Posted 1/17/25

Every once in a while I have to write this out so we're all on the same page.

No one, including me, likes the drops that sell out before you've even gotten to the cart, or how it disappears before you can pay. It's obnoxious and frustrating. It's also the inescapable reality of limited availability amidst high demand. (believe me, I am SO thankful for the demand and appreciate the enthusiasm and support.)

I have tried my absolute best over the last year to come up with ways to get reasonably priced, high quality bags to people who want them. I invented Collectives to let people have input on the design and still get them in under two months. I have done in-stock drops, limited run drops, custom drops and most recently a custom hide share. All in hopes that the people who would like North Moor bag have access without having to rely solely on scheduling availability or fast fingers. I am still getting routine feedback about how frustrating drops are and how the experience is turning people away. If you have ANY suggestions on how it can be made better, I am 100% open to hear them. I could hire someone but I would no longer be a lower priced option for hand made bags. I'm willing to consider that if people feel like that is what it takes, but I have really loved not having obnoxiously high prices. Another option is to accept everyone's custom request. But the last time I accepted 15 instead of 8 it took me 3 months to complete them (I still have one more)... and the demand is for way more than 15. The wait could be more than a year and I would burn out so fast.

So for full transparency, here is the current situation. Right now I have:
14 Customs (each often have 2 small additional bags)
9 Hide Share Customs
10 Collectives totaling 85 bags
This includes all design communication, custom sewing, purchasing, coordination of materials, tracking sales, invoicing and follow up, dropping materials off, picking bags up, packing, and shipping.

I'm serious about the suggestions. I mean it, if you have some insight or ideas on how to avoid the horrifying scramble of uploads please message me. I love this work, and I hope there is a way to keep people happy and continue to enjoy the process. <3

osted 12/28/24

Shipping

As you know, North Moor is piloted entirely by one person. This means that all communication, invoicing, packing, ordering, purchasing, materials gathering, drop-offs, pick ups, custom sewing, material research, etc is done simultaneously by one person who is also the default parent of two children.

The comparatively lower prices at North Moor reflect the fact that there is no payroll for additional hands and eyes while over 100 bags move through the system at once. It is of utmost priority that people have a positive experience ordering from North Moor, but part of that is having realistic expectations based on the above information. Please know that everything is being done to make sure you get a beautiful bag in a timely manner. Your positive experience is honestly very important.

Posted 12/16/24

Updated Collective Information

The process of moving from being a single maker to incorporating the work of a sewing production team is always a learning curve. It takes makers and their teams considerable time to establish near seamless communication and function with a consistently smooth maker/vendor channel. This is the case with all the makers who grew into big design studios. One thing I pride myself on is my transparency and willingness to make sure that, regardless of any hiccups, my customers are ultimately happy with their purchase. This is also why I have priced Collective Customs below $300 across the board, because I am aware of my relative newness to the Custom scene. If you are not feeling flexible or are worried about being part of something that is in progress, Collectives may not be the option for you and Customs created by me in my studio would be a better choice (though exponentially slower).

Posted 11/24/24

Changes at North Moor to begin December 1, 2024

ZIPPER DIRECTION:

Based on feedback I have received, we are going to create some guardrails around zipper direction as it can complicate the Collective process. 

  • “Standard” at North Moor is zipper closing from left to right when facing the front of the bag. This means the pull will be in front when the bag is closed and sitting on your right hip. The back zipper would mirror this front zipper so that both pulls are landing in front when on the right hip.

  • “Reverse” is closing from right to left when looking at the front of the bag. Pull will be in front when the bag is closed and on your left hip. Again any back zipper would mirror the front and the pull would be toward the front when on the left hip.

Collective bags have the following options:

  • All Standard

  • All Reverse

  • Top Double Zip (+$5) + Back (and interior) Standard

  • Top Double Zip(+$5) + Back (and interior) Reverse

PREMIUM LEATHERS

As we all know, all leathers are not created equal. Lamb hides are smaller, and for those special hides like Bubble lamb, I only prefer to use the middle where the texture is optimal, which creates a lot of scrap that cannot be used to make the bags. Often it takes two hides to make one bag. Unfortunately, this leather is also one of the most expensive leathers offered. Therefore, bubble lamb leather will be moving to a 'premium' level classification with a nominal added cost depending on the leather. For example I am going to begin with a ‘premium leather upcharge’ of $10 for the Bubble lamb to see if that makes this bag more sustainable on our end. I do not anticipate having many leathers in this category unless there is a desire for more from customers.

STRAPS

While continuing to make an effort to keep my prices low, I am finding that I need to increase my fees on straps for a couple of reasons:

  • I leverage hides down the middle in order to get full length. 

  • I also use high quality hides for the straps as well because I find that the lower quality hides produce slippery straps that no one enjoys. 

Unfortunately, I am not a large enough outfit to order rolls of precut, pre-folded and often pre-sewn strapping as other bigger companies can.  While it may feel like a substantial hike, I am still at least 50% less than other makers in this space. 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

  • The base custom Heron + Egret + Coskata + Crossover + Southern Right + Northern Right + Cedarwood and Plover will now, by default, be offered without a strap so that you may configure as you please.

  • You can add a strap à la carte based on what you prefer. Bag prices have been reduced to reflect this change. 

  • In stock bags will often be sold with a predetermined strap.

  • Collectives do not have the option of no strap due to production restrictions. While you cannot go strapless, you may add additional straps if so desired. As long as the straps are all the same dimensions. For instance people can choose to have a crossbody, or shoulder strap or both - as long as all the crossbodies are the same and all the shoulder straps are the same.

    Strap Pricing:

  • Crossbody straps will be standard length 45" and can be 1.25" or 1.5" and are $50 (custom lengths available upon request and may affect price)

  • Shoulder straps are standard 21" x 1.5" and are $45

  • Grab Handles are folded leather and have a standard drop of 11” and are $50

  • Inlay shoulder straps are the same size as the standard shoulder and are now $55 

  • Limited or Premium leather inlay straps will be priced individually based on leather.

NEW PRICING - BAGS

I have made some price adjustments for only two bags as the production and material costs have increased due to complexity. 

COSKATA

Pricing for Coskata has historically been lower and with increase cost of materials and production, I am having to make adjustments while also introducing a new size to meet customer requests. Some names of sizes have changed as well.

  • Petite: (11x14) -Base bag price without strap $165 

  • NEW SIZE Standard: (12x15)- Base bag price without strap $190

  • Large: (14x14) inches -Base bag price without strap  $200 

  • XLarge: (16x16) inches -Base bag price without strap $250 

CROSSOVER

The Crossover’s dimensions have grown over the past year without much reevaluation on pricing, while using far more leather than other styles offered, driving product cost as well. New prices are as follows:

  • Petite (6x10x2.5)  base bag price without strap $110 

  • Medium (7x11x3) base bag price without strap $140

  • Large (8 x 12 x 3) base bag price without strap $170

  • XL (10x12x4) base bag price without strap $210

SHIPPING

New shipping cost is $15 because that is the average amount even without materials.