OTC Endorses: ETWAS Bags

When Will Lisak, founder of ETWAS Bags first got in touch with me, it was in the form of a challenge.

He left a comment on a post about Jack Bauer’s bag, from the show “24,” stating that his bag was tougher than Jack’s. After getting to know a little bit more about Will and his small company, ETWAS, German for “something,” I had little doubt.

Will is a graphics design graduate whose dad taught him how to make small leather goods while growing up in western Pennsylvania. In fact, the tannery near his childhood home is where Will now gets the exceptionally fine and thick hides for his ETWAS bags.

A pragmatic guy, Will designed his original bag to simply fit a need at hand. He wanted a bike bag that served the practical purpose of carrying stuff while reflecting his aesthetic and environmental concerns.

Will told me, “I wanted to create my ideal bag, not something was going to be dated in a few years.” The resulting prototype was simple, plain, sturdy and functionally stylish. It’s reminiscent of a classic dispatch case but also embodies distinct elements of a messenger bag.


My ETWAS bag in Natural

Two narrow but sturdy straps secure a single, giant compartment. On either end of the bag, D-rings provide additional functionality. The solid brass hardware is sturdy but simple, almost discreet. On the front of the bag, those two straps can also be used to store a small notebook or folded newspaper.

The bag’s body consists of three pieces: the center wrap that creates the front, back, bottom and top flap; and the two side panels. This clean, almost minimalist design creates the illusion of compactness, but don’t be fooled. It’s actually a big bag. The overall message this bag sends is one of near-familiarity. You think you recognize it, but quickly realize that, no, it’s something different.


Thick and sturdy harness leather


Completely hand stitched

What’s also distinctive is its inherent imperfection. Since it's entirely handmade – no machines whatsoever – there is a rustic roughness to the bag's finishing. The edges are raw, except on the darker stained versions, and on the leather's unfinished underside, you might see template markings from when the cutter went a bit off course.

So, each bag bears the nuances and hallmarks of the person who made it. My own bag's very minimal idiosyncrasies don't bother me at all. Quite the opposite; I often wonder about the guy who made my bag. Because of the personal nature of their construction, each bag takes about five hours to make, the connection between maker and owner is almost tangible.

Let me point out that I purchased my bag a special discount directly related to my testing and review. Also, the images used throughout this article are from ETWAS. I tried to take a few pictures of my bag and did not come remotely close to Will in capturing the style, detail and elements of construction.

The real star of this bag is the outstanding leather Will sources. Thick and stiff, it takes time to wear in and though it will never really soften in the traditional sense, it will conform to the owner’s body and ease over time. It’s just beautiful stuff. The regular compliments I receive are evenly split between the bag's overall look and the leather itself.


ETWAS craftsman at work

When you buy an ETWAS bag, you are investing in the kind of manufacture that is the antithesis of name brand large-scale production. While not inexpensive at $400.00, Will could easily charge double based on material and labor costs alone. With ETWAS, you are buying outstanding durability, one of a kind design and a genuine belief in keeping local, staying green and dedication to quality.

Will’s commitment to thoughtful production is evident in the fact that there is no ETWAS factory. Work is primarily done in a Brooklyn co-op facility. But everything needed to make an ETWAS bag can be found in the Design Box, a totally portable workshop that allows each craftsman to set up shop wherever he happens to be.



Each individual leather worker is the brawn that crafts every bag by hand. And by handmade, I mean no machines at all; not even for the Goodyear stitching on saddle-thick leather end panels. They use a reinforced palm cushion to help drive a giant needle through the hide - no easy task. And true to his green beliefs they don’t use any lighting. When the sun goes down, they’re done for the day.


The bag in Dark Brown

Will is working to get the bag into more stores in Manhattan and to increase the brand’s online awareness. OTC wishes him luck and is happy to be an ETWAS kind of guy.

To learn more about ETWAS the company and its dedication to low impact manufacturing, environmental sustainability and craftsmanship, please visit the company’s website.