Ethnotek Backpacks: The Company Preserving Traditional Textile Culture

I’m about to meet the founders of Ethnotek.

We’re approaching the entrance a little cafe just outside central Ubud when I see a distinctive backpack attached to a woman on a scooter. That’s how I know it’s Cori.

She turns, spots the matching backpack slung over my shoulder, and breaks into a wide smile.

“Flora! Hi!!”

Like a magician, Cori pulls four more Ethnotek bags from the trunk of her scooter and leads us upstairs. Her husband Jake arrives moments later, and together we put the world to rights over brunch and smoothies in the middle of Bali.

This is what happens when you follow a brand for years and finally get the chance to meet them.

What is Ethnotek all about?

Cori and Jake Orak are the founders of Ethnotek Backpacks, a socially responsible company making travel backpacks, camera bags, laptop cases and accessories.

But Ethnotek aren’t just any backpack company. There’s a whole lot more to their story. 

In 2007, Jake was travelling around Vietnam by motorbike and kept noticing local artisans producing handmade textiles. He’d already worked as a bag designer for a large company that used mass-produced fabric – and he realised that Vietnam’s small-scale artisans could soon be destined to go out of business.

Luckily, those same artisans inspired him to think that:

“Integrating handmade ethnic textiles into high-quality functional bags could be a great way to bring stable income to artisan communities, with the intention of empowering the artisan communities to revive and sustain their craft as a result.”

Ethnotek began pretty quickly after that. Jake and his wife Cori’s travels became backpack-focused; orientated around finding villages they could potentially work with. By asking questions, visiting shops, meeting families and forming relationships with artisans before eventually offering to set up a working partnership, they established a network of artisan villages around the world.

They currently source textiles from artisan villages in five countries – India, Ghana, Vietnam, Indonesia and Guatemala.

Crucially, Ethnotek doesn’t dictate what textiles their partner villages will make. In fact, it’s the opposite, and the textiles featured on Ethnotek bags are chosen by the artisans themselves: their favourite patterns, or their most traditional.

In India, men work at pit looms to produce geometric patterns of embroidery. In Ghana, they use block prints with carved Ghanian motifs to decorate batik fabric. The women from a small mountain town in Guatemala carefully stretch cotton yarn over a wooden frame and knot it intricately before dying then finally weaving it on a handloom.

The Indonesians decorate batik dyed cotton with patterns derived from both classic East Asian architecture and from the weaving style used for roofs, walls and the floor mats rolled out in warungs across the country for people to sit on and eat together at night.

And in Vietnam, the Hmong women who live up in the Hoàng Liên Son mountains embroider pieces of linen with countless types of stitches in bright colours. They create an array of symbols and motifs from everyday life, all of which come together to tell the maker’s personal story.

Yet despite these methods passing down through generations, the textile traditions of these independent craftsmen and craftswomen are in danger of dying out.

Thanks to the speed and ease of creating machine-made products in factories on a mass scale, there is now much less demand for handmade fabrics, and there’s very little impetus to pass these skills on to future generations.

No matter how beautiful or historical these traditional textiles might be.

‘Threads’: introducing Ethnotek’s sustainability model

Ethnotek is a socially conscious business with a sustainable mission. They want to preserve these traditional crafts and support their artisan creators without being wasteful – which is how Jake came up with his self-described ‘eureka’ idea.

‘Threads’ are inter-changeable panels attached via velcro and buckles to the front of an Ethnotek Raja pack. They allow a customer to purchase just one backpack and then collect as many Threads as they’d like, changing the appearance of their pack each time. This keeps up demand for the handmade fabrics but minimises any negative impact – plus it becomes much easier to support more artisans, as people are more likely to buy a second Thread at half the cost of the backpacks they’re made for.

The rest of Ethnotek’s bags all feature handmade textiles too: they’re just not removable. The Premji, Anju and Atma day packs are constructed using 600-denier nylon made from recycled plastic bottles (which lasts a lifetime and is water resistant), while the rest (including the Raja) feature 840-denier ballistic black nylon.

