Product & Design
Step into the design process of our bags, get the first look at new product roll-outs, see collaborations, brand alliances and more.
Artisan & Culture
This colorful section of the blog is to highlight the culture & handmade process of our artisans and to share other relevant articles on anthropology and hand-craft.
Travel & Community
Track Ethnoteks adventures and see what our community is up to. This is a place we'll feature our Tribe of customers and all the awesomeness that you're up to. To be featured tag @ethnotekbags and #etktribe on social media.
Latest articles from all blogs
Understanding Our Textiles
Over the years we’ve gathered quite the knowledge base and collection of various handmade textiles with a wide variety of techniques from around the world. So much so, it can be hard to keep track of. And that is the purpose of this article, to pick apart the different artisan processes to better help you understand why our bags have different prices.
Limited edition masterpieces from Bali, Indonesia
One of our favorite projects has been our collaboration with The Togetherness Project and the incredible weavers of the Pejeng Kangin Village in Bali, Indonesia.
During the COVID19 lockdown, Bali’s tourism industry had a hard hit. Facing economic peril, Ibu Wayan, who worked as a rice farmer, got the idea to revive her ikat weaving and teach other women who lost their jobs to revive their traditional craft as a new path to income.
Impact, Innovation and Imagination
Here’s a quick roundup of the impact your purchase has with our partnering artisans, our top 3 bags shipped to date, our most loyal customer, a highlight of our favorite product launches last year and an outlook for exciting things ahead.
Spring Giveaway!
We’re stoked to partner up with our fellow outdoor friends over at Nature Backs and Waboba for an awesome giveaway! We're giving away the ultimate package with outdoor gear to inspire you to explore the great outdoors.
Threads of Love
February is Love Month for us and we're celebrating by highlighting one specific fabric design. India was the first sourcing trip we went on for Ethnotek back in 2010 and has a very special place in our hearts...
On the Road to Certification
It's a new year and we have many new initiatives in sight! As our production team in Vietnam heads home for a long Tet holiday, we'd like to share the good news of our recent developments.
Chasing the mayan Star
The rhythmic beat of the loom, like drumming in the workshop, vibrates in the chest. Clouds drift past the misty peaks of volcanoes as lava erupts from their crowns. Cobble stones rattle under the feat and the ground shakes with a 5.9 magnitude earthquake. All visceral greetings from the stunningly beautiful country of Guatemala as we get back on the textile sourcing trail after a two and half year hiatus.
New Product Drops!
Three new products just dropped and we hope you love them! The Cyclo Laptop Sling is a roll-top shoulder bag that fits up to 16" laptops. The Pindah Phone Pouch fits up to iPhone 13 Pro Max and can be worn five different ways! The Kantong pouch is a minimalist purse that's lined RFID blocker and can be worn on the shoulder or hand-held with it's wristlet.
Urban Backpacks
Urban backpacks are a solution for busy people living in the concrete jungle who don’t want to compromise on style and durability and looking for an “all-in-one” backpack with features that accommodate local commuting, weekends away, and social events.
We Stand With Ukraine (Here's How You Can Help)
Ethnotek stands with the people of Ukraine and the rest of the international community, and we stand with the non-profit organizations bringing aid to the region at this critical time. Ethnotek is committed to elevating cultures around the world, and the world needs peace and safety in order to nurture its people and art.
30 Liter Backpack
We’re total bag nerds here at Ethnotek and of course a little biased, but we feel that you should never need multiple backpacks for separate areas of life, like work commutes, weekend travels, and vacations. Not when there’s one bag that can do it all.
Here are the important things you need to know about how a 30 liter backpack can tick all those demanding bag carrier boxes and be the perfect bag to support and enhance your life on the move.
10 Years of Ethnotek: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
It's so hard to believe that it has been ten years of being in business already and it brings tears of gratitude to our eyes for all of the stories, memories, and friendships we've made along the way. We're taking a pause to honor and remember everyone who has made this dream come to life. Here's a trip down memory lane to highlight our biggest successes, failures, adventures, and more... Enjoy!
Isn't That Cultural Appropriation?
Before we can even get started, it's important to understand two terms: ‘Cultural Misappropriation’ versus ‘Cultural Inclusion’. The next step is to see how we can spot when cultural misappropriation (often referred to as cultural appropriation) occurs and what to do about it, while amplifying companies and organizations that work towards cultural inclusion.
Sourcing Roadmap
This is an article to describe Ethnotek’s internal ethical guidelines for working with artisans and is to provide suggestions to designers & business owners who are looking to practice Cultural Inclusion in their supply chain. We in no way claim to be experts in this department and are still learning, but we do have over 10 years of first-hand experience and not only does our system well, everyone is happy and having fun in the process! Hopefully you find this helpful, enjoy!
The Intersection of Art and Fashion in Maputo, Mozambique
Tanzania-based fashion and graphic designer Valerie Amani provides an insider's look into ColabNowNow, a collaborative artmaking and storytelling residency for digital artists from East Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa and the UK.
Ghana’s Art Scene – The Hostile Paradise
While the nascent art scene in Ghana has shown encouraging signs of life in recent years, street art festivals like Chale Wote, a two-week celebration of art, culture, and music, is helping to provide a platform for emerging artists to connect with the public.
Travel Journaling 101
While videos and photos are great for storing visual memories, Adam Hacklander makes the case for travel journaling in order to better engage with the place you're visiting while preserving that exact moment in words and pictures.
The Dream Weavers of Balwaar
It is late evening when Malkiet eagerly settles down at her adda (loom). It’s her favorite time of day; it’s also her favorite corner of home. Picking up a heavy, wood-handled metal claw called a panja, she begins to deftly beat back the cotton weft into the warp strung across a horizontal frame.
