Frequently asked questions
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions. If you don’t find what you are looking for, don’t hesitate to ask me directly.
Customization
What type of customization do you offer?
You can get any customization you want! There are two general types of customization.
- You can use one of my builders. They offer a main bag in different sizes, styles and closure types. In the builder you can then add many handles, pockets and lanyards as well as state your fabric preferences
- You can get a custom-made bags which can be fully, partly or not at all based on the building parts of my builders
I am not sure what to choose, can you help me?
Of course! If you ever have any questions, doubts, concerns or are overwhelmed with all the options, don’t hesitate to reach out to me, I am more than happy to help you and offer some guidance (free of charge).
Can I have something that is not in the builder?
Sure! I can make any alterations you want. Check out the custom-made section for more details.
I want to build a bag but I have questions. When should I ask them?
You are always free to contact me throughout the entire process. It is usually best to ask early especially if you are unsure what type of bag and add-ons would be most suitable for you. The builders also have a comment section on the end where you can add questions specific for this particular bag.
I want a custom-made bag. What do I need to know for the inquiry?
It’s best if you already have a rough idea of what you want. You can check it by answering the these questions:
- What do you want to use it for?
- What do you want to put into the bag?
- What requirements should it fulfill?
- What type of customization are you interested in?
But no worries, even if you are unsure about all these questions, you can already contact me. I can help you with that.
Once I know the rough type, we can figure out all the details together, such as the exact dimensions, shape, pockets and handles.
You can also send me pictures of bags you like as a guide.
Do you copy bags?
If you have a bag that really works and would like a new version of it, I am happy to do that. Send me picture from the front, top and side as well as the dimensions and I will design a pattern with a similar shape. I don’t do exact copies of bags, though, and will only use the example as guide.
Thus, we can make any changes to the design you would like.
Shop & Purchase
What will be in the invoice?
The invoice will contain the following:
- all the details you have added in the builder (all pockets, handles, bag etc)
- all the fabrics we selected and for which parts they will be used for
- all prices for each part + shipping and, if applicable, any additional charges
Can I order more than one bag?
Of course! I would love to make more than one bag for you. If you order a set, you can get a discount as bags produced in sets are quicker to make. Let me know what amount you have in mind and I will send you an offer.
Can I change my order?
It can take some time to realize what you actually want. The process of bag making consists of several steps to ensure your wishes are met. You are free to change your order before you commission it by confirming the detailed invoice and paying the advance. Afterwards, when the bag goes into active production, changes will become far more difficult to do, resulting in additional charges. You can check out the Terms of Service for more information.
If you bought a ready-made bag, you can change the order until it is shipped.
Can I chancel my order?
I understand that sometimes you chance your mind or that it turns out to not be what you want. That is alright and you are free to cancel your order and inquiry at any point before paying the advance payment. From that point on, the bag will be in active production and I can still cancel the order but not reimburse your advance payment anymore.
When do I pay for the bag?
Whether you build a bag or want a custom-made bag, the point of payment is the same. You pay 15% of the total costs as advance payment before I start producing the bag and 85% before I send it to you. You can find more information on the process and the Terms of Service.
What types of payment do you accept?
This website is predominately for made to order bags. Therefore, the payment has been disabled at checkout and you will be asked to pay by receiving an invoice. Please use the information in the invoice to ensure your payment is processed correctly.
The bag I want is sold out. Can I still order it?
I can make you a bag with the exact same composition but I will have to check if I still have the same fabric available. If I don’t have enough left and I also cannot reorder it, I can look for similar fabrics as alternative.
Can I buy another bag with the same features?
I am happy to hear that you want to buy another bag! Adding the same features can easily be done if you send me the ID from your previous bag. While I cannot promise that I still have enough of the same fabric left, we can always look for a matching pattern.
Design & Prices
Are all bags made by you?
Yes! All bags that you order and/or see in the shop are designed and sewn by me (pocket frenzy). The same is true for all the bags in my gallery.
What is the quality of the bags?
All my bag are very high quality. I have spend countless hours improving my techniques and learning from tailors with training, courses and books, thereby accumulating substantial knowledge and skills in bagmaking. Furthermore, take great care with every single bag to make them neat, durable and robust to ensure that each bag is of great quality.
How are the prices calculated?
The prices include the following: material (fabric, interfacing, haberdashery, consumables, packaging), wage (design, guidance, production, logistics) and standing costs (location, equipment, tools, website). I have carefully stopped the time I need for production to give you a fair price for each part.
Why are your bags so expensive?
My bags are unique high-quality items specifically made for you in the Netherlands. I take a lot of care and and attention to design and sew the perfect bag for you. The prices are calculated from the material costs, production time and standing costs.
Do you also sell bags from your gallery?
If the bag is not available in the shop, then I no longer have it. But I still have the pattern of all my bags. You can check out the custom-made section for more information. Click on the picture of the bag in the gallery to enlarge it and see its Bag-ID. Then contact me with the bag ID and your fabric preferences and I will send you a proposal with the fabric suggestions and the estimated price.
Do you make bags in bulk?
So far, I have never made two bags with exactly the same features and fabrics, thus they are all unique and specifically made for you. If, however, you would like to have more than one copy of a bag, I’d be happy to do that. Making bags in bulk is faster so I can give you a discount.
Fabric selection
How does the fabric selection process work?
From my experience it worked best to first ask you for your preferences in colors and patterns and then provide you with suitable matching fabrics. Therefore, you first make a preselection (either in the builder or during the conversation with me) and then I will send you with a few options. If you want, I can send you more options.
After selecting the main fabric, I will send you pictures of possible fabric sets to choose from, for the contrast and lining of the bag. We will only finish the process when you are happy with the choices.
