Ladies, I need your opinions

MrsFosforos · #1

While I've been in the CHL waiting room, I've been looking at carry options. What's out there is mostly UGLY granny looking purses or black bulky fanny packs -- so I thought I'd design one for myself.

This won't be your granny's fanny pack. This is just a rough draft - prototype idea. This will be carried on a belt. I'm going to try a variety of leathers. The flap will have designs with contrasting shapes and colors; maybe fringe or beads to jazz it up a little. It will have a magnetic clasp to make it easy to get into:

inside - an adjustable velcro loop that will stablize and hold the gun in the bag. The only other addition may be a second smaller loop to hold a spare magazine:

I'm thinking of it as serving the primary role as being a "covered up holster" with not a lot of room to hold anything but the gun - so it won't weigh down a belt too much. What do you think? Any advice or opinions? Does it meet the needs of "concealed carry"?

Venus Pax · #2

It looks like a neat concept.
Have your tried on your first model? How does it hang on the belt?
I would worry that, with a heavy gun, it would twist up or become a problem.
If you can get it to remain secure, it's certainly a good concept, and one you could market. It would allow women to carry a larger gun than they could conceal IWB, yet it would still be on the body.

I really like the idea that it would have a younger, more modern look. If you can get it to work, you could take an untouched portion of the market.

MrsFosforos · #3

Thanks for the input VP,
I thought about the twisting possibility too and I'd have to put something heavier on the back of bag to keep it from buckling too much.

I haven't tried to make one yet, it just occurred to me today to try it!
I got this belt bag at Scarbourgh Faire last year and it's the same basic design. It works well with with carrying my Bersa T380 and especially the smaller Tomcat - without the extra loop for support. It's a heavy leather and sits well on my belt:

I'd probably go with making it out of some kind of leather so it would be sturdy and hold up to more weight than usually carried in a belt bag.

Tim the Teacher · #4

My wife picked up the following fanny pack at the last Dallas gun show...

It is a blue jean fabric and if you look in the upper left corner there is a pull tab

Pulling at a 45 degree angle with her left hand opens both the top and side zipper effortlessly.

With her right hand she slides it into the opening, grasps the weapon (XD-9sc) and pulls

She also uses my Hume 715-M for IWB. She orderded a Galco Stow-n-Go which will be here tomorrow so I can get my Hume back

MrsFosforos · #5

Thanks Tim,
I have a nice leather "waist pack" that I've used and traveled all over Europe with. It was great to keep my passport, wallet and a protein snack bar handy. I didn't worry about losing anything or getting pickpocketed. But at the same time -- it just screamed "TOURIST"!

It would serve double duty and hold one of my guns without any difficulty or alteration. And, although I can't deny its ease of use -- the overall design of it is just -- well -- "nerdy looking". Basically, I want something that has the convenience of a fanny pack with out the "granny" look of a fanny pack!

I've looked around the gun shows and online and just don't find anything most women would like. I saw a couple of the handbags from Coronado Leather (http://www.coronadoleather.com/) that were nice looking and more stylish than other conceal carry handbags I've seen -- but YIKES -- they are SO expensive!!

I can't imagine why someone hasn't thought of making a fashionable "holster style belt bag" for women to use. There are all kinds of pouches in nylon or canvas that have more masculine styling (aka just plain ugly) but nothing for women in colors, fabrics or styles we would like. I can imagine some of you guys rolling your eyes -- but I'm telling you, style matters!

If/when I make it over to a fabric store, I'll try to create a functional prototype and post pics to let y'all know how it goes!

Oana · #6

New member here, who thinks that this is a great idea! I sew, although not handbags (so far), so I thought I'd throw some info your way.

One thing you might want to consider is making the pack with a second pocket, to hold a cell phone/random stuff, so that the pack isn't just always sitting there. (That may eventually draw attention: "Why do you carry a purse AND a pocket pack?" Using the pack for a cell phone or other item would give the pack a "cover story".)

You say you're working with leather - leather may require an interfacing. (Or, you may want to branch out into fabric. :) I have a Threads past issue article on purses that recommends these for heavyweight bags:

-FormFlex heavyweight fusible interfacing (stacked in layers, if necessary) - FishmansFabrics.com
-Timtex - more heavyweight than FormFlex? - 1/8" thick and nonfusible (TimtexStore.com)
-Stitch N Shape - available as a nonfusible, fusible on one side, or fusible on both sides. Can be shaped with steam after you stitch it together. (RNKDistributing.com)
...and there are most likely leather-specific interfacings out there, too.

Hope that helps you somewhat! I look forward to seeing these in fine department stores everywhere.

longtooth · #7

Welcome aboard Oana.
I am glad to see another lady on the board & especially those of you that sew. My Mother carries & she sews also. At present she has made me 4 vests & assisted in a couple of holsters.
Good job ladies & keep up the original ideas.
LT

MrsFosforos · #8

oops double post - I was entering from my blackberry...

MrsFosforos · #9

Oana wrote:New member here, who thinks that this is a great idea! I sew, although not handbags (so far), so I thought I'd throw some info your way.

One thing you might want to consider is making the pack with a second pocket, to hold a cell phone/random stuff, so that the pack isn't just always sitting there. (That may eventually draw attention: "Why do you carry a purse AND a pocket pack?" Using the pack for a cell phone or other item would give the pack a "cover story".)

You say you're working with leather - leather may require an interfacing. (Or, you may want to branch out into fabric. :) I have a Threads past issue article on purses that recommends these for heavyweight bags:

-FormFlex heavyweight fusible interfacing (stacked in layers, if necessary) - FishmansFabrics.com
-Timtex - more heavyweight than FormFlex? - 1/8" thick and nonfusible (TimtexStore.com)
-Stitch N Shape - available as a nonfusible, fusible on one side, or fusible on both sides. Can be shaped with steam after you stitch it together. (RNKDistributing.com)
...and there are most likely leather-specific interfacings out there, too.

Hope that helps you somewhat! I look forward to seeing these in fine department stores everywhere.

Thanks for your input and suggestions! I have the materials and just need to dig out my machine. As soon as I get a sample put together I will post pics. I bought a piece of vinyl - leather look alike and some interfacing to stiffen and pad the gun pouch part of the bag.

So far I have only spent a little over 20 dollars and the piece of fabric I bought will most likely will make a few bags in varying sizes and styles so I can get an idea of what "works".

If I get one made that I like - that will be the accomplishment I've set out to do!! We'll wait and see about mass distribution prospects much later.