Teamwork: Visionary Bag Boys

Teamwork: A Creative Partnership

Teamwork Bags is powered by a dashing duo; Co-founders Nick Stockton, President and Nick Stygstra, VP not only share the same initials, but are united as friends and creative visionaries. A true team, the pair joined forces about five years ago when they embarked on what has become a successful and sustainable business offering high quality messenger bags and more, using predominately recycled materials.

"Nick and I wanted to do something [creative] and we had been talking about it for a number of years," Stygstra says. "We ended up getting a sailboat sail. It happened that we were heading down to the Renegade art and craft fair in Chicago. We had a few other projects and wanted to bring something else with us."

The acquisition of the used sailboat sail proved to be a serendipitous moment.

"Stockton had made a bag about 10 years ago. We were sitting around looking at that old bag he had made -- it was a total piece of crap," Stygstra says. "He had wanted a nice messenger bag and couldn't afford it."

The two Nicks came up with the idea to use the sail, and cobbled together about twelve bags, crafted on a home sewing machine. They displayed the bags with their other crafty items while in Chicago. "We ended up selling all but three of them," Stygstra says. "It enabled us to take that money we made and reinvest it. We bought an industrial sewing machine."

Natural entrepreneurs, Stockton and Stygstra stayed true to their ambitions from the outset. The purchase of the industrial sewing machine marked a commitment to their shared vision. They decided that they should "go all out," Stygstra says, "and have tried to maintain that attitude from the beginning and keep that momentum."

While the first prototype was modeled after Stockton's old homemade bag, following the initial wave of interest, the duo refined their designs and has since modified the materials used and have explored new lines of products.

Fashionably Sustainable

"We are really passionate about using used materials and keeping as much material or fabrics out of the landfills, (then re-crafting them into new products and giving them a second chance," Stygstra says. "Especially fabrics that have a little bit of history to them, a little bit of soul. It's really important to us."

In a unique approach to sustainability, the company aims not only to re-use materials, but to create a product that is long lasting. Each Teamwork Bag comes with a lifetime guarantee. Repairs are done for free and in the event that a bag or other product cannot be fixed, it will be replaced free of charge.
 
Stygstra emphasized that sometimes using 100% re-crafted materials in a product doesn't always translate into longevity.

"What's the point of recycling a material if it is just going to be dumped in a month? You have to look at the long term," said Stygstra. "We are not opposed to using a little bit of new materials incorporated into our bags to make a quality product."

But, when new elements are used, the pair strives to "keep it green if it's a new material, we take a look at where it's being produced."

One of the striking factors of Teamwork Bags is the thought that goes into every aspect of product creation and use.

Using re-fabricated billboards as an example, Stygstra explained that while it has become popular, "billboard is not really good bag material," because it tends to degrade. Instead of using old billboard as an outer, visual element, they tweaked the common application and use the material to line their bags to make them waterproof. Discarded bicycle inner tubes cover the bottom of bags to enhance durability and even old scuba diving wetsuits have a purpose. 

"All of the bags have a back pad to them. What we have been using is recycled thermal suits. It's really nice stuff, it feels great on your back," Stygstra says.

Community Connection

As Teamwork Bags has grown as a company, so has interest within Grand Rapids and farther flung cities. The online shop has garnered interest worldwide, with sales in places like Australia and Germany. Locally, a handful of big name organizations have taken notice and sought out their creative services.

"We have done some collaborative jobs. Like for ArtPrize, they approached us with a material. We took all the street banners (along with other items) and made them into a whole line of goods," Stygstra says.

Utilizing the materials presented to them, Stockton and Stygstra developed twelve different styles of bag and products, including a revamped cover for Moleskin notebooks that were leftover from 2009, allowing them to be sold during ArtPrize 2010.

"That's a good measure of how our brand is becoming successful. People approach us and understand we are a green company," Stygstra says. "We like doing jobs like that it also opens us up to different markets."

Other notable collaborations have included work with Whirlpool, where Stockton and Stygstra created a line of Teamwork Bags to be used in recruiting giveaways. The Art Institute of Chicago commissioned the pair to create products out of their 100-year anniversary banners. The end result was a stylized messenger bag and paintbrush rolls, among other items. The duo has also worked with the Humane Society.

"A lot of times, these companies really want to present to their customers an awareness (of the importance of a green approach). They have these extra materials and don't want to throw them away," Stygstra says.

Expansion and Pop-Up Shops

As Teamwork Bags flourishes, Nick Stockton and Nick Stygstra remain committed to their company philosophy.

"We definitely want to expand our product line and expose ourselves to new markets. Just like any company, we want to see our sales go up. But, at the same time, we want to keep our identity and we don't want to take it to a level like Patagonia this kind of faceless, nameless group of people," Stygstra says. "It is important to us that people know who is making their bags."

Constantly creative, the two partners have recently worked on pop-up shops, which allow the company to have an inviting, yet temporary storefront setting. Considering their pop-up shop during ArtPrize 2010, "you get a two-week store experience," Stygstra says. "It doesn't feel stagnant. It's something new for the community. In larger cities, you see pop-up shops all the time."

As for long term goals, Stygstra muses, "We want the company to grow, but we don't want to get bored just making bags. How do you keep things fresh for yourself and give back to the community?"

In a burgeoning, eco-conscious and art-centric city like Grand Rapids, Teamwork Bags epitomizes the confluence of sustainable growth and creativity. For a fresh look at what Teamwork Bags is up to, check out teamworkbags.com.


Audria Larsen, freelance writer for REVUE Magazine, is the  founder of Audacious Hoops hula hoop company, teaches Hoop Dance Fusion classes, heads the Atomic Hoop Troupe, performs with Super Happy Funtime Burlesque, is headmistress of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School Grand Rapids, produces Shimmy Shack Burlesque and is an occasional model. She also attends Aquinas College. 

Photos:

Nick Stygstra photographed at the Teamwork studio in the Tanglefoot Building

Nick Stockton

Nick Stygstra and Nick Stockton chat in the Teamwork showroom

Billfolds made from sails

Nick Stygstra with source material of reclaimed sails

Carolyn Schief sews a bag

Samples of bags

Photographs by Brian Kelly - All Rights Reserved