Moreover, all of Ethnotek’s bags and backpacks are made in Vietnam, where Jake and Cori lived for eight years, at a workshop operated by their close friend Ai. This one location houses everything – design, prototyping, material management, moulding, stamping, cutting, sewing and fulfilment – making the entire Ethnotek process very low impact and sustainable.

Are you wondering where my connection to Ethnotek comes from?

Way back in 2012, I read an article written by my blogger friend Naomi. She’d started travelling with an Ethnotek Raja pack and was absolutely in love with it – and once I started looking at Ethnotek’s website I immediately started coveting one too.

But I can be a bit of a procrastinator. Despite checking in with the company periodically over the next few years, it slipped to the back of my mind until another blogger friend shared an Ethnotek Kickstarter campaign on Facebook, and I realised she’d become firm friends with Cori in Ubud.

After my cries of ‘It’s such a small world!” had subsided, I decided it was the perfect time to commit to my long-term intrigue about Ethnotek. I backed their campaign for the new Premji Pack – and I’m so glad I did.

Why I love the Ethnotek Premji Pack

From the moment it arrived, this backpack quickly segued into becoming my favourite everyday bag. It’s comfortable, functional, and has the most stunning design (I chose the brightly coloured geometric Vietnam 6 print).

The Premji has a 20 litre capacity but is still a pretty slim size, which means I don’t pack it too full and I save my shoulders some strain. At home, it easily holds my stuff on a daily basis – but I’ve also managed to cram all my flight carry-on into this backpack too (laptop, camera, kindle and plane snacks) which allowed it to become my travel daypack too.

And who would’ve thought those loops would make a perfect storage spot for gifted cigars from Cuban farmers?

The best part is its vast collection of pockets and zipped sections – as a diehard compartmentaliser who adores knowing that everything in a bag has its rightful home, this many pockets is essentially my dream!

My favourite features of the Premji Pack: 

• 20 litre capacity
• Stretchy mesh pocket on one side for water bottles
• Slip pocket on other side for quick-grab items
• Top zippered pocket (I store my wallet, keys and phone in here)
• Double side straps to hold items like yoga mats, tripods and hiking poles (or rolled up clothes when you over-prepare for the weather, like I often do)
• Front zippered section with multiple organiser pockets (good for pens, notebooks and general bag paraphernalia)
• Laptop divider inside main compartment
• Padded back panel
• Hidden zippered access to main compartment via the back panel
• So many loops and buckles to attach things to!
• Reflective webbing strips for visibility in poorly lit conditions

The Ethnotek Premji Pack costs $109 online. If you use the code ‘FLORA10’ you’ll get 10% off!

Becoming an Ethnotek ambassador

Pretty soon after I realised my love for the Premji Pack, I got in touch with Cori and Jake via email and asked to be part of their Ambassador programme.

In exchange for promising to write about Ethnotek and post on social media, Cori sent out a couple of bags for me to use. And so my Ethnotek collection began to grow.

For the last year, I’ve been trialling Ethnotek’s Raja Pack and the Cyclo Sling in a variety of situations: from London life to international travel, and from hiking trips to music festivals.

They’re both fantastic bags for different reasons – so I thought I’d share my experiences and thoughts about each.

Trialling the Raja 46 litre backpack

I first trialled the Raja backpack on a summer trip to Milan (hence the Italian-esque photos). It acted as my main pack for a few days – which meant filling it with a few outfits, a pair of shoes, toiletries, plus my laptop, camera, book, wallet, passport, water bottle and a few other bits and pieces.

First up, space. It seems like this pack has a never-ending amount of room, mainly because the roll-top opening effectively allows the bag to expand.

The Raja also has organisation in mind, despite having a hefty capacity of either 30 litres or 46 litres. There’s a zipped pocket inside the main compartment; a zippered pocket on one side of the bag with a slip pocket on top of it; and even a zippered pocket inside the Thread itself.

