendet werden können, der Rest ist Verschnitt)
4) Lieferung der fertigen Taschen an mich per Elektrofahrrad (oder bei größeren Bestellungen per Lieferwagen)
5) Einlagerung
6) Lieferung an lokale Läden per Elektrofahrrad oder an Endnutzer und Läden in anderen Städten per Post

Ich frage mich nun, wie eigentlich die Ökobilanz im Vergleich aussieht. Natürlich weiss ich, dass die Herstellung von PVC kein sehr umweltfreundliches Verfahren ist. Allerdings sind die Umweltauflagen im Pekinger Stadtgebiet sehr streng und ich kann jederzeit die Fabrik besichtigen (nicht erst nach Anmeldung und dementsprechenden “Hausputz”). Von daher kann ich mir im Bezug auf die Umweltvertraeglichkeit ziemlich sicher sein. Zudem wird das PVC in der Fabrik nicht selbst hergestellt sondern als Granulat angeliefert, geschmolzen und auf das Polyestergewebe aufgebracht.
Im Vergleich mit anderen Taschenherstellern stellt sich hier auch die Frage: selbst wenn die Plane anderer Marken recycled ist, wie wurde die Plane eigentlich ursprünglich hergestellt und wieviel dieses ökolögischen Balasts traegt die Tasche noch mit sich?

Auch der Transport per Elektrofahrrad (ein weit verbreitetes Fortbewegungsmittel in Peking) ist tricky: Hört sich erst mal gut an, bedenkt man jedoch, dass der Strom hier in China (zu Peking habe ich keine genaueren Zahlen gefunden) zu knapp 90% aus fossilen Energieträgern kommt (ca. 76% Kohle, Quelle: www.gtai.de), so scheinen den E-Bikes auf einmal kleine Russwölkchen hinterherzuwehen…

Fragen über Fragen, über die ich gerne mehr wissen würde. Was denkt Ihr dazu?

LG, TF

Fotos von der Wohltätigkeitsveranstaltung

Die Wohltätigkeitsveranstaltung am 20. November im PUNK war ein großer Erfolg und wir hatten eine gute Zeit dort. 12 Models waren mit 08|15 Taschen auf dem Catwalk und ein Haufen Leute haben sich für uns und unsere produckte interessiert. Wir hatten nicht mit so einer großen Veranstaltung gerechnet und deshalb auch keinen professionellen Fotografen dabei. Daher sind die Bilder etwas dunkel und unscharf geworden. Falls ihr dabei wart und bessere Bilder habt, würde wir uns freuen, wenn Ihr sie uns zuschickt oder uns im Internet verlinkt. Und für alle, die nicht dabei waren, haben wir die folgenden Bilder ausgesucht.

Die Kollektion, die wir mit zur Veranstaltung gebracht hatten



Ein Modell mit einer 0815-07-255-01-01-341


Ein Modell mit einer 0814-01-150-01-01


Gäste, die sich für die 08|15 Taschen interessieren

TF

Points of Sales

If you rather get down to a shop in the real world and get a feeling for the material or compare sizes, you can buy our bags at these shops:

1) Palma Boutique巴拉马
No. 81 North Sanlitun Bar Street,
Nali patio South Building 2nd Floor A202-203
Chaoyang District
Beijing

北京朝阳区三里屯
那里花园南楼2层A202-203#

Palma Boutique 巴拉马enlarge/vergrößern/放大

2) Natooke
Wudaoying Hutong 19-1
Dongcheng District
Beijing
Tel: +86 10 8402 6925

北京东城区
五道营胡同甲19-1 号
电话 +86 10 8402 6925

Natooke enlarge/vergrößern/放大

3) Plastered 8 Beijing 北京创可贴T-恤
61 Nanluoguxiang
Dongcheng District Beijing
Tel: +86 10 6407 8425

东城区南锣鼓巷
电话+86 10 6407 8425

Please note that Plastered 8 only retails 08|15 bags produced in cooperation with them.

Plastered 8 Beijing 北京创可贴T-恤 enlarge/vergrößern/放大

4) Plastered 8 Shanghai Branch Store 创可贴T-恤上海商店
No. 49, Lane 248
Tai Kang Road
Luwan District, Shanghai
Tel: +86 18 7215 3947 7

上海市卢湾区
泰康路248 弄49号
电话+86 18 7215 3947 7

Please note that Plastered 8 only retails 08|15 bags produced in cooperation with them.

Plastered 8 Shanghai Branch enlarge/vergrößern/放大

Charity event bag pictures

The charity event on 20. November at PUNK was a huge success and we had a great time. 12 models walked with 08|15 bags and a lot of people got interested in our products. We did not expect the event becoming so big and did not bring a professional fotographer. That is why the following pictures are a little dark and sometimes blurred. If you have been there and got some better ones, please share. And for all of you who have not been there, enjoy the small selection presented here.

The collection we brought to the event



A model walking with a 0815-07-255-01-01-341


A model walking witha a 0814-01-150-01-01


guests inquiring about 08|15 bags

TF

Charity Fashion & Jewelry Show

08/15 Bags keeps up its dedication to the good cause. In cooperation with our retail partner Palma Boutique we will participate in the Charity Fashion & Jewelry Show at Punk/Opposite House. I would appreciate if lots of you folks show up, enjoy the show, the wine, the canapes and make a donation to support Beijing Huiling Community Service in their work. Please see the flyer and spread the word!


See you there, TF

Long time

I know, I know. There has not been an awful lot of news during the last couple of – er – weeks and some people already started complaing. But apart from a series of sick days we have been busy preparing a lot of things. We have a handful of nice news to spread and some other issues in the pipeline that should be ready for posting soon.

Just for starters: the article about the 08/15 PAE Halo bag that unfortunatly does not mention us as the producer But anyway:

More updates soon, promised!

TF