Rickshaw Bagworks- Interview with founder Mark Dwight (formerly of Timbuk2)
25. Jan, 2010 
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“I go for elegance and simplicity in design.”
–Mark Dwight, Founder and CEO of Rickshaw BagworksPodcast: Play in new window | Download
Click on the PLAY button to hear the podcast interview with Mark Dwight. He explains how and why he started his company Rickshaw Bagworks including history of the messenger bag and sustainable business practices in bag manufactering.
Be at the height of cycle chic with this fab Mini-ZERO messenger bag. As the smallest of the ZERO collection this feels more like a purse than a messenger bag. You will love it! It's PERFECT for the bike. The ZERO also comes in small, meduim and large. Depending on the size you choose, the prices are between $40 and $85 -and it's worth every penny!
Listen to our Podcast: Interview with Mark Dwight.
Rickshaw is a new bag company in the city of San Francisco, where people ardently love their bikes and they seriously love their messenger bags. Mark Dwight, the bike-commuting owner and CEO of Rickshaw Bagworks understands those passions because he feels the same way:
“I really love making bags. I love bags as a product, love the way people love their bags”
And as much as he enjoys his work at Rickshaw Bagworks, he loves the way this company allows him to engage in other work he feels strongly about:
“I also love the way running a company like this became a platform for engaging in the community. I am on the board Chamber of Commerce; I support a couple of local philanthropic endeavors like the San Francisco Bike Coalition, and a homeless youth program in the Mission district (At the Crossroads: Street Youth Support). It became a platform for me to be involved in things beyond work.”
The balance of loving what you do and being able to go beyond what’s expected and do more is part of the mantra for Rickshaw.
We loved this backpack and so did everyone else! It was so popular that it is sold out until March of 2010. It is beautifully structured and sits so well while riding your bike. It is a commuter or college student's dream! You can fit all you need in here without feeling like a moving van riding down the street. Price about $200. "London Plaid" design.
Sustainability from Start to Finish
Previously, Mark Dwight was the CEO of Timbuk2. While at Timbuk2, he got involved with the TED conference which focuses on discussions of social and environmental issues. It was at the TED conference 2005 that he met William McDonough, author of Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. The book is a manifesto of sustainable design and although William McDonough comes at it from the world of architecture, Mark finds it very applicable to products. He thought long and hard about what “sustainable” means for Rickshaw Bagworks. What would the bags be made of and in the end, what would happen to them later? Some of the fabrics used are from recycled or repurposed fabrics. He also uses local sources for his raw materials to reduce his company’s entire carbon footprint. The small messenger bags are named “ZERO” because the zero-waste manufacturing concepts are part of its entire design: no manufacturing waste because the bag can be made from one rectangular piece of fabric and the entire bag could be recycled again to make a product like carpet.
Mark will continue to focus on sustainability at Rickshaw Bagworks. At present, he has started on a 10-day bicycle ride (raising money along the way for “At the Crossroads”) to Long Beach, CA. for the “4-day dose of inspiration” he receives from the TED Conference. Look for that inspiration to work its way into the future of Rickshaw Bagworks.
At $25 the Pipsqueak will adorn your bike with the perfect handlebar bag. You can fit all of your essentials (cell phone, wallet, patch kit and don't forget your lipgloss) and know that they will be secure in this great bag.
Made to Order
When you order a bag from Rickshaw Bagworks, you can have it custom-made. There are a wide variety of fabrics from tweed to floral to high performance waterproof sailcloth to choose from. If you prefer, you can even bring in your own fabric to Rickshaw Bagworks to give the exterior of your bag a fully unique touch. Check out their products on their website to see all the features they offer which vary from product to product.
Skinny Commuter Bag Design; Blanc et Noir, includes a padded laptop sleeve –fits 13-inch laptop ($160). We really loved this bag! It looks great and is a great size - style is the message that comes through with the Skinny Commuter.
These beautiful bicycles were provided by and can be purchased at Bingham Cyclery
love that Mini-Zero, way cute!
Great podcast! I really liked hearing what Mark had to said. He’s a mogul not only in technology but also in really cool messenger bags.
That is the cutest bag!!! I would love to use it on my bike!! They have the coolest bags!!!
Wow, a bag that does and says it all! Thank you.
Very cool bag. . . and cute to top it all off!