Against the Grain - Promoting Sustainable Farming in the Peruvian Andes
In a world that’s increasingly adverse to carbs and gluten, Francisco Abanto is helping to empower farmers in the Andes of Peru to sustainably cultivate indigenous pseudo-grains again and to teach urbanites the beauty of breadmaking.
Documenting Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic Minority Groups
After nearly 10 years, French photographer Réhahn has met, photographed, and documented all 54 of Vietnam’s ethnic groups. The result of this Herculean task is the Precious Heritage Museum, a 500 sqm space opened in early 2017 dedicated to showcasing the entire range of Vietnam’s ethno-cultural diversity.
Material Matters: a deep dive into our tech fabrics
Are you curious about just how high-tech and eco-friendly our travel bags and backpacks are? If so, this blog is here to provide a lot of tasty tidbits of info and will hopefully answer any questions you might have about that. We also hope that after reading it, you’ll get a warm and fuzzy feeling knowing that we’re taking such care to only have the highest quality standards and minimize the environmental impact during that process… Enjoy!
Egypt Artisanry: A Taste of Local Flavor
Craftsmanship in Egypt dates back thousands of years, with the most skilled artisans decorating temples and palaces. While you can’t take pieces of the Great Pyramids home with you, these mementos carry the weight of history offering both skilled craftsmanship and fascinating origins.
Water for all - All for water
Ethnotek teamed up with Viva Con Agua to create a limited-edition collection of artisan Thread fabrics in the village of Kandherai, India. The fabrics commissioned for this collection are used as a training program to educate and employ the next generation of artisan weavers. In addition to that mission, 10% of your purchase goes to building clean water wells in Uganda, Ethiopia and Nepal!
International Coastal Clean Up Day
Can you believe that the United States has produced more plastic in the past 10 years than the entire last century?! In Los Angeles alone, the Pacific Ocean is polluted with 10 metric tons of plastic per day.
Studying The Effects of Climate Change on American Pika
As an intern at Rocky Mountain Wild, I expected that I would be filling in some odd jobs. Like most internships, my job description ends with those familiar words, “and other duties as assigned.” Luckily, one of those other duties is the opportunity to go into high-elevation alpine environments to help Megan Mueller, our Senior Conservation Biologist, with her research on pikas.
Tribe Spotlight: Malia Hulleman
Activism never ends; there’s no time for sleep, no time for fun and games. You’re either in or you’re out. And if you’re out, you’re in the way.
No, this isn't what's said in the community. But it's what we often feel - that we must exceed everyone else's expectations.
Tribe Spotlight: Tyrone Davis Jr.
If you haven't heard the name Tyrone Davis Jr. before, just wait...there are big things on the horizon for this fella!
Creative Collabs: Simply Straws
Simply Straws was started by the Sladics family, who were on a mission to provide safer and more sustainable alternatives to plastic straws (basically the coolest family ever!)
Creative Collabs: Sunski
Sunski is a killer combination of adventure, style, and social responsibility. Launched on Kickstarter in 2012, the company makes high-quality shades, perfect for any outdoor adventure. Each pair is polarized and comes in a durable travel box!
Creative Collabs: Third Eye Headlamps
Have you ever wished your adventure wear came with a little more style?
The peeps over at Third Eye Headlamps bring style and practicality together to deliver you outdoor gear that’s a little more “you”.
Creative Collabs: Brush with Bamboo
If you’re looking for an easy way to transition into a more eco-friendly lifestyle, then you are in the right place!
Brush with Bamboo was founded in California by the Kumar family. They consistently make efforts to live sustainably, including the development their own organic permaculture garden that produces 5,000 pounds of food annually. The idea for a bamboo toothbrush rose out of their desire to shift to a zero-waste lifestyle, and reduce the amount of waste ending up in our oceans and landfills.
Connecting Kickstarter Backers with the Artisans in India
Back in October, we ran our first ever Kickstarter campaign to launch a brand new bag design called the Premji Backpack. As part of the campaign, we offered a reward level that not only included two bags, but also an all expense paid trip to join Ethnotek on a fabric sourcing trip to India. We were honored to have not one, but two awesome backers pledge at that reward level!
Ressurect People through the Uganda Project
Some good friends of ours have been building something absolutely powerful over the past 10+ years and we want to tell you all about it!
Glorious Ghana
If there’s one thing we’re passionate about here at Ethnotek, it’s keeping culture alive! In honor of our recent launch of the new Akan collection, we wanted to take the time to share some fascinating information about Ghana’s culture and history.
Tribe Travel Inspiration: Around the world with the Ethnotek Staff!
Here at Ethnotek, we love exploring, learning and immersing ourselves in new cultures and experiences. This definitely includes the great outdoors!
We asked a few of the ETK staff which national parks from around the world they loved or had a special place in their heart for, and we have a few fun stories to share! We hope you enjoy, and be sure to let us know your favorite national park or outdoor location - we’d love to add them to our future travel plans!
15 Simple Ways to Save Money for Traveling the World
So you’re getting ready to plan a trip! The number one concern when it comes to travel for many people is the financial bit. Not everyone was born next to a tree full of money, nor does everyone make six figures a year. Does this mean you can’t travel the world? Of course not!
Car Camping 101
Warm weather is on the way, which means many campgrounds will be opening again, if they are not already open. You can check recreation.gov to see when federally-owned lands are open, what campsites are in your area, and book reservations.
Spring Celebrations Around the World
Springtime symbolizes rebirth, newness, shedding of old skin, and moving forward towards a new year, new life, and well, lots of new things! Around the world, cultures celebrate the renewal of life after winter per tradition and ritual.
