Presenting the HISBAG A custom reveal...
- Thread starter jomirod
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
First, some background: I'm a daily bicycle commuter, and general casual cyclist, and a few weeks ago I decided it was high time that I find the right bag to bike with, because a backpack wasn't the right fit for my needs. I looked at LOTS of options. Nothing on the market, in the flesh, nor online worked for me because they're either too large and unwieldy, or oddly-shaped and "urban utalitarian" with fluoro zipper pulls and whatnot. All I need is a sleeve of a thing to hold my flat wallet, phone, earphones, my notebook (A Ulysse PM), a few sheets of paper and my iPad on occasion. I want a very nice, simple bike bag. Unfortunately Hermes doesn't make such a thing, and if they did, it'd be 4k minimum, guaranteed. But they don't, so I decided I'd make exactly what I wanted myself.
What got me thinking originally was a moment a few years ago when I gave my mum a Ulysse PM as a gift, and she exclaimed that she's like to wear it as a little bag, placing it on her hip.
Aha!
So, the "ingredients" are as as follows:
• A Ulysse GM. Here in practical, all-season Etain.
•A Tooloop two-ended keyring. Crucial. I was only prepared to go through with this customisation if I could source matching Hermes hardware. I looked at a variety of keyring styles online, but this has turned out to be the perfect fit, and you'll see why below.
•A black nylon/synthetic strap that would work with the hardware, and be of a quality enough to team up with Hermes leather. Again, I looked absolutely everywhere, including having just the strap custom-made, but then I realised I had the perfect thing in a Prada belt that never really functioned as a belt should. Repurposing is the name of the game!
• A leather alteration/repair service that would be able to put it all together, AND give this project the attention to detail that altering Hermes items deserves. I found it in a fantastic leather man here in Sydney.
So, here we go. I've christened my perfect everyday bag (and I have been using it everyday. It is perfect) the Hisbag. "His" as in mine, not hers.
THE MISSING LINK – Shown here is where the shoulder strap and fixed hardware meet the bag via the permanently attached strap and loop. I chose a sturdy black patent leather the leather man recommended, to contrast against the body and match the shoulder strap. Trying to find a match to Etain togo would have been impossible, and somehow much more sacrilegious than going for a sporty/synthetic-looking black.
I WANT A DIVORCE – The shoulder strap is removable thanks to the clever Tooloop hardware. Rest in peace, little keychain. It's also adjustable (shown at bottom at shortest) and can be lengthened by another 20cm so it can be worn as a regular messenger bag cross-body or over one shoulder. No extra pieces are needed, as the Tooloop hardware's buckle style holds the strap tight.
DETACHMENT – The shoulder strap and strap and loop side-by-side.
THE HANDHELD – The bag body can be used as a hand-held sleeve/case/clutch when shoulder strap is removed. Note that it's stitched shut in an L-shape, preventing things from sliding out, and providing just enough resistance for my iPad to ease it's way in. It's essentially an open-top bag, but because it sits close to the body, and what I carry is very flat, it always stays shut.
SMOOSHY ENOUGH FOR YOU? – Ahhhhhh. Unfilled, the bag is as smooshy and bouncy as togo gets. I've used an amazing material called Sugru to cover the backside of the button/snaps inside the bag. So there is no fear of these buttons scratching phones, iPads etc.
EASY PEASEY! – With a Ulysse PM, phone, wallet, earphones. The bag fills out a little more, but still sits nice and close to my back when wearing it. It sits at the small of the back, and behaves like a good bike bag should (ie. it doesn't budge)
YOU'RE SO VEIN – Ta-da! Here he is holding an iPad, phone, wallet and one of my standard A5 flat notebooks. Super slick, no fuss. I'm more than happy.
AND, the best bit. Because the strap is removable, this is essentially a modular bag, much like the Herbag. My SA knows to alert me of just the right colours in the Ulysse GM, but he doesn't know that I won't be writing in them
ROUGE H FOR THE REGAL
BLEU HYDRA FOR THE BRAVE
And a modelling picture, why not.
What got me thinking originally was a moment a few years ago when I gave my mum a Ulysse PM as a gift, and she exclaimed that she's like to wear it as a little bag, placing it on her hip.
Aha!
So, the "ingredients" are as as follows:
• A Ulysse GM. Here in practical, all-season Etain.
•A Tooloop two-ended keyring. Crucial. I was only prepared to go through with this customisation if I could source matching Hermes hardware. I looked at a variety of keyring styles online, but this has turned out to be the perfect fit, and you'll see why below.
•A black nylon/synthetic strap that would work with the hardware, and be of a quality enough to team up with Hermes leather. Again, I looked absolutely everywhere, including having just the strap custom-made, but then I realised I had the perfect thing in a Prada belt that never really functioned as a belt should. Repurposing is the name of the game!
• A leather alteration/repair service that would be able to put it all together, AND give this project the attention to detail that altering Hermes items deserves. I found it in a fantastic leather man here in Sydney.
So, here we go. I've christened my perfect everyday bag (and I have been using it everyday. It is perfect) the Hisbag. "His" as in mine, not hers.
THE MISSING LINK – Shown here is where the shoulder strap and fixed hardware meet the bag via the permanently attached strap and loop. I chose a sturdy black patent leather the leather man recommended, to contrast against the body and match the shoulder strap. Trying to find a match to Etain togo would have been impossible, and somehow much more sacrilegious than going for a sporty/synthetic-looking black.
I WANT A DIVORCE – The shoulder strap is removable thanks to the clever Tooloop hardware. Rest in peace, little keychain. It's also adjustable (shown at bottom at shortest) and can be lengthened by another 20cm so it can be worn as a regular messenger bag cross-body or over one shoulder. No extra pieces are needed, as the Tooloop hardware's buckle style holds the strap tight.
DETACHMENT – The shoulder strap and strap and loop side-by-side.
THE HANDHELD – The bag body can be used as a hand-held sleeve/case/clutch when shoulder strap is removed. Note that it's stitched shut in an L-shape, preventing things from sliding out, and providing just enough resistance for my iPad to ease it's way in. It's essentially an open-top bag, but because it sits close to the body, and what I carry is very flat, it always stays shut.
SMOOSHY ENOUGH FOR YOU? – Ahhhhhh. Unfilled, the bag is as smooshy and bouncy as togo gets. I've used an amazing material called Sugru to cover the backside of the button/snaps inside the bag. So there is no fear of these buttons scratching phones, iPads etc.
EASY PEASEY! – With a Ulysse PM, phone, wallet, earphones. The bag fills out a little more, but still sits nice and close to my back when wearing it. It sits at the small of the back, and behaves like a good bike bag should (ie. it doesn't budge)
YOU'RE SO VEIN – Ta-da! Here he is holding an iPad, phone, wallet and one of my standard A5 flat notebooks. Super slick, no fuss. I'm more than happy.
AND, the best bit. Because the strap is removable, this is essentially a modular bag, much like the Herbag. My SA knows to alert me of just the right colours in the Ulysse GM, but he doesn't know that I won't be writing in them
ROUGE H FOR THE REGAL
BLEU HYDRA FOR THE BRAVE
And a modelling picture, why not.
Last edited:
I'm inspired by this! You have given me some ideas! I've never thought Ulysee GM can be used as a bag. It reminds a little like the Hermes Onimaitou albeit with different specifications. Plus, it's affordable too to make into many bags!
Super-creative!
Super-creative!
Resourceful, luv these DIY projects Did you line this?
Oooo, Now just find me a barenia GM, I can sew this and use my kelly strap
