December is often a time when we reflect on the year. How was 2024 for you?

Our team made dozens of bags, bike related products and clothing this year, but that wouldn’t be possible without you. Thank you so much for choosing our products.

To show appreciation, we will be holding a special event at Blue Lug Hatagaya from December 14th (Sat) to December 15th (Sun), called the Christmas Handmade Market.

This is the very first time doing this event, so I’m sure you are wondering what kind of event it is.

Max gave us a simple task. “Make whatever you want to make!”

Normally, we would produce items that are bicycle related. We would make products that the team agrees that they are necessary, or updating existing products based on the feedback from our staffs or customers.

However, we literally made things that we want for the event.

“Whatever you want” might sound like a difficult task, but when you are thinking about product ideas almost everyday, you start to come up with things that you want to make, but know that it won’t make the cut. Everyone in the team apparently had some of their secret ideas in mind. I was happy to know that my team mates were true craftsmen.

Below is the products that my team mates came up with and their thoughts on them.

Hi, Max here.

I made some “Bicycle Trucker Wallets” for the event.

I had a trucker wallet years ago, that I really liked. The way trucker wallets are made are simple, which I think is similar to the wallets people carry nowadays, but the only thing is that they suck, in terms of usage. I made them with adding a little updates, so they shouldn’t suck so much. Think of it as a neo trucker wallet.

Here are some of the details I wanted for the wallet.

– A shape that is great for stowing in back pocket
– Two separate card compartments
– Being able to store bills without folding
– Compartment for coins and AirTags
– A tough material
– Easy on the material of trousers
– A simple design

The main materials used are Cordura Nylon, instead of leather. Hope you enjoy the color variations.

If I’m gonna make a trucker wallet, I had to do a leather one.

It turned out really nice, but it’s a bit bulky compared to the nylon ones.

The leather wallet in the image is made of lamb leather.

Yes, we will have the finished products at the event. We will also be constantly sewing the products in case they sell out.

See you guys at the event!

Hey, Jug here.

I made a fusion of a messenger bad and a musette, called the “Lite Messenger Bag”. I wanted a bag that is a size of a musette with a strap that has the same mechanism as messenger bags.

– No liners/one layer bag
– Two different types, flap closure and open mouth button closure. (James from Rivendell who was inn town approved!)
– L25cm x W34cm x depth 12cm

The materials used for the bags are all samples I have ordered throughout the process of making all kinds of products.

Challenge Sailcloth “ULTRA”, X-PAC”UX10”, DCF hybrid and AP Black (night camo)

I used some cam buckles of the strap, which provides easy adjustments. The strap is available in 15mm, 20mm, 25mm and 38mm. And the straps are detachable, meaning that you can switch between right shoulder and left shoulder sling.

Hope you like them!

I (Anne) made my favorite bag of 2024, Mini Sacocche, with fabrics I like.

These were all materials that I thought were cute when flipping through the sample books, or thin nylon materials that were not used after ordering them from overseas.

I made a lot of wintery color ways of the bags, so I hope you can find one you like.

One more item. I made Uwabaki bags with high-tech materials, which I’ve been wanting to do for so long.

I often wear Uwabaki shoes at work, but I actually didn’t want to make the bag for carrying Uwabaki shoes. I just wanted a bag that is bigger than the Mini Sacocche, but has one strap with a large opening that I can put things in from the sides for going out for a couple of hours.

I think whoever made these bags are a genius. To pay respect to the inventors, I used high-tech material with padding material. I like how the bag is both high and low tech.

For Japanese people, I guarantee that you will have some flash backs of the old days when you would take your Uwabaki shoes home from school.

Both bags are made with padding material, which are my favorite.

Hope to see you at the event!

Hi! Nice to meet you! My name is Suzuki. I joined the team around June.

Anyhow, I made The Messenger Bag, one of the Blue Lug classics with Japanese traditional dyed materials.

These bags are usually made with nylon fabric, but I’ve always wondered what the bag would look like with organic dye fabric and here are the results.

The black one is mud dyed. You can see that they aren’t pitch black.

The brown one is persimmon dyed. The fabric itself is moleskin. I like the slight wrinkles.

I think the aging would be crispy. I hope you can use them in a long term to see the changes.

Nambu-kun, a new staff from LUG hatagaya will be serving coffee at the event.

He is an ex-bike messenger and is planning to host a lot of local events like this. Come say hi to him.

We will also have canvas gift bags ready for the event. All the members of the Blue Lug sewing team will be at the event, so let us know if you’re looking for Christmas gifts.

We will constantly be sewing something so stop by if you happen to be in the area!

See you soon🎄