Can you tell us how big the bag it is? If you could draw something familier like i-phone it would be easy to grasp the size. Thanks

Good to see you here! Let's make it happen.

I have heard that the first sample is about to arrive. How exciting!

but actually, the existing way of designing handbags in New York is very wasteful! Lots of samples are produced in China and shipped to NY. The designers, after seeing the real product in 3D, would make changes and a 2nd batch of samples are made. After 2 or 3 cycles like this, the bags are shown to the retailers. The retailers would ask for changes themselves, so another 2 to 3 cycles of samples again. Finally, the end products are mass produced.

I hope that by using cuusoo.com's innovative system, we the designers can work more directly with the end buyers. Minimizing the current wasteful process so that we can become more conserving and better for the environment.

Yup, I'm making a sample to be shipped to Tokyo in a couple of weeks... but actually, does everyone know how much waste are produced in a typical handbag design company in New York these days?

Typically, we designers would send our sketches to manufacturers in China, the number of designs depend on the amount of business we anticipate.  For example, we may send 50 sketches there, and they'll make 50 sample bags and FedEx them to us!

After seeing the samples, we make changes and send another batch of sketches to China for new samples to be made.  This process repeats 2 to 3 times.

The final samples are shown to retail buyers.  The buyers would request changes, and 1 or 2 more samples are made to make sure the final product is what the retailer wants.  Finally, a big shipment of thousands of bags are shipped to the retailers.

As you can see... the current design process is very wasteful!  I am hopeful that with the help of CUUSOO, we the designers can work closely and directly with the customers - ergo minimizing the amount of waste produced, making us all more responsible for our environment!

I'm very happy to be involved in this project!  Yes, let's make this happen together!

I have read your comment and was really shocked to know the scene behind. Not only the samples are wasted but the talent and energy of designers are wasted too! Thats bad!! If it is OK, I would like to buy the sample itself.
How ever it would be nice if you could change the way handle are sawn. I would like the handle to be hidden inside.
Not outside.

Hello !
I think the functions are great.
From the view point of appearance design, I would like the handle to be hidden inside,too.

I can send some idea sketches of handles to you.Please contanct to me.

Mirai_Seikatsu
miraiseikatsu.jp@gmail.com

I am so pleased to see that there are already five customers expressing their willingness to buy!

Queenibee has been talking with her manufacturer friends in Hong Kong, although she could get one sample bag made, these manufacturers will not produce small orders for her.  They are used to making 1000's of bags at a time.

So now, she has to find some small tailor shops that would take small orders.  These small shops will only handle sewing.  So Queenibee is going to purchase all the materials, bring the patents and materials to the tailor shops, and pay them in advance.

Also, it isn't easy to find small tailor shops that make handbags, most of them make custom suits and dresses as that's where the market is - more people want custom clothings than custom bags.

Hi cloneofsnake-san, Thank you for sharing your issues. It will be too much of a risk if a designer has to buy all the needed materials. Would redesigning the proposal work in this case? I mean start from cloth that Tailer use( readily available) ?
I am not sure if my hypo is valuable but thought it might be worth of giving a thought. I as future customer, would be happy if the bags were made of commonly available black nylon-like cloth. or even with cloth used for coats and suits.

Thanks for your suggestions Nishiyama-san, I'm still trying to find another way though...

One sample was made and its patents are cut and readied.  I could pick up the patents and go find the piece goods / linings (the materials) and then a tailor or small shops that would accept small orders.

Or, like you said, I could find a tailor that has other materials in stock, and just switch the materials.

However, switching materials may be a bad idea as it may not hold the weight of the bag.  I want my designs to look good. :)

For CUUSOO's system to really help me though, in the long run, I will only want to do the finding materials and small shops part once.  The shop owner should sign on with CUUSOO and then they can carry on producing this particular design at a set price when more orders come in through CUUSOO.com.  Right?  I'm also thinking, perhaps some manufacturers will want to act as the middle-man, sign on with CUUSOO.com, and outsource these smaller orders to other shops.  I'll ask my acquaintances and see what they think.

Good news! The first bag should be ready for pick up tomorrow!  The tailor is just waiting for another person who can punch the buttons onto the strap for her, that's it!

We've encountered quite a few problems, but the nice thing is we have quite a few people who showed interests and really trying to help out.  Almost the entire conversation is on our Google Group - http://groups.google.com/group/cuusoo-hk/browse_thread/thread/73cd645bf673060f

Have a look.