September 10, 2025
Established in 1998 by Gary Waterfield, WaterField Designs is an innovative company that makes bags and cases in San Francisco. Gary’s guiding principles, which have led him to the success WaterField Designs celebrates and still hold true today, are:
- Make products you can be proud of
- Treat people with respect
- Exercise kindness—we’re all human
In a world of mass production, WaterField Designs stands apart. From a modest workshop, it crafts bags in small batches—prioritizing quality, sustainability, and thoughtful design where the highest quality materials meet meticulous construction and features that support a modern lifestyle. WaterField Designs bags and cases are crafted to fit seamlessly into both work and leisure, providing long-lasting years of enjoyment.
“We truly enjoy collaborating with the team at Waterfield Designs,” said Jonathan Mersereau, Sales Manager, X-Pac®, Dimension-Polyant. “Their distinctive attention to detail is evident throughout their process — from intentional design to thoughtful material selection. The way they blend elements like premium leather with our X-Pac® X11 Cotton Fabrics and VX21 materials results in refined, functional gear that enhances the way people carry every day. It’s always exciting to work with partners who share a hands-on, production-driven mindset – it sparks fresh ideas and meaningful innovations.”
Amyel Oliveros, WaterField Designs Chief Creative Officer, was kind to answer a few questions for us to learn more about the company, what makes it so unique, and how it incorporates our X-Pac® fabrics into its products.
What is your position with WaterField Designs and when did you join the company?
I am the Chief Creative Officer at WaterField Designs. I started as an intern about 10 years ago. My first design was the Staad Backpack, Waterfield’s first backpack, and I got hooked after that.
What do you think makes WaterField Designs so unique?
WaterField is unique in that all the teams – Design, Production, Marketing and Fulfillment – work under the same roof. There are so many benefits to our structure, but a few examples that really stand out to me are:
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- The design team works side-by-side with the production team which presents new design opportunities, better ways of making the products more durable, and a shared knowledge in the craft that makes every bag better – down to every stitch.
- Customer service works with the design team to address issues and opportunities head on. Customer input gives us new ideas, and their feedback actually addresses their needs instead of just being gimmicky or novel.
Who would you say is your primary customer?
Professionals such as techies, C-suite level executives, lawyers, doctors, and professionals who travel a lot.
How did WaterField Designs come across Dimension-Polyant’s X-Pac® fabrics?
We came across X-Pac® fabrics through other companies using the material and noted the favorable remarks about it. We also were fortunate to have a visit from Jonathan Mersereau with Dimension-Polyant/X-Pac® who showed us some samples he thought would align with our design aesthetics.
Is there a specific WaterField Designs bag collection best suited for X-Pac®?
We started using the X-Pac® VX21 for our X-Air Travel Duffel because the duffel is designed to maximize the allowable carry-on size. The X-Pac® VX21 is very durable and light, which made it the most appropriate for this bag. We then began working with X-Pac® X11 because it married classic, heritage canvas with the durability and lightness X-Pac® textiles are known for. We featured X-Pac® X11 in the design of a bag line inspired by the transit system in Japan. One of these bags is the Shinjuku Messenger, which I designed for my honeymoon in Japan. I wanted it to be light, accessible, but also look classy. Our collaboration with X-Pac® helped us achieve this!
It seems like San Francisco is a popular spot for bag manufacturing. Can you share why this might be?
I think San Francisco has a lot of bag companies because it’s such a center for innovation. Techies, dreamers, and designers are everywhere in San Francisco because it’s a good place to try out new ideas; people are open to it. And unlike NYC, where the fashion industry is the key player, San Francisco bag companies focus a lot more on specific use cases instead of just picking new colors every season.
Do you have a favorite WaterField Designs bag and if so, what is it?
I don’t have a favorite because I am constantly changing my bags to suit different use cases. However, if I could carry only one bag, I would choose the Pro Executive Backpack. It’s a bit of a looker because it doesn’t look like a typical backpack. Also, it’s geometry allows it to stand upright so you can lay it next to you and use it as a mobile office. Finally, I think the pockets are so well thought out. For example, the top pocket is so useful when you have the bag between your legs on the train and need to access essentials.
Is there anything you might like to share that’s new and exciting on the horizon for WaterField Designs?
We work with a small sewing team so we can’t just make everything all the time as we might like. That said, however, we are
designing new bags all the time. Our Sandbox Series is exciting because it features bags and cases that are a bit more experimental – and by the way – we only sell a limited quantity, so you need to order quickly!
Thanks so much to Amyel for his time and engaging conversation! For more information on WaterField Designs, please visit https://www.sfbags.com/.
(All photography is credit to WaterField Designs).