Locally Made. Globally Admired.

American Made

WaterField Designs is a San Francisco original. We have been designing and manufacturing bags and cases in our own backyard from the start. This lets us turn prototypes to production very quickly and ensure products are made just right.

Handmade canvas and leather bag on a metal workbench in a San Francisco workshop

Personalized Production

No mass production at our humble workshop. We personalize the production process, producing in small batches to deliver products you’ve ordered. This helps us reduce waste and lets us focus on delivering quality products.

Artisan workshop with team members assembling bags under a large American flag in a sunlit factory space

Top Grade Materials

We use top grade materials to create your bags and cases. We cut from sturdy ballistic nylon, durable waxed canvas, and premium full grain leather. We use the more expensive self-locking zippers that don’t break easily, strong D-rings, and oversized magnets to keep flaps in place.

Close-up of premium full grain leather sheets used for crafting high-quality bags

Uncluttered Design

We cut out the clutter with simple and focused design. We are mindful of how bags hang on your body, how cases protect your devices, making them lightweight and easily accessible.

Our bags are both stylish and functional for today’s digital world. Many have two padded compartments for a laptop and tablet, and easy-access pockets for phones now used as wallets and door keys. The bags leave a positive first impression.

Man in a blue suit wearing a sleek black backpack with a minimalist design in an urban setting

Community Engagement

With so many choices, we always appreciate when you choose us. We’re hard to find — no advertising, no retail shop, no gaming the search engines. Yet, people track us down — mostly from recommendations by people they trust. They mention quality, customer service, and distinctive design. We like it when customers spread the word and help set us apart. See Community Reviews.

Customers also participate in our Community Design projects where they provide input from design to production. Together we develop products that incorporate features that are useful in their daily routines.

Logo of The Air Porter featuring a person with headset inside an airplane window illustration, with the text: 'Design it with us.'

Products for your Lifestyle

We make products to meet specific needs, not to create a lifestyle. If our products fit your lifestyle, we’re happy.

Our bags fit in both professional and leisure environments and they are built to last. They can withstand the rigors of travel, commuting, or just hanging around.

Man carrying the same duffel bag in two settings: one in athletic wear, and one in business attire, highlighting versatility for different lifestyles

Meet Gary

You won’t find corporate intrigue, shareholder revolt, or venture capital drama at our modest headquarters. Instead you will find pot-luck lunches, group outings, and the occasional employee celebration.

Gary Waterfield started the company in 1998 with these principles which still guide us today:

  • Make products you can be proud of
  • Treat people with respect
  • Exercise kindness—we’re all human

Aside from leading the design process, Gary often jumps in to answer customer e-mails, sharpen the leather splitter, or fix the copy machine.

Now you know our story, and we hope to know yours. Reach us at HeyGary@SFbags.com and let us know how we can help you.

Gary Waterfield smiling in his workshop, leaning on a sewing machine table surrounded by shelves, boxes, and leather bags