The padded back panel zips open to an insulated space for your laptop, so you avoid rummaging through all your stuff in the main compartment (this is a dream for security check at airports!). There’s also access to the bottom of the main compartment via a zipper on the left side of the bag.

My favourite features of the Raja Pack:

• Interchangeable Thread which attaches to front panel
• Large roll top opening
• Floating inner pocket in main compartment for valuables
• Mesh pocket on left for water bottle (this side also zips open to access the main compartment)
• Slip pocket on right, with a zipped lined pocket for your phone, wallet, keys etc
• Insulated computer pouch which keeps computer suspended from the ground. Accessed via a separate zipper
• Padded back panel with air mesh
• Padded shoulder straps with cross chest buckles
• Made from durable water resistant material made from recycled plastic bottles

Other uses for the Raja Pack

Although I’m not a rock climber/skateboarder/particularly good yogi, I’ve heard rave reviews for the Raja from many people who practice these hobbies. Because the Thread is fastened to the main pack with velcro and buckles, it’s possible to insert a skateboard across the bag’s front and hold it in place with the Thread. For climbers, the 46l is big enough to fit all your gear, from helmet to ropes to harness, and the wide opening makes it easy to access everything.

As for yoga lovers, the side buckles can easily hold a yoga mat – and the same goes for camera tripods, tent poles, sleeping mats… Basically anything you can think of!

My issues with the Raja Pack

I was a bit too eager for the Raja’s first outing in Italy, and I overloaded the pack to the extent that I quickly felt the strain on my shoulders. This backpack doesn’t have a hip belt, so it’s not advised to carry too much weight – although Cori and Jake have recently released a detachable hip belt which slots through the back panel for just $20, so once I get one of these I’ll be using the Raja a lot more!

Also (as you can probably see from these photos), I was carrying the Raja way too low on my back. Once I tightened the straps it felt more comfortable.

Prices for the Ethnotek Raja Pack range from $189 to $199 online. If you use the code ‘FLORA10’ you’ll get 10% off!

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A review of the Ethnotek Cyclo travel sling

Ever since I made the switch to using backpacks in everyday life, I haven’t really used a cross-body bag – but the Ethnotek Cyclo Sling is a game changer. It’s the perfect bag for when I want to be handsfree, yet secure. 

This bag has a capacity of 11 litres but the ingenious design means tons of possibilities for how to store your stuff. There’s a main compartment which rolls open and closed for maximum capacity; two organiser pockets inside the main compartment; hidden zipper pockets on either side of the bag – one which is an alternative access point to the main compartment, and one for storing small objects; and a padded back panel with its own zipped pocket lined with soft fabric, perfect for your phone, passport or anything breakable like sunglasses.

The main area is big enough to comfortably hold a book, jumper, wallet, phone, keys, and passport – basically all the things I carry on-board for a flight. The strap is made of seatbelt-style material and snaps shut with a buckle. The outer material is cotton but it’s lined with a shiny nylon fabric so effectively repels water – and it’s an off-white colour so you can see easily inside.

But the Cyclo Sling’s best feature is its versatility. By varying the length of the strap, it can be worn as a cross-body bag, a shoulder bag or around the waist as a bum bag (ok, a ‘fanny pack’ for the Americans amongst us). I’ve tried all three methods, and now I usually either hang it on my shoulder or sling it cross-body. Being able to quickly move it around from my back to my front is great too.

My favourite features of the Cyclo Sling:

• Roll-top access to main compartment
• Organiser pockets inside main compartment containing a document slot, two stretch-mesh pockets and a pen slot
• Hidden zippered access pocket to main compartment on right side
• Zippered pocket on left side for tissues, lip balm etc
• Secure zippered lined pocket inside the padded air-mesh back panel
• Adjustable strap to convert from cross-body bag to waist bag

Other uses for the Cyclo Sling

The Cyclo Sling is great for active travelling, especially hiking and cycling. It’s the perfect bag for festivals, too: just the right size to store your essentials, easy to put on your back and forget you’re wearing it, but equally easy to swing around to your front if you’re a bit worried about getting pick pocketed.

