Inside The Factory: Winter 2025 Update

Maia Hamilton
2025-01-31T13:59:39-08:00

New Pricing Effective February 11th

Starting February 11th, we’ll be updating our prices by an average of 1-2%. This change will help support increases in costs at our Seattle factory. Since our founding, we’ve been dedicated to sourcing the highest quality materials, crafting products with an unwavering focus on durability, and proudly offering a lifetime guarantee on all our items. We remain fully committed to upholding these values.

420d Spectron Has Launched!

Kicking off the new year, we introduced a brand-new ripstop exterior fabric: 420d Spectron. We’ve also launched our first Spectron capsule collection for pre-order (available now through February 10th)!

This fabric has been nearly two years in development, with every detail—from the exact shade of black to the charcoal-dyed ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) thread—fully custom-designed, making it truly one of a kind.

That level of customization meant taking a leap of faith. When we committed to ordering the fabric, there was no sample to see—just our vision, Pantone codes, and old swatches of Black 400d Halcyon as a guide. Typically, textile mills provide fabric books with samples to choose from, but Spectron was something entirely new—it didn’t exist in a fabric book. The first time we saw the final product was after it had been fully produced.

Spectron shares many similarities with its predecessor, 400d Halcyon—lightweight, flexible, and resistant to pet hair—but many of you have already noticed a key difference: a diagonal ripstop pattern, something 400d Halcyon didn't have. We specifically chose to add this extra ripstop because we love how it looks on 200d Halcyon, and it provides an added layer of resistance. While this slightly increases the fabric’s base weight and adds an extra step in the weaving process, we think the tradeoff is well worth it for both long-term durability and aesthetics.

As for the color choice, we launched Spectron in Black with Charcoal grid because it was by far the most popular color for 400d Halcyon—nothing else (undyed white grid Original Halcyon, Taiga, Nightwalk, Nordic) even came close. Given the large dye lot commitment, we had to start with just one color. But who knows what the future holds? We’re always experimenting and may introduce a second color down the line.

Coming Soon

Guide’s Edition Synik 30 Restock & More?

More Guide’s Edition Synik 30s are on the way!

Unlike our standard iteration, the Guide’s Edition features a totally different set of sub-components—Coyote trim, Coyote zippers, Coyote webbing, Coyote mesh, Coyote piping, Coyote buckles—basically, all the Coyote goodness, so bringing back the Guide’s Edition line requires a significant upfront investment, but we’re committed to making it happen.

We’re also exploring the possibility of expanding the Guide’s Edition program. A Synik 26? A revamped Founder’s Briefcase? We’d love to hear what you think!

Spectron Second Capsule Collection

We’ve selected the next set of bags for our Spectron collection, with a focus on everyday crossbody bags. More details to come after the first pre-order wraps up.

A Larger Nomad Tote Is Coming

A bigger Nomad Tote is in the works! It offers more capacity than the original and incorporates a highly requested design feature (stay tuned for details). The pattern is finalized, and the final sample is in progress. We’ll be sharing more soon!

Smart Alec 2.0: In Development

We’ve been experimenting with a Smart Alec 2.0. A few years ago, we teased the idea of an updated version with a breathable back panel, a dedicated laptop pocket, and maybe even a luggage pass-through. Now, we’re bringing those ideas to life. Our team is actively iterating and refining samples, and working through how to eliminate a few key stress points with the Production crew, you can learn about our designer Jose's process over on the forum. Once we finalize the details, we’ll have more to share about a potential debut date.

More Colors!

Our winter colors, Cerise and Sitka, were wickedly popular! We’re still working on incorporating Cerise into several fan favorites—Synik 30, Synik 26, Synapse 25, Techonaut 30, Techonaut 45, Swift, and more. Sitka, while appearing in a few of these bestsellers, won’t be around for too much longer. The Synik 26 in Spectron/Sitka has been our most ordered colorway so far in the Spectron pre-order, and we expect Sitka to be fully committed to production after the pre-order ends.

Our spring 200d Halcyon colors are on their way from Japan: Tidal and Wisteria!

We’ve also selected our summer limited edition colors! Not too many hints that we can share at this time, but if you’re interested in how we’ve curated our fully custom color palette, check out this past blog.

Projects in Development

New Minimalist Wallet in the Works

We retired all versions of Nik’s Minimalist Wallet due to durability concerns with the previous design. But the good news? We’re working on a new wallet that stays true to the minimalist approach with a few thoughtful updates. We’re currently testing designs, and we’re taking our time to ensure the final version meets our standards.

Laptop Caches are Returning

Back in September 2024, we mentioned that we were temporarily phasing out caches due to our previous foam supplier shutting down. Finding a replacement supplier was tricky, our cache foam is a unique, densely laminated material that is protective, cushioned, yet incredibly lightweight. We’re excited to share that we’re working through a solution. We’re also using this opportunity to revamp our sizing options to better align with the most current laptop models.

Questions, thoughts, or just want to let us know you enjoy these types of blogs? Drop a comment down below!