Helpful Photography Tips for the Adventurous Traveler!
Taking pictures is not only a daily part of life for nearly everyone these days, but taking photos while traveling is an important part of making meaningful and lasting memories!
Guatemalan Roots: Who Are the Maya?
Hand-woven textile. Antiqua, Guatemala
We want to take you on a journey through the history of the Maya - the ancient communities who used to inhabit Mesoamerica and most of the Chichén Itzá peninsula of what is now current-day Mexico and part of Guatemala.
What to Know for Your First Solo Trip
So, you’re preparing for your first solo trip!
Whether you are taking off to Europe for a few weeks, or just heading out on the road for the weekend, traveling alone can be scary, exhilarating, lonely, enlightening, and more. That being said, many people have come up with their best ideas while traveling alone - just like our founder, Jake, did while he was on a solo motorbike trip in Vietnam, he came up with the idea for Ethnotek!
Technology Checklist for the Traveler
Have you ever been on an adventure and forgotten something important, like a phone charger? These days we all have smart phones; we all have a camera or two; however, it may be hard to know what is best to take when traveling?
That depends on how you are traveling: by car, plane, foot? International or domestic? Short-term or long-term?
What To Pack for a Weekend Trip
Who doesn't enjoy a quick weekend trip? Often times, a two or three night getaway is just what the doctor ordered to refresh your mind and it’s always fun to experience a new place.
It’s also easy to overpack or underpack when you are not going to be gone for long. So, we’ve made it easy, and broken things down into warm weather and cold weather packing!
Where Does Batik Come From?
There is speculation among experts about the true origin of batik, but mummies in Egypt have been discovered with etchings and patterns on the cloth used to wrap bodies.
The word, "batik," is Malayan (the written language of Indonesia and Malaysia) which means, "to write," or "to dot," and is part of the process of creating the designs and patterns you find on batik textiles.
How Do Other Cultures Celebrate Winter?
The Northern Hemisphere marks the first day of winter and happens between December 21st and 23rd at which time religious holidays such as Christmas and Hanukkah are celebrated in addition to cultural celebrations of the sun returning. The first day of winter is the longest night of the year, after which point the days grow longer and the nights are shorter. Because so many cultures base celebrations and festivities around the suns' energy, we had fun researching a few lesser-known celebrations to share with you. So grab some cocoa and learn something new with us!
Shop Consciously: Support Brands Helping the Planet and People.
Shopping consciously is something that is incredibly important to us, not only as a brand but also as individuals.
Even if you buy just one person a gift this year that is sustainability made, has a positive environmental impact, and well-being for others in mind, you are making a positive impact. Small changes matter! There is a shift happening in our world and as a collective species, humans are becoming more aware of their impact, and that is incredible!
Limited Edition Artist Series Now Live
An Interview with our featured Artist: Shay McAnally
Can you tell us a bit about your background, where you draw inspiration from and how culture weaves into your work?
Mayan Gods & Spaceships in Texas: A Limited Edition Artist Series Collection is coming soon...
Hey Tribe!
We’ve got something exciting coming, just in time for the holidays!
If you remember in 2013, we partnered with Texas artist, Shay McAnally, and launched our first ever Artist Series Threads.
Viva con Agua!
Water is one of the most important foundations for life on earth, that is why we’ve committed to doing our part to helping the Water Protectors in North Dakota and their work towards preserving clean water, and we are proud to announce that our Ethnotek team in Germany have joined forces with Viva con Agua to help bring water to those who need it most!
#WaterisLife: Why Standing Rock Matters
By now you have probably heard about what’s happening at Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota: an oil pipeline is being built over protected land and will also go under the MIssouri River, which is a source of water to over 18 million people, including the Native Americans who live on the Standing Rock Reservation. The construction also requires the desecration of sacred sites and burial grounds to the Sioux Tribe.
Sales for Solidarity
A small Standing Rock Sioux site in North Dakota called the Sacred Stone Camp has been propelled into the national news narrative following their stand against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Due in part to independent media coverage of the ongoing standoff, the Sacred Stone camp has grown into a formidable opposition against the $3.8 billion, 1,200-mile long pipeline.
Copper, Wood, Wax, & Cotton
Since our artisans are the reason we do what we do, we’d love to take some time to give a bit of background on the processes that our partnering villages use. In total, we offer three textile techniques: batik, weaving and embroidery, so let’s not waste any time and dive right into the batik process!
Embroidered Pathways
Hey Tribe, Adina here!
I’m the graphic designer and visual storyteller for Ethnotek and I'm here to dig a little deeper into our third artisan process - the art of embroidery.
Countries Leading the Way This Earth Day
Earth Day has been celebrated for nearly 40 years in the United States, and since then, many strides have been made by humans to help reduce the further impact we will and have already made on our beautiful planet.
THE GREAT KATE FESTIVAL
Ethnotek Tribe member and photojournalist, James Pham, accompanied the Ethnotek team this year on a visit to the Cham village in Vietnam to celebrate the Kate Festival with their weavers and friends. For a unique and unbiased perspective, we asked James to write about his experience and share some photos. He was happy to oblige... Enjoy!
Ethnotek featured in the Textile Institute of England's Publication
We couldn't be more thrilled and honored to be featured in this month's publication by the Textile Institute!
The Textile Institute is a unique organisation in textiles, clothing and footwear. It was incorporated in England by a Royal Charter granted in 1925 and is a registered charity.
Collaboration With a Kingdom
You guys and gals, our beloved Tribe, have always loved the textile designs that are featured in our bags, which originated with the Champa Kingdom and are woven in the Binh Thuan & Ninh Thuan Provinces of Vietnam... In the name of increasing demand for the artisans so they can grow their family weaving businesses, we listened carefully to your feedback for inspiration to think of new ways to increase demand even more!
