Carry The World On Your Shoulders
Jake Orak left Minnesota seven years ago to follow his passion in bag design. It took him to Vietnam and back, but he didn’t return home empty handed. Upon touching down in the Twin Cities, Orak created Ethnotek, a social enterprise that sells high-quality, culturally sustainable backpacks and messenger bags made with fabrics sourced directly from local artisans around the globe. The best part: Orak and his team don’t bargain. They pay the artisan what they ask for, keeping traditions alive in a time when machines are frequently replacing this once heralded craft.
Why We Love It!
It’s all in the name. Ethno, standing for ethnology, is a type of anthropology that deals chiefly with the comparative and analytical study of cultures. Tek, or technology, is a method or tool that society has developed in order to facilitate the solution of its practical problems. With their colorful designs and intricate patterns, these bags do more than look sharp—they also spread global awareness!
The Good News...
Forget needing to own more than one bag simply to have a different color or style. It’s cumbersome and wastes unnecessary materials. That’s why every Ethnotek bag comes with the versatility to change the design, or as they call it, the "thread," whenever and wherever. You could be hiking the Swiss Alps while sporting a printed design from Ghana. Or you could use the same bag to bike to work, only now it's decked out with woven fabric from India. Plus, every bag is constructed at a family-owned shop in Vietnam completing the circle of cultural awareness and tradition where it all started.
Want your own? Head on over to www.ethnotekbags.com to peek at the stunning designs hand-picked by Orak and his team of world travelers.
Price Check
Messenger bags are $129 and up. Travel backpacks start at $149. The customizable threads ranges from $29 to $89.
What do you think of these versatile packs? Do you want your bag to do triple-duty?