Sometimes you have no choice but to turn a hobby into your life's work, especially after he badly cripples himself by recklessly crashing that snowspeeder at the Battle of Hoth. From two Seatown peeps who decided doing what you love for a living is where it's AT(-AT), Swift Industries.
Conceived by a pair of "self-propelled travel" enthusiasts on a peddle-powered tour of the Olympic Peninsula, this CD-based co. turns out hyper-practical/customizable bicycle panniers and other two-wheel accessories, all handmade "from the very first snip to the very last bolt", a level of craftsmanship that even they have to admit is a little Usain. Properly accouter your bike with:
Roll Top Panniers: These wheel-mounted carryalls can be customized with a backpack conversion, upgraded mounting hardware, D-rings, etc., and are laced with standard options like a vinyl lining and reflective strips, several of which inspired the seminal paper, "Dancing My Way Through College: A Polemic".
Waxed Canvas Trunk: This leather-trimmed number straps to your saddle, boasts two external side pockets, and, on the main compartment, a telescoping extension that ensures your belongings don't do what you normally do on long bike rides: fall out.
Classical Field Pack: Held together with white contrast stitching/steel fasteners, these made-to-order roll top backpacks come in waxed canvas and boast padded straps/rear panels and're trimmed with natural brown leather, recently harvested from Downtown Julie's face.
In addition to their more hardcore products SI does accessories like a Mechanic's Tool Pouch lined with wrench-ready pockets, and a fanny pack constructed from pannier scraps that's cleverly designed (it boasts a built-in U-lock holster) and is so unconcerned with the laws of fashion wearing it'll make you seem like a Rogue 2.
Published: June 14, 2011 at 4:00am EDT