Getting Scrappy
If you read the last blog you know we've got some surprises up our sleeves this holiday season and here's one of em... Ladies and gents, meet the Padu Pouch. We made it just for your accessories - whether you want to store chargers and flash drives, or pens and pencils, or makeup brushes and eyeliner - the Padu Pouch will make it easy to keep everything in one spot.
Design Perspectives - The Setia Pack
Hey tribe, as the holidays draw near, we have heaps of exciting new things that we've been waiting on the edges of our seats to share with you! You've given us such thoughtful feedback over the last year and we've listened closely. So, without further ado, we introduce, The Setia Pack!
Fly Icarus fly
Remember the last couple blogs where James Pham helped us spread the good word on Ethnotek, the story of how we began and about our mission as a whole? Yeah, he's the man, and now it's his time in the sun!
Acaat In Review
Experienced and avid world traveller, photographer and journalist, James Pham, took his Vietnam 5 Acaat Messenger for a test drive and wrote about it for Oi Magazine Vietnam. below is the break out of his review. Enjoy!
Survival Gear
This month we made it into print with Oi Magazine Vietnam and we couldn't be more excited!!! This is one of very few times we've been in print and not only is it crazy to see our story in physical form, it's a deeper dive than most of our other reviews! Journalist James Pham discovered us and came to Ethnotek Founder and Head Designer, Jake's studio in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for a quick interview... Which then turned into a four page spread for Oi, a product review and a partnership to do a written piece for the Cham community, complete with one-on-one interviews with the Inra family and partaking in the annual Kate Festival. Yup, there's lots of excitement around this project that we could talk about for ages, but for now, we'll just let you read the Oi article. It's a good one, enjoy!
Raja Pack Review
Tribe member, Matt King, just took his Guatemala 4 Raja Pack on one heck of an adventure to Lombok. Not only did Matt put his Raja through it's paces, he talked about it as well. See his product review below...
Our Seoul Tribe has soul
Our Tribe in Seoul Korea now has a place to call home for all things Ethnotek.
Drop in and support Vita at: 229-64 YeonNam-dong MaPo-gu, Seoul, S Korea.
Singapore Tribe Member Pamela Ho On Keeping Culture Alive
Big love to Singapore Tribe member Pamela Ho for the shout-out on her travel blog this week! Check out an excerpt below...
Minneapolis Tidbits Spotlights Ethnotek Bags
Tidbits is the essential tool for the style-conscious modern woman. They cover what's chic and locally-owned in their cities, and they only cover what they love. Cheers to Minneapolis Tidbits for the shout-out last week prior to our event at featured retailer Cliche! Read more below...
Excellent Adventurer
Ethnotek Featured in Mpls.St.Paul Magazine
Ethnotek bags stand out from the pack with their colorful, globally inspired woven designs. It's the college in Boulder, Dead Head loving, frizzy hair, festival going you, and the grown up, running a company from a laptop at an indie coffee house and adventure traveling in Costa Rica you, all rolled into one durable backpack. The bags themselves are made out of a sturdy, water-resistant nylon, and then dressed up with interchangeable front panels, called Threads, that are created from textiles handwoven by artisans in villages around the world—Guatemala to Ghana; Indonesia to Vietnam.
Getu See More
Our Tribe sends it!!!
This week's proof of that is a story from our friend and fellow Tribe member Andrew Seymore. We like to think of his last name as being spelled 'SeeMore' because this dude does exactly that. He works hard as a High School teacher in Saigon, Vietnam and with what little free time he has, he dedicates it all to seeing more...life is short people, and I think we all can take a page from his book in how to maximize free time as free people should.
Burning Questions for Ethnotek? Check out this Q&A with Founder Jake Orak.
Join Anywhere But Home's "Nomad" Naomi as she chats with Founder Jake and asks the tough questions. From Naomi:
Ever wanted to get under Ethnotek’s hood? I have. The first time that I heard about Ethnotek, it caught my eye for a number of reasons: a company that supports local artisans? Intrepid travellers running the show? A mission to ‘keep culture alive’? Yes please. As a lover of travel and of the web of artistic heritage from around the world, I was intrigued and wanted to get in on spreading the word about its mission. But first, I had to do my homework - Ethnotek’s ideals might be there, but is the reality?
Celebrate Diwali with Tribe Member Arushi's Family
Diwali has come to a close, and the Ethnotek crew is full of good vibes. Diwali feels good. It celebrates all of the things we hold most dearly as a community, namely connection and celebration of culture. Sure, we can learn a lot about the historical significance of this holiday and its cultural traditions from the numerous sources, but in order to truly understand how the cultural traditions play out in modern India we thought it'd be fun to talk to one of our favorite Tribe members to see how her family celebrates in Mumbai. Check out the below, and enjoy!
Batik Week: Culture, Art and Beauty Collide Outside
Join Tribe member Brooke as she shares her story, her passion and energy for all things adventure and the great outdoors, and her love for Bali and Batik...
Two Rajas Take on Four 14ers: Wandering Vines
"You don't really conquer a mountain. You conquer yourself. You overcome sickness and everything else - your pains, aches, fears - to reach the summit." - James Whittaker
Check out Tribe members Kim and Kyle Vines on their blog, Wandering Vines.
Tribe Hangout at Moksha Yoga
I went to Moksha yoga tonight for a Hatha Yoga class at 9pm. Kitty was teaching. Moksha has a vibe about it. Something special. A rad space. Philly D, the owner, has become a friend in the few short months we've known him. He lives out the Moksha mission so authentically and when you find that in a fellow small business, it's refreshing. Moksha has 7 pillars...a set of ideas and philosophies they aim to live by as a community, and you can feel that. The 7 pillars are: Be healthy, Be accessible, Live green, Sangha support, Reach out, Live to learn, Be peace. Dig it.
