White Buffalo Republic
“Anything that is complex is not useful and
anything that is useful is simple.”
Our bags are handmade in Guatemala. They are simple. They are rugged. They are useful. Our bags are not “Madison Avenue” or “Rodeo Drive” fashion items.
Our bags do not convert into backpacks. Why? See the quote above. They are built to carry your “things” and priced to leave money in your pocket. Buy our bag and real people will admire your style and your intelligence.
Our Purpose
White Buffalo Republic was created with the purpose to provide Guatemalan craftsmen with access to the global market. Through our model our craftsmen receive more compensation for their efforts than they would selling their goods to tourists or "fair trade" cooperatives.
My friends in Guatemala craft each of our bags, belts, and other items by hand. It takes one person a week to ten days to cut, dye, sew and finish a bag. We price our products according to cost of materials and the amount of time it takes to make each piece. Our primary purpose is to help our Guatemalan friends and family earn a fair living. Please show courtesy and respect to our craftsmen by not asking for any type of discount on your first purchase.
Simplicity, Usefulness, Quality, and Value
White Buffalo Republic bags are handcrafted to be unique, simple, and useful works of functional art. While the modern adventurer and explorer’s tools have changed over the years; the need to have a quality bag to carry "things" has never gone away.
Our bags are crafted by hand in Chiquimula, Guatemala and Gulan, Guatemala. Simplicity in design and creation are demonstrated in the way we dye, cut, assemble and stitch each bag. We use locally produced full-grain, vegetable tanned leather. Each hide is cleaned and dyed using natural oils and waxes to produce an attractive and durable finish. Every bag is hand stitched using the traditional double stitch method employed by saddle makers to produce an iron tough bond.
Our philosophy and operations are based on the “old fashioned” notions of attention to detail, pride in our product, and value for our customers. Our calling is not just to produce fine quality leather and canvas goods – we also strive to treat all with whom we deal fairly and honestly. We believe that these traits are the marks of true craftsmen.
Our Materials
All of our bags are made of full grain, high quality, natural veg tanned leather. Our canvas products are 100% cotton material. While each bag will fit the standardize size specifications noted in the description, not every bag will be exactly like the model shown in the picture. Your bag will be unique. Some bags come with brand marks, evidence of insect bites, or a myriad of other marks or scars that add character. (If you find yourself bored in a board meeting, you can let your mind ponder how that scar got there.)
The hardware on the bags is the best United States sourced stainless steel or nickel hardware available at the time.
ATTENTION UK, CANADA and E.U. BUYERS: You will be responsible for all customs, VAT, import duties, taxes, bribes, whatever it takes to get your item into your country. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS REQUIRED TO SHIP TO YOUR COUNTRY. To use a legal term, all sales are FOB Afton, Wyoming, USA.
If you would like to know more about White Buffalo Republic, or have special requests, please send us a message. We will be happy to provide you with more information, work out a custom order, or bore you to death with my crazy rants.