I am not happy with the offered fabrics. Can I have another one?
Of course! It’s very important to me that you are happy with the fabrics and patterns. Just let me know what colors and patterns you are looking for and I will check my collection. If we cannot find a matching one there, I will check online as we can always buy a new one specifically for you. Just be aware that I may need to charge you with the fabric shipping costs and if the new fabric is far more expensive than the default types included in the price.
I love the fabric of one of your bags. Do you still have the fabric?
Quite a few of my fabrics are from trips and fares, so, sadly I cannot find them again. Usually, I opt for buying small amounts of each fabric, and instead buy more different ones. Thus, there is only a limited amount of bags I can make out of each.
But chances are, I still have some left. I am always happy to check if you send me the Bag ID and offer possible options and/or alternative fabrics.
Can I send you a fabric?
Of course! I would be very happy to make a bag out of a fabric you provide. Please check the if your fabrics meets the requirement for the bag you have in mind. If it does not seem to be a match, reach out to me and we might find a work-around for it.
For small bags, (e.g. pouches) usually a flat quarter (50×50 cm) is enough of the feature fabric. For larger ones, especially shoppers I might need up to a meter (or yard) in length and width of the feature fabric.
Do you make waterproof bags?
Sort of! I can use laminated cotton fabric or other water resistant fabrics to create bags that will keep their contents dry. They will never be entirely waterproof, though, as I don’t have the equipment to seal the seams. However, the ones I made for myself have stayed dry throughout all the heavy rain showers I dragged them through.
Good water resistant fabrics are difficult to come by, thus my collection is limited and more expensive. We can buy a new one, just be aware that there will be an additional charge for the fabric shipping costs and the difference in price to the default fabric.
Do you also make leather bags?
Leather is a very different material than fabrics and thus needs special sewing machines and tools to work with it. Unfortunately, I currently do not own the required equipment to make leather bags.
Material (fabrics & co)
What type of fabrics do you use?
I use many different fabrics for my bags. You can read up on the composition in the fabrics guide. The main component of all of them is cotton. The heavy weight fabrics also include polyester (<35%) and possibly some polyacryl (<15%) for more durability.
Why are there heavy and light fabrics?
I offer several types of bags, each with their own distinct fabric requirements. To make it easier to find a suitable one, I categorized them into light/heavy weight fabrics with and without pattern. You can read in the fabric guide which one would be suitable for you.
Why do you use multiple fabrics for each bag?
Fabric choices are very important for the look, durability and usability of a bag. Outside, I combine a pattern with a plain contrast fabric to highlight the feature fabric while inside the bag I opt for light colors and subtle patterns to make finding things easier.
I use up to eight fabrics to make the bags, depending on their complexity. These fabrics are all matched to the main fabric and mostly plain colors.
Once we have selected the main fabrics, I will send you a proposal with suitable fabric combinations.
Where do the fabrics come from?
I currently have about 300 fabrics in stock in various sizes (fat squares to several meters). Most of them I bought in fabric stores and on fabric fares around the world. Currently most fabrics I own are from the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, Austria, India and Portugal.
Are the fabrics organic & fair trade?
Whenever possible I buy fabrics with an OEKO-TEX label. Unfortunately, fabrics are notoriously difficult to trace back to their source. They rarely have brand and even those only tell you where the fabrics were printed but that gives no information on the weaving process and origin of their material. As someone who buy my fabrics from shops who themselves buy them from somewhere else, it quickly becomes almost impossible to identify the fabric’s actual source. I try my best buy buying from reputable sources and check the quality of each fabric.
What type of zippers, flap closures, straps etc are used?
The zippers from the OPTI, the snap buttons are from Prym and all other haberdasheries are of similar quality. I have used my own handmade bags for over a decade and I have tested and proven the quality and durability of the components I use.
A surface of my handbag is not fully flat anymore. Why?
Stiffer bags, especially handbags, are made with heavy interfacing that is glued onto the backside of the fabric. With washing, movement and time, the interfacing might not sit as tightly on the fabric anymore. However, the interfacing is attached at the seams and will stay put regardless and thus not cause issues.
Process & Production
How is the process for build bags?
You can find the detailed step-by-step overview here. In short, you first select your main bag and then add the remaining parts in the corresponding builder. Afterwards, you send me the inquiry (by checking out without paying) and we select the fabrics together. You pay an advance, I make the bag, send you pictures and after you paid the full costs, I will send it to you.
How is the process for custom-made bags?
How is the process for ready-made bags?
This shop is primarily for made-to-order bags and it thus uses inquiries and invoices. When you check out with a ready-made bag, I will quickly send you an invoice. Once I have received the amount, I will send it to you.
Where and by who are the bags produced?
All bags are designed and made by me (pocket frenzy) in Groningen, the Netherlands.
How long does it take to make the bag?
My build and custom-made bags are highly customizable made to order projects. Therefore, they will require some discussion with you and possibly a design stage and ordering of new fabrics. Thus, it is difficult to give an exact time frame. You can find an estimate on the time frames for my steps in the process section.
Will I receive updates during the process?
Yes! To ensure that you are happy with the finished bag, I will send you an update and ask for your confirmation to proceed. Check here for the detailed information on the process.
Shipping & Returns
To which countries do you ship?
I am located in the Netherlands and ship predominantly to the European Union (see here). However, if you are located somewhere else, contact me and I´d be happy to find a solution.
What are the shipping costs?
You can find the shipping costs here.
Can I return the bag?
All the build and custom-made bags are made specifically for you and can thus not be returned (Terms of Service). If you ordered a ready-made bag from the shop and would like to return it within 14 days of receiving it, contact me and I will send you the details on the procedure.