The Dep Tote: Pack Your Bags, See The World
Remember the gal on the homepage with the Vietnam 5 Dep Tote and rad, handmade Kiboots (we've written about Kiboots before)? And our "Pack Your Bags, See The World" t-shirt model? Yep, that's Hennessy. Not only has she modeled for us, but she's also a close friend of the Tribe and likes to rock not one but two Ethnotek bags in her everyday - and not so-everyday - adventures: the Indonesia 7 Dep Tote (she was a lucky gal to snag the only one we made!) and the Ghana 16 Raja Pack.
Tribe Member Pierce on Conscious Consumption
After Tribe member and close friend/advisor Pierce McNally read Marie Malinowski's recent article in The Examiner (in regards to the 'how' and 'why' behind our direct trade business model), he felt inspired to weigh in on the topic of conscious consumption. Here's what Pierce has to say...
The Examiner on Ethnotek
Thanks to Tribe member Marie Malinowski, whom we met this past January at Winter Outdoor Retailer, we were recently featured on the Examiner.com with a focus on our broader story: how we work with our partnering villages, the 'why' and 'how' behind what we do, and more. We're humbled by Marie's words, and we're also full of gratitude to see that our media friends continue to spread the good word about Ethnotek with a focus on our artisans and their time-honored craft.
Tribe Shaman Josh Foss on Thrivability, cycling with his Vietnam 6 Raja + more.
Tribe Scribe here. It's National Bike to Work Day in the States, and we thought we'd invite close friend, Tribe member and Tribe Shaman (ambassador) Joshua Foss to make a Tribe cameo on the ETK Blog today, in honor of the day and in honor of living a more thrivable life. I know you'll dig his message and his vibe as much as we do. Check it out...
Tribe Motherhood
"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother. - Abraham Lincoln
This statement couldn't be more true. As you can imagine, the importance of motherhood runs deep in our Tribe. Many of the artisans in the villages we partner with around the world are mothers, and Tribe member Arushi has commented on how strong the role of women is in Bhuj - where the weaving process starts and ends with the women of the Tribe. That's special. The women of the Tribe are special, and we wouldn't be here without them. This statement holds true for our own mothers as well. Today we are full of gratitude for them, because without their undying support and love, Ethnotek wouldn't be possible. Today we are counting our many blessings, and taking time to express gratitude to the mothers in our villages, and our own mothers.
Tribe Travel Inspiration
Today (and everyday, really) we're inspired by the differences in culture around the globe, travel, adventure, connections, exploration, and time spent with the one and only Mother Nature. We were stoked to have been reminded of this as we were featured on REI's instagram page for their REI 1440 Project, whose goal is to "fill each and every minute of this "virtual day" (all 1440 of them) with photography representing our collective love of outside." So I thought I'd share a little inspiration with the Tribe today.
The Tribe Speaks: Tribe Member Kayt on the Dep Tote
Once upon a time there was a girl named Kayt. And a boy named Jake. They grew up together and chased each other around the soccer field. Literally. Verdict's still out as to who was chasing whom. They built forts and dreamed up mysterious make-believe lands in the shrub and woods behind the soccer fields when they were just six years old. The story goes that Jake (Founder and Design Shaman) and Kayt grew up together and remained friends, each growing in their creative pursuits - Kayt as a graphic designer and business owner extraordinaire and Jake as a bag designer and business owner extraordinaire - and all the while, Kayt has followed Jake's journey with Ethnotek and vice-versa.
ETK in the News: Gear Junkie and Beyond
Despite the gloomy weather in both Vietnam and Minnesota, it's been an epic spring so far and the team at Ethnotek is getting very excited for the coming months - we have a lot of good things coming the Tribe's way in 2013. We've also been full of gratitude to see that our media friends continue to spread the good word about Ethnotek in the most radical way: with a focus on our artisans and their stunning, time-honored craft. See below for features from our friends at Gear Junkie, The Examiner and Adventure Mom and join us in spreading the good word!
The Female Frontier - Tribe Adventures in South America
We were first introduced to Tribe members Nikki McGee and Melanie Ford's idea to tour South America (with a focus on Chile) when we were in Salt Lake City at Winter Market Outdoor Retailer this past January. With massive amounts of energy and passion, Nikki (who is originally from Minnesota and a longtime friend of Founder Jake) told us about The Female Frontier...
Share your travel story and snag some free swag!
That's right, Tribe...it's Swag for Stories time!
This past Tuesday we introduced "Tribe Tuesday" with some Swag for Stories fun. Tribe Tuesday is all about appreciation of our Tribe...highlighting what our Tribe is up to with their packs, sharing stories of the Tribe from the road, and showing our gratitude with things like the chance to snag some free swag!
Tribe Member Arushi Shares Her Story
Namaste Tribe! Greetings from India!
I’m sure most of us have either climbed up hills and mountains (or trees!) to be awestruck by the view from the top, or travelled to far off destinations to marvel at things. But how many of us have ever felt like that on a daily basis?
The Osani Circle Game
We came across this image and the story behind the Osani Circle Game a few weeks back on Tribe member Emilee's Facebook wall, and it definitely caught our eye. For obvious reasons. The story that was circulating the social media world differed a bit from the story we found when we dug a little bit deeper. In each of the stories we found, though, we learned something. And, in the spirit of celebrating and promoting world culture, we thought we'd take the time to share it with our Tribe. Here goes.