My issues with the Cyclo Sling

The main downside for me is due to being female. The strap across my chest always seems to fall between my boobs with the buckle squarely in the centre, and it’s not too comfortable. If the bag isn’t too heavy it’s not much of a problem – but as we’ve learnt, I carry a lot in my bags!

As an obsessive water-drinker it’s a shame there isn’t an obvious way to attach a water bottle to the bag. Luckily I’ve developed a hack: rolling up the bag’s opening and placing the bottle there, before clipping the buckle over it and tightening the strap. Works like a charm!

The Ethnotek Cyclo Travel Sling costs $69 online. If you use the code ‘FLORA10’ you’ll get 10% off!

My favourite part about Ethnotek as a whole? Its inclusivity

There’s an adventurous spirit clearly running throughout the community who buy these bags – but then what would you expect when the company is founded by two perpetual travellers?

Instead of calling their client base as ‘customers’, Jake and Cori refer to them fondly as ‘tribe members’, encouraging them to share photos of their packs online with the hashtag #ETKTribe. They jump at the chance to meet tribe members around the world: as soon as I posted my first Bali photo on Instagram, Cori commented with, “You’re here on my island?! When can I see you??”

It’s also handy that Ethnotek bags are so instantly recognisable. They’ve heard stories of travellers making friends because they both carry the backpacks; and on one of their trips back to Vietnam, Cori ran after a tribe member (who she was due to meet for the first time a few days later) when she spotted his Ethnotek pack walking down the street!

The next step, Jake says, is to bridge the gap between Ethnotek customers and artisans. Visiting the villages where these fabrics are made to learn about their cultures directly would be an adventure in itself; one that has already tempted me.

It’s so easy to buy a mass-produced backpack with no story behind it. Ethnotek is different.

Nowadays, many travellers are looking for something different in the gear they carry. Their priorities lie in socially responsible, ethically sourced products which have a focus on cultural preservation when possible.

Ethnotek operate a very simple model. Selling bags creates work for artisans around the world: work which provides income and preservation of craft and culture. 

I’m fascinated by the transparency of Cori and Jake’s company. When I pick up my Premji bag every day, I’m continually reminded that there’s an accessible story behind it – one I can trace from conception to production, thanks to Ethnotek. And hopefully one day I can carry it all the way into the mountains of Vietnam and meet the women who cultivated, wove, dyed, sewed, batiked and embroidered the fabric completely by hand.

That’s why I became part of the Ethnotek tribe. And I’m so glad I did.

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[this giveaway is now closed]

Win your own Ethnotek Premji backpack!

Are you feeling inspired to carry an Ethnotek backpack? If so, you’re in luck!

In celebration of all things cultural, I have one gorgeous Ethnotek Premji backpack to give away, patterned with an India 8 design and retailing at $99.

This giveaway will run from December 6th to 16th and is open internationally. I’ll contact the winner on Monday 17th, but if I don’t hear from them within a week then I’ll draw another person’s name.

I’d love this pack to make its way to a good home, so to be in with a chance of winning just write a comment on this article telling me why the Premji Pack is right for you, and what adventures you’re planning to take with it! After that, you can click the ‘blog post comment’ button below and you’ll be entered.

There’s also a few other ways you can increase your chances of winning (including signing up to my email list because I’m soon to launch a NEWSLETTER! It’s been a long time coming). I know these contests can be a bit annoying, but if you’re really keen to have an Ethnotek backpack of your own then following some social channels shouldn’t be too much trouble.

Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: some of the bags in this article were gifted to me by Ethnotek – but hopefully you can tell that my love for this brand is completely genuine!