Why This Bag Is Made in Seattle
Thoughtfully designed. Proven to last. Made in Seattle since 2001.
Every Crystalyn Kae bag is designed and sewn in Seattle by a woman-led team, using rare reclaimed textiles chosen for durability and character. Made in small batches since 2001, these bags are built for real life — including the washing machine
What “Made in Seattle” means for the bag you're holding:
- Designed and sewn locally, with hands-on attention to detail
- Materials chosen and handled with care — not substituted or rushed
- Small-batch production so quality stays consistent
- Thoughtful design that works with real devices and daily use
- Built to last, not just look good for a season
Why Made in the USA matters
Keeping design and production local allows decisions to be made in real time, ensuring materials, fit, and construction are handled thoughtfully rather than standardized.
The Details Behind the Quality
The quality of a bag often comes down to decisions you never see. Different materials behave differently over time, especially reclaimed and vintage textiles, which means construction has to be adjusted thoughtfully rather than standardized.
Some fabrics require interfacing for structure, others need reinforcement or edge finishing to prevent wear. These choices are made during construction to ensure the bag holds its shape, functions comfortably, and doesn’t unravel, sag, or fail with daily use. It’s a slower, more hands-on process — but one that results in bags that are built to last.
Built with Specialized Tools for Long-Term Use
High-quality bags require specialized industrial equipment designed to handle thickness, reinforcement, and precision. Most bags require three to five different sewing machines and tools to construct properly, each built to perform a specific task consistently and accurately.
At Crystalyn Kae, we own and maintain this equipment ourselves — including specialized industrial machines originally used in local factories for brands like Eddie Bauer, Filson, Boeing, and JanSport. These tried-and-true tools were built for durability and daily production, making them well suited for creating bags that are meant to be used, repaired, and relied on for years.
Unique Materials
Making bags in the USA also allows for a more playful, intentional approach to materials. Some of the vintage and upcycled fabrics used in Crystalyn Kae bags come from trusted partners like FABSCRAP, while others are sourced through estate sales and flea markets during Crystalyn’s travels.
These reclaimed and surplus materials were originally produced for durability, making them especially well suited for long-lasting bags when used thoughtfully and intentionally.
Learn more about where we source our materials →
What makes our handcrafted purses durable?
Durability comes from understanding how different materials behave and adjusting construction accordingly. Each reclaimed fabric has its own structure and needs — some require interfacing, others reinforcement or edge finishing. These decisions are made by a trained, experienced team under Crystalyn’s direction, informed by her background in textiles, to ensure the bag holds its shape and won’t unravel, sag, or fail over time.
“American made” and our sustainability commitment
Producing bags domestically also reduces unnecessary transport and supports a more transparent, localized production process. For Crystalyn Kae, this approach has always been part of a long-standing commitment to thoughtful design, longevity, and responsible use of materials.
Shop our bags made in usa
Sky Arches Teal Green
Sky Arches Red Purple
Western Airlines Paisley Red
Western Airlines Paisley Blue Orange
Western Airlines Paisley Blue Gold
Egypt Air Orange Gold
Aerolinas Argentinas Green
I’ve been searching for a high-quality tote bag made in America for ages, and I struck gold with your site! I landed on this blog post and after reading I was sold. I just wanted to let you know that I just ordered a Metier Tote!! So excited to become a part of the Crystalyn Kae community! I can’t wait to receive my beautiful tote!
Thanks for sharing a bit about where you get your fabric from! Fabscrap sounds so interesting, and I’d love to learn more. The fabric you use is so beautiful and unique, but the fact that you only offer American manufactured bags is the icing on the cake! I need to share your brand with my sister. She’d absolutely love your all American vegan leather bags!
I was searching for an American made purse, and my friend recommended I check out Crystalyn Kae. I always love supporting a woman-owned business too! I purchased a hobo bag and was absolutely astounded by the amazing craftsmanship. It’s so rare to find such a high-quality bag with adjustable straps like this. It’s wonderful to be able to see a woman as dedicated as you! Your passion truly shines through in your work. You truly care about your customers, the environment, and designing high-quality bags. I’ll definitely be sharing this post to my friends!
Yes! reading this made me smile and nod along – I can totally relate to being a control freak! haha, It’s also important for me to personally oversee my own production! And as a creator myself I know the feeling – each fabric is indeed always a little different. I love that your priority is to create high-quality and durable bags and as a long-time customer of Crystalyn Kae bags, I can sure say that my Hobo bag has seen it all and still looks and feels fabulous! Zipper works perfectly and nothing has unraveled or fallen apart! Thank you for sharing your passion with us!
Amazing, I love how much you pay attention to details and added that American manufactured for you means that everything will be produced to high standards of quality to maintain its specific designs.
It’s also very inspiring to read, how your goal is to produce quality handbags from unique fabrics and you’re even adding love to your bags! How cute!
Sustainability has always been very important to me and I’m so glad our values match! I already have my eye on few limited-edition bags from vintage fabrics and I will definitely make my order soon!
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