Letters from the Tribe: Tet Holiday Adventures
This ETK Blog post is brought to you by Cori Orak, via the Tribe Scribe. Cori was the first official member of the Tribe, and is Founder and Head Bag Designer Jake's leading lady. Cori has been Jake's muse in many respects, and thus has been extremely influential in the design process. We are beyond-honored and happy to welcome Cori as a guest writer on the ETK Blog. Cori's perspective on life in Vietnam is invaluable, and she shares the same passion for cultural appreciation, social responsibility and sustainability in this time-honored craft.
Musings from out west...
Now that we've had some time to settle back into life in Minnes(n)o(w)ta, I'd thought I'd sit down, take a deep breath, and share with our Tribe the stories of our travels out west to Winter Market Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City, Utah. Better late than never, right?! Sure thing. Here goes (worth it, I promise)...
Kon Chai Moon
Have you ever heard of the Minoans? How about the Lenka – at least their direct descendants are still around. What about the Shan people. Of these three cultures, the Shan are still here, there culture is somewhat intact, but they are struggling to maintain it. The Shan history is long and troubled but it is recent history that has seen the Shan homeland split across international borders, into Burma and Thailand.
Gearing up to head out west...
As the Ethnotek crew gears up for another trip out to Salt Lake City to hang at the Salt Palace for Outdoor Retailer round 2 - the Winter Market variety - we take some time to take a breath and get excited about everything our small team has been working on. You may remember our team's last trek to Utah - it was our first foray into the trade show world, and we had a blast.
Hello, 2013!
Happy 2013 to our Tribe members around the globe! As we, the Ethnotek crew, reflect on 2012 - we realize we have a lot to be thankful for...here are just a few of the many highlights: we were featured in The Huffington Post, powerful connections were made, we enjoyed our first trade show foray at Outdoor Retailer (and the misadventures along the way) and met some inspiring, like-minded people behind socially-responsible businesses, our Tribe community has grown to over 2,000 fans on Facebook, we launched the Acaat Messenger, Wayu Pack and Dep Sleeves for iPad and iPad mini...and so, so much more.
Observing the World from Above
What's up tribe, Rambling Shaman here, back from a long hiatus and more inspired than ever!
Amidst helping write the closing statement for the Ethnotek 2013 catalog, (which we just sent to the printer today, stay tuned) we happened upon a link to what photographer George Steinmetz has been up to and had to take some time to appreciate the truly unbelievable sites around the world that he's had the pleasure of documenting in vivid color.
Uncommon Gear Raja Pack Review - YEAH!
Our friend Jade over at Uncommon Gear put the Guatemala 1 Raja Pack to the test and man, were we excited to read her review! Here's an excerpt from her write-up:
Gratitude.
In the midst of all of the busy-ness of the holiday season, and the excitement around our new, limited-edition Ghana Raja collection, the crew here at Ethnotek is taking the time to step back, take a deep breath, and reflect on all of the blessings in our lives. This past year has been incredible for us. We have so much gratitude for so many reasons. So, we thought we'd take some time to start a list of the things we're thankful for, and encourage you to dream up your own list.
Letters from Ghana
Our limited-edition Ghana THREADs are back, and better than ever! Join us this week on facebook, as we learn about the Ghanaian textiles in our Letters from Ghana series.
The Ghana 17 featured in today's letter is wax-printed Akan Kente cloth. Kente was the cloth of the kings, and this particular cloth is one of the most iconic and well-known Kente styles throughout Ghana. We've been informed that this specific design and gold/orange, black and green arrangement was originally designed for the Royal family. After knowing this, one can feel pretty special cruising through the aisles of whole foods, or heading to class in the morning, kitted out with your Ghana 17.
Ethnotek in The Huffington Post...say it ain't so?!
OH MY GOSH!! Not sure if you've seen the news yet, but we were featured in The Huffington Post this week! Must have been a Diwali, Festival of Lights, gift.
This brings us joy. Co-Founder Jake couldn't have said it better when he said, "It means a lot to our little mission, and to me personally, to receive validation from the Huffington Post on the topic of socially responsible business and sustainable practice."
We've reached 2,000. And the winners are...
Thank you all for your love and support throughout the growth process of our little bag brand. This video is to celebrate the Tribe growing to 2k and beyond. We couldn't have done it without YOU!
Introducing: Tribe Member, Mehdy + The Hostel Life
We are beyond-excited to announce our collaboration with Mehdy Ghannad, from The Hostel Life. Mehdy has been a friend of the Ethnotek crew for quite some time, and as backpacking travelers ourselves, we back his mission 110%. 'What is The Hostel Life?' you may ask? Allow me to explain.
JR Uses Art to Turn the World Inside Out
TED feeds us inspiration on the daily. This talk, delivered by French street artist JR was no exception to this rule. We came across JR quite some time ago, when Ted first featured his journey and focused on his Face2Face project (the largest illegal art exhibition ever executed), and have since been enthralled with his work. I'm also enthralled with the message behind this talk. In this talk, JR explores the answer to the question, "Could art change the world?" It was once again a poignant reminder of the simple fact that any one person (or combination of individuals with a strong passion for a common interest) has the ability to make an impact on this world. Positively.
Holstee: A Call To Action
On this Saturday morning, as I sit here and and sip espresso from my Snow Peak titanium camping mug, The Holstee Manifesto has snuck into my mind once again, and intertwined itself in my thoughts...consuming my brain. And, I think to myself, 'what a lovely thought to consume my brain.' So I watched the Holstee Lifecycle video again. And then I read the words on the poster. Again.
