THE S.STEIN STORY

“NEVER BE AFRAID OF WORK” was one of my father’s favorite sayings when we were growing up, and he consequently raised three very industrious daughters! My sisters’ and my work have been one of the great joys in our lives, and transporting our gear around has been a constant part of our respective jobs as designers and photographers. As an Industrial Designer by trade. I began designing custom gear bags to transport the tools for our various career ventures - camera cases for my photographer sister Jude, a materials tote for Char, a fashion designer, and for myself, everything from a Mini-Rollie case to expedition duffels.

My greatest inspriaton has been my collection of antique bricklayer’s, carpenter’s and doctor’s bags. Impressed by the sense of purpose and history they all share, and the way in which their materials just get better with age, I set out to try to reproduce this great quality from times past. Fortunately, I was able to find American based companies still producing the kind of materials I was searching for, some established in the late 1880’s, actually run by the heirs of the founding families. My organic cotton and recycled wool felt are both from US companies.

Producing my bag designs has been another interesting journey. I was determined to keep my production in the US, which took me first to New York to a third generation bag-maker, and finally back to Santa Fe to a shop I share with my sister in a complex with other designers and artisans. I instated a made-to-order style, which has kept the shop fresh and creative. Each bag, constucted start to finish by women who are true craftswomen, has a great deal of pride stitched into it. The Workbag styles have evolved from a basic Toolbag and Gearbag to more specific use bags like the Picnic Tote. The addition of the more open-concept bags such as the Project Bag and Studio Tote has been my reaction to the uncertain times we live in now. They invite you to just dump everything you might possibly need in it and be ready to board a train!

Thanks for reading my story. Enjoy your life, and love your work! SHERRY