WAITSFIELD, Vt. (WCAX) – Like any other day at work, David Cain sits in his sun-soaked office, cutting, sewing, and putting together bags for bikers around the country, and the world.
“I make all sorts of bags. Panniers, saddlebags, handlebar bags, frame bags,” Cain said.
When he’s handmaking these bags one by one, his Waitsfield home turns into Waxwing Bag Co. His work is almost entirely made up of custom orders.
“If somebody wants a purple one, if somebody wants a yellow one, if somebody wants a red, green, yellow, pink and blue one, I’ll make that bag,” Cain said. “Or, if they want a black bag I’ll do that, too.”
An avid biker himself, this ride began when Cain saw a bike bag he really liked that wasn’t made anymore. Unafraid of a challenge or working with his hands, he made a version of the bag for himself. “It’s like thinking with materials and structure and connections and cutting and accuracy and all of that,” he said.
What he didn’t know when making his own bag, was that he was also making himself a new career. “I was an art major, I studied architecture, I built this house. I’m good at making stuff and it’s what I enjoy,” he explained. “So, the sewing thing… I’ve gotten better at it.”
After really getting a handle on his business during the pandemic, he decided to make it full-time. Now, his business is on a roll. “I was anxious. I was like, is this going to really fly? Really, honestly, I haven’t really caught up since. I’ve got a list of projects and I keep it manageable but there’s always demand,” he said.
Cain says the demand usually