Girls (who run the world)
Not too long ago, the Tribe Scribe told the story of a very brave 14-year-old Pakistani girl, Malala Yousufzai in the Let's Hear it for the Gals post. Simply put, Malala is our hero. Her mission is a mission we support with every ounce of our being. And I know it's silly, but when I was thinking about Malala and her beautiful passion for her mission, Beyonce's empowering 'Girls (who run the world)' started playing in my mind (hence the article title).
Creating Something from Nothing
Tribe Scribe here...coming at you on this Monday morning with an inspirational story of the beautiful creativity we are capable of and the pursuit of a lofty vision; essentially the creation of something from nothing. This notion is awesome. The beauty of creation is captivating. Stories like this steal our attention, and we don't mind it one bit. Today, I am going to share with you the story of Inge Wegge (25) and Jørn Ranum (22) and their adventure Nordfor sola (North of the sun).
What's On Your Bucket List?
Today I was reading National Geographic's Adventure Blog and happened across their Ultimate Adventure Bucket List 2012. If anyone could do an article like this justice it's National Geographic (I must admit, I'm biased, I've had a subscription since I was a 2nd grader and have wanted to be a NG photojournalist since I opened my first issue, so I think they are the best at just about everything). To make this list of 20 once in a lifetime adventures, National Geographic reached out to a few of their friends, 20 of the worlds top extreme athletes (being National Geographic, they have some crazy cool friends), to share their dream adventure. What they've pulled together is a so-crazy-it-makes-you-sick-just-thinking-about-it bucket list.
Can you skip without smiling?
Neither can we. In today's blog post, the Tribe Scribe asks y'all a very important question (okay, maybe it's not that important, but it's intriguing and starts our day off on the right foot - pun intended - nonetheless): can you skip without smiling?!
Ethnotek's Little Elves
Every so often, the Ethnotek Elves (they're like Santa's elves, but even better...and slightly taller) like to make their way out into the community to surprise people. Last Wednesday night was one of these very sneaky and special occasions. On Wednesday nights, a dude (a 'dude' he is indeed) and his awesome band named Nicholas Mrozinski and The Feelin Band fill The Happy Gnome in St. Paul, Minnesota with their beautiful sounds and positive vibes. Does the name 'Nicholas Mrozinski' (aka Nicholas David) ring a bell?! That's because we wrote about him a few weeks back in the Our Tribe Has a Beautiful 'Voice' post. Yeah, he's legit.
Getting Inspired by Super Kids
Is it just me or are there a lot of inspirational stories flying around this week? From the world record skydive by Felix Baumgartner (24 miles, what?!?) to celebrating "International Day of the Girl", I can't help but start to get the feeling that anything is possible.
Art in a Waste Land
Last week Jake gave us all of the Ethnotek Bags' eco-friendly gossip from Vietnam. That was fun, and oh-so-cool. We were inspired and all fired up about the recent eco news straight from the source in the sample room. And then, the Tribe Scribe taught us all a lesson about the notion of 'Less Stuff, More Happiness'. Man, has the Tribe been getting schooled lately, or what?! We're doing our best. Along the lines of these insightful posts, I wanted to share with you a thought-provoking documentary called 'WASTE LAND'. Two words: watch it. And one more, NOW. Watch it NOW.
Let's Hear It for the Gals
Shopping consciously is something that is incredibly important to us, not only as a brand but also as individuals.
Even if you buy just one person a gift this year that is sustainability made, has a positive environmental impact, and well-being for others in mind, you are making a positive impact. Small changes matter! There is a shift happening in our world and as a collective species, humans are becoming more aware of their impact, and that is incredible!
Less is More
Happy Friday, Tribe! Tribe Scribe here. As I was sitting here trying to figure out what to feature in today's post, I did some searching back into the archives of my mind and remembered a very meaningful TED talk I had watched on the notion of 'Less Stuff, More Happiness' thoughtfully delivered by Graham Hill, founder of Treehugger.com.
We Believe We Can Fly
A lot of talk about flying around here lately. There's something about it...soaring through the air...the freedom in the action.
Waste not want not
What's up everyone, head designer Jake here, reporting live for the tribe from hot and sweaty Saigon. Now that I've been close to the sewing needle and knee deep in THREAD fabrics for about a month now, I figured it'd be a great time to reveal some cool bag related details that you might not know about. A lot of you beautiful people have been getting behind our socially responsible mission, and now more than ever, we've been receiving questions about eco-design considerations and if we take any measures to be responsible in the green way as well. The answer is 'absolutely YES'! Or at least we try our best. Some of them are just buried deep within the bag construction. Here's the inside scoop.
Back on the Road With Naomi and Her Batik Buddy
You may remember our last post about Tribe Member Naomi, the creative gal behind Anywhere But Home, a blog that chronicles her misadventures as she meanders around the globe. Well, this lady is still on the move and she is still carrying an Indonesia 5 Raja Pack, which she calls her Batik Buddy (we love it, Naomi!!).
We're Curious, What's in Your Backpack?
The Ethnotek Crew are a bunch of curious folks. We can't help ourselves. When we see people carrying a pack, we want to know what's in there (and most of us are really not shy, so if we run into you, we'll probably ask you). We are especially curious when we see backpackers. Being on an extended travel means having to carry your whole life on your back. And so, that begs the question, what are those can't-live-without-it items that make their way into travelers packs?
Who is Wayu?
The time has come to reveal the name behind the bag! As you all know, we recently launched the newest member of the ETHNOTEK product family the Wayu Slim Pack. Aside from it's many features and THREAD interchangeability, what gives the bag so much soul and life is the man and sourcing experience behind the name. So who is Wayu? Wayu (pronounced 'why-oo') is the kind hearted, adventure seeking, futsal playing person who introduced us to local culture in Surakarta, Indonesia. He was also our main mode of transportation the three weeks we bounced around between several Batik workshops scouting the ideal ETHNOTEK fabric.
Ethnotek Raja Pack: Euro Adventure-Style
As you probably know by now, Team Ethnotek experiences some pretty gnarly and incredible (mis)adventures. Most recently, one of Team Ethnotek's Tribe Scribes traveled with her Raja Pack to the Czech Republic and Holland on a journey to make new friends and keep the old. And let me tell you, new friends were made and old friends were enjoyed over a conversation and some kava (that's 'coffee' in Czech for those of you non-native Czech linguists). From the City of 100 Spires (Prague) to a quaint fairytale town (Český Krumlov) to a land full of gorgeous canals, super-cyclists and tulips (Amsterdam), this Raja Pack soaked in as much Euro spirit and adventure it could. While in the Czech Republic, the Raja Pack sported its Printed-Ghana 6 THREAD, but for Amsterdam it took a change of pace donning its one-of-a-kind Peruvian THREAD, sourced while on a recent trip to the Amaru Village in the Pisac District of Peru.
Anywhere But Home Takes the Raja Pack on the Trans-Siberian Railway
Naomi, wanderlust-filled adventurer and writer of Anywhere but home, is on the move. Presently, Naomi has hopped on the Trans-Siberian Railway and is making her way through China, Mongolia, and Russia on a 6 to 12 month sojourn (I know, we're a lot jealous too!) And, to make her journey even sweeter, she picked up the Indonesia 5 Raja Pack, to carry her life in for the next year.
Bless This Stuff Reviews the Wayu Slim Pack
Huge thanks to our friends at Bless This Stuff for their review of the Wayu Slim Pack! If you haven't been to their blog, they review all things men drool over, such as technology, wear, living, culture, sports, vehicles and more. Expect good things from these dudes, their updates are always fresh and unique.
New Indonesia 5 THREAD
Our bags and their designer just got off the boat from Southeast Asia perfectly in time to announce the release of the new Indonesia 5 THREAD. Come meet our Indonesian friends, learn about the Batik process and see Jake falling out of a box. Enjoy!
Messenger Bag Review by the Matador Network
Like my ETHNOTEK backpack, the messenger bag gets a lot of compliments. So much bigger on the inside than the outside. It swallowed my MacBook and plug, along with two books for the flight. (I don’t own an iPad, but if I did, it would’ve fit perfectly in the separate sleeve.) My iPhone went in one of the front pockets, a small notebook next to it. Pens, pencils, and sonic screwdrivers also found their own slots. Are just a couple comments from The Matador Network's recent review on our new messenger bag.
Living textiles of the T'Boli Tribe
ETHNOTEK tribe member Alexa, recently shared a fascinating article with us about the T'boli people of the Philippines which gives an in depth look into their unbelievably complex process and spiritually imbued T'nalak textiles.
Bless this stuff
Our good friends at Bless this Stuff have supported us from the very beginning and just featured the new messenger bag on their blog. Thanks again guys, you're the best!
Journey to the Cham Village
This is an exciting time for us because we just grew our company by one wildly creative person and travel companion. He prefers to remain anonymous for some reason, so we assigned him the nickname “the Rambling Shaman” (Rasham for short). Please help us welcome him to the ETHNOTEK team as you will be hearing a lot from him over the next few years. Rasham was hired on as travel writer, photographer, sourcing assistant and anything else we’d like our new gofer, I mean good friend to help with. Not only does he have a view askew of the world, but he also has almost the same amount of bag design experience and as many stamps in his passport as our Founder and Chief Designer Jake, so he’ll be able to relay all the technical terms that are needed to describe our process as well as contribute some creative inspiration while we’re planning new collections from the road.
THE MESSENGERS ARE COMING!
Whether you want the perfect bag for exploring abroad, or just in search of something easier to swing over your shoulder on the subway, this pack is for you. It’s forged from 840-denier water resistant ballistic nylon and lined with hand woven fabric from our partners in the Cham village of Vietnam. Stay tuned, the Acaat is about to launch!
Tribe Member Bag Review
Today we are extra excited because we received our first official bag review from an ETHNOTEK customer. We couldn't be more honored to publish it on this forum. Thank you Rachel for the kind words and detailed review! See Rachel's review on her Ballistic Black Backpack below.......
ETK + Social Business & Trend Hunter
Socialbusiness.org and its partner groups are dedicated to raising awareness of social businesses around the world. Their dream is that everyone will choose to work for a social or environmental business in the future, and that starts first with awareness.
Guatemalan Schools Built from Bottles, Not Bricks
The cost of building new classrooms and schools shouldn't prohibit students in the developing world from accessing a quality education, but new construction, even using inexpensive materials like cinder block, can run up a five-digit bill in construction costs. Now, Hug It Forward, a nonprofit in Guatemala, has figured out how to build new schools on a shoestring budget by turning the plastic bottles that litter the countryside's villages into raw construction materials.
Batik Fractals
Sure, it’s an advertisement for Intel, but it gives a really cool look into the Batik process and the culture that surrounds it. We dig it!
ETK backpack on Carryology
Reaching out
Check out these awesome 8" x 12" block prints on rice paper from Hội An Vietnam. Thanks to ETK tribe member Cori for gifting them to us! They came from the artisan's hands at Reaching Out Handicrafts: http://www.reachingoutvietnam.com/
It's good to be a member of the Matador Network
In 2007, Jake Orak was trekking through the highlands of Northern Vietnam, a region home to over 50 ethnic minority groups and nomadic tribes. He observed how they lived off the land, grew most of what they needed and bartered with handmade goods for the rest. After a day of hiking, he was taking a break in Bac Ha when inspiration struck.
