We hit a wall.
No one likes to hit a wall but with new types of products and technologies there are costs and time associated with research and development that can reveal more costs and time associated with research and development. You get the point.
Our efforts to consistently produce Timbuk2-quality bags on RootPhi's small scale lamitron machine did not prove successful. Lucky for us, Rootphi is relentless in their pursuit to find a large scale solution for producing the Reclaim fabric to be used in all kinds of products.
On the bright side: Together, Rootphi and Timbuk2 have made great advancements with Reclaim™ making it closer to its inevitable commercial reality. What we can't tell you is when Lamitron will be available so from this point, you can stop holding your breath and saving your money.
Purchase wisely- your consumer dollar is your biggest weapon against mass produced, short-life, landfill-bound, crap ass bags.
Love,Timbuk2
We've teamed up with RootPhi to build bags that utilize a recyled fabric they're currently developing.
The recycled fabric, RootPhi calls Reclaim™, is made from Low and High-density polyethylene. LDPE & HDPE are the simple plastic ingredients found in the typical shopping bag that you'd find at your local grocery or shopping market. RootPhi has developed a machine that turns these bags into a very special fabric that has characteristics much like leather or vinyl.
Timbuk2 Lamitron Bags built with Reclaim™ are in the early development phase and we're working hard to test and get them to market.
Read the Cease and Desist Letter we received from Target
Read the Target Cease & Desist Letter
We recently received a cease and desist from our good friends at Target. Timbuk2 has been asked that we "cease use of TBI's Bullseye Design mark on your Lamitron bags." We are now going through the ridiculous process of identifying and removing any Lamitron bag that contains the Target logo. We'll keep you posted when we finally get through all this.
The good news is that our partnership with RootPhi (the guys who make the Lamitron fabric) has been finalized and they are in the process of setting up dual production machines in our San Francisco manufacturing facility. Progress ain't always pretty.
Read what the blogs are saying and see more lamitron bags
COOL HUNTING
A glipse of Rootphi cofounder Brian Witlin's concept for Reclaim™: "Rethinking recyclability to retain the intrinsic beauty of the first generation object." Photos of three Timbuk2 Lamitron Messenger Bags plus a closeup of a bag made with bubble wrap - make sure you click 'em to see larger images.
WIRED MAGAZINE
An interview with RootPhi Cofounder and President Doug Patt: "Interestingly San Francisco has just implemented a ban on plastic shopping bags...RootPhi and Timbuk2 feel it is the perfect time to roll out a product that surpasses expectations lawmakers had when they wrote the ban."
PSFK
A description of the process RootPhi uses to produce Reclaim™. Includes a visceral account of hand-feeding sheafs of plastic bags into and a steam-belching 467° machine. Photos of two Timbuk2 Lamitron Messenger Bags and a Lamitron Market Tote - make sure you click 'em to see larger images.
