King Kog Loves Freight Baggage!
Last week I was drinking wine in North Beach with Mister Travis Poh at the Freight Baggage Headquarters SF.
Q: When did you start making messenger bags?
A: I made my first bag the day before i started working as a messenger. That was in 1998. I’ve never worked with any other bag other than ones I’ve made!
Q: How long have you been handy with a sewing machine?
A: Always! I used to alter all my clothes when i was in high school. Then i started doing that for my friends and worked as a tailor. I later worked as an upholster. I’ve always sewn.
Q: When did you start making your bags to sell?
A: In the beginning of 2005. I started selling them to my friends and small groups of people. Later that year I came up with the name Freight Baggage. I got the patches made and took them to the Cycle Messenger World Championships in New York.
Q: What happened next?
A: I started sewing bags more and messengering less. 4 days messengering, 2 days sewing. Then it became less and less days messengering and more days sewing. That was when i shared a studio in Hunterpoint with a local frame builder.
Q: When did you move into this awesome shop space in North Beach?
A: I quit messengering and moved in here about a year ago.
Q: Who’s making the bags now? Employees?
A: I work full time and have two part time employees making slings and hip pouches. All the back packs are constructed by me (only). I make about 8-10 of them a week.
Q: I see your logo on alot of alleycat race flyers. How many do you think you sponsor a year?
A: I’ll sponsor just about any race, especially if it’s thrown by a messenger. I try my best to help out. I probably make atleast a couple dozen prize bags a year.
Q: Do you messenger still?
A: Yes! I started messengering one day a week again. I had to get back on the road. I love it!
New Freight Loot in store!! Look! Look! Look! (Got backpacks too! Not pictured)
