Fernweh UK
Patchwork Zip Top Backpack - Dry Finish Waxed Cotton
This backpack is made from studio offcuts. Our One of a Kind & Zero Waste bags use up our offcuts in creative ways, and are part of our commitment to reducing textile waste and creating brand that is as zero waste as possible. Most of these items are one of a kind.
Inspired by a sense of adventure, but perfect for everyday use around town. Designed and handcrafted in our Aberdeen studio from start to finish, using the best quality materials to create a true companion on your adventures. The outer is made from rugged dry finish Scottish waxed cotton, featuring a double slip pocket on the front for easy access, made from offcut patchwork. The back is quilted to give extra padding and comfort when worn, and the adjustable cotton webbing straps help spread the weight across the back when worn. All finished with a secure waterproof zip top fastening, with a foldover that secures with magnetic snaps, meaning you can be sure your belonging are protected, from whatever life throws at them.
But the outside is just the beginning. The inside of the bag reveals an array of pockets for organisation. The lining is made from a crisp Scottish dry finish waxed cotton, for an extra layer of weatherproofing from the elements.
The lining includes a padded laptop sleeve, with a false bottom to prevent your laptop touching the floor. THere is also a zip pocket for keeping documents, passport, phone safe and secure, but also within reach is a d-ring for clipping keys too
Entirely created from waxed canvas which is made in Dundee, Scotland and features oak bark tanned leather from the UK's only remaining oak bark tannery. Sewn with bonded nylon thread for strength.
Features
-Scottish Dry Waxed Cotton Canvas Outer
- Scottish Dry Waxed Cotton Lining
- Patchwork Double Slip Front Pocket
- Solid Brass slider Buckles
- Quilted Padded Back
- Adjustable cotton webbing straps
- YKK Aquaguard Zip
-Magnetic Strap Close
-Antique Brass Rivets
- Internal Padded Laptop Sleeve with false bottom
- Internal Zip Pocket
- Internal D-ring for key clip
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Dimensions
Rolled Approximate Dimensions
Height - 42cm
Depth - 12cm
Width - approximate 25cm on bottom, width at foldover is approx 34cm
Unrolled Height - Approx 50cm
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Care
Waxed cotton canvas is a cotton that has been treated with wax to give a unique, water resistant finish. Over time and use, the fabric will mark and crease from use, but these markings are an inherent characteristic of the cloth. This is known as its own as developing a patina. It means every bag is truly unique, adding to the antique, vintage feel of the product. Each mark becomes a memory of the adventures the bag has been on, becoming a visual memory of your adventures.
Recommended care:
-As with all waxed canvas products, do not iron as this will cause the wax to melt.- Hand wash only with cold water and leave to dry away from natural light.
- If bag is particularly dirty, use a soft brush to wipe away excess dirt before cleaning, using a mild soap/detergent and cold water on more stubborn areas.
- As with all waxed products, re-wax every 6-12 months to restore waxed cotton to top condition.
Sustainability & Transparency
Create a unique touch to any Fernweh piece, with personalised monogramming. Since all our bags are created in house, we can add a personalised laser etched leather label, with a name, monogram or small phrase, to create a truly one of a kind, special piece.
All our laser etched labels are created in house, which means we can ensure every piece of leather is used, and also means we can minimise waste.
We can incorporate any text/initials to the monogram. Each product has a standard monogram placement but if you would prefer the monogrammed label in a specific place, just get in touch with us via email and we can accommodate this.
Monogrammed Order Process
Bespoke monogramming has a cost of £10 to cover the set up fee. Each product has the option in its listing to add a monogram, select the "Add Monogrammed Label" option of the product you would like, and at check out, in the Order Notes section, leave the details of what you would like monogrammed.
Alternatively, you can email us at fernwehuk@gmail.com
***Please note***
Monogrammed items are always handmade to order and will take 1-3 weeks to manufacture before dispatch.
Monogrammed items are non refundable due to the customised nature of the product.
Monogramming Gallery
Each and every Fernweh piece is designed and sewn with the utmost care and attention in our Aberdeen studio by our founder Laura. We believe in doing things properly, creating well designed products from rugged, traditional fabrics and materials that will last a lifetime. Here's a bit about the fabrics and materials we use.
Waxed Canvas
Waxed cotton canvas is a cotton that has been treated with wax to give a unique, water resistant finish. Over time and use, the fabric will mark and crease, but these markings are an inherent characteristic of the cloth. It means every bag is truly unique, adding to the antique, vintage feel of the product. Each mark becomes a memory of the adventures the bag has been on, continuously adapting characteristics from the wearer, becoming a visual memory of your own adventures. Waxed cotton can be rewaxed again and again, making it a durable cloth with longevity, but being a cotton, at the end of its lifespan it is biodegradable.
Waxed canvas has its history rooted in Scotland, in the North Sea fishing industry. It was derived from oilcloth and sailcloth, which fishermen coated with linseed oil and flax to weatherproof their sails from sea and storm alike. However, linseed yellowed and the cloth would stiffen, and so eventually it was found that coating cotton with wax gave a superior finish, and waxed cotton was pioneered.
The waxed cotton canvas we use here at Fernweh is sourced from Halley Stevensons in Dundee, Scotland, who have been manufacturing waterproofing textiles since 1864. Only an hour down the road from the Fernweh studio, Halley Stevensons are pioneers of waxed cotton and are leaders in waxed cotton innovation and we are proud to support the UK textile industry.
Recommended care:
-As with all waxed canvas products, do not iron as this will cause the wax to melt.- Hand wash only with cold water and leave to dry away from natural light.
- If bag is particularly dirty, use a soft brush to wipe away excess dirt before cleaning, using a mild soap/detergent and cold water on more stubborn areas.
- As with all waxed products, re-wax every 6-12 months to restore waxed cotton to top condition.
- Look out for a re-wax tutorial coming soon to our Journal.
Read more about Halley Stevensons on their website
Leather
We use a mix of oak bark and vegetable tanned leather at Fernweh, vegetable tanned on our labels and oak bark for the straps.
Our leather is sourced from the last remaining oak bark tannery in Britain & uses a slow, zero waste process to tan each hide, which takes over a year from start to finish. Based in Devon, there's been a tannery on the site since the Roman era & it uses a 400 year old water wheel to power the tannery. The hides come from local beef cattle in Devon as a by-product of the meat industry which are then tanned using oak bark.
The oak bark is sourced from sustainably coppiced UK trees (coppicing is a woodland management method of cutting back trees to ground level to stimulate new growth). The bark is ground and mixed with water from the River Coly to create a tannin liquor and the hide is tanned in a pit for 3 months before being layered between oak bark for another 9 months, making the tanning process take a year for each piece of leather. It's simple, heritage process and creates beautiful, long lasting leather with minimal environmental impact, the used bark is even used in gardening!
Learn more about this slow, sustainable approach to tanning leather here
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Buy less. Choose well. Make it last.
