Omaha based designer Chris Hughes takes handbag manufacturing back to basics with his fashion label Artifact Bag Co.
Hughes crafts every bag by hand using old-fashioned hand tools and the vintage industrial equipment he finds at estate sales, warehouse liquidations, and internet classifieds. Each one is made from superior American waxed canvas and leather. Hughes has such faith in his workmanship and materials he offers a lifetime guarantee on every bag.
His hands-on work represents a real change for the designer. Not too long ago he was creating websites for a dotcom company. But then the recession hit, his company downsized, and Hughes seized the opportunity to pursue his true passion.
His first bag was the Number 105 Utility tote, a sturdy and chic alternative to regular grocery totes. When he shared the tote with audiences through his Etsy store it sold out almost instantly. No wonder it’s still a key part of the Artifact Bag Co. line.
Today the Number 105 Utility tote sits alongside more recent functional additions including the Number 175 Tool/Garden Tote and the Number 215 Lunch Tote. These bags and more are available online from the Artifact Bag Co. website and the company’s retail partner, Denim Saloon.
