SSS, Luminaryoptix & MADE 2026 Show

 "Sometimes you gotta leave your zone of safety. You have to manufacture Inspirado. You gotta get out of the apartment. You've got to run with the wolves... Or just treat yourself to a delicious hot fudge sundae. With nuts." - JB

When Jessie from Slow Sothern Steel reached out and asked us to create a bag for the MADE 2026 display bike, I contemplated if saying yes would be biting off more than I could chew. After reading the text, I recalled JB and KG in Tenacious D as they set out in search for the pick of destiny.  "Its destiny, Its Metal, and its SSS, Hell yeah i'm in!!!"

One week later, I had the template in hand, called up Bear at LuminaryOptix "Yo! you wanna help me create a peice protected by sacred geometry?" I asked. What unfolds is a result of the moments towards destiny.

Over the last two years we have had some awesome opportunity to create sweet custom bags. TBH these types of projects are the most time consuming and require a slow methodical pace to really get right. At this point we only make 1 or 2 custom bag a year. "Your going to own a piece of my soul" I say to the prospective bag owner. As each bag shape is different and requires a new template to be created before any fabric is cut. unlike our Ready to Ride - Top Tube Bags, a custom bag is comparative to starting from ground 0 and expecting a premium refind end result in 1 attempt. In the end it really takes a lot out of ya... 

"I'm still at aww as I experience working with a 2D piece of paper & turning it into a 3D object. I created that??"

First we start with the an original cardboard cutout. This is transferred to drafting paper and used to define the boundaries as the end result shape. By the time i'm ready to cut fabric I have created 3 templates. 1 original copy, 1 inseam enlargement with zipper line, and 1 reduced template for foam/stabilizer inserts. Each time a template is created there is a small introduction of error. If not take for account it will show up in the last step during installation of the bag, creating a piece that is too large or too small. 

All I  have is the original piece cardboard cut out by Jessie. This is the base of all measurements. In this, the bag creation process is a step into a deeper relationship of trust and collaboration with the frame builder.

What if it was not centered? Cut at an angle?... I slowly feel the anxiety rise as I begin to trace out the leather with the finalized template. Then I remember, no need to worry, this is destiny."

Once the final template is traced to the leather, I called for Bear to inform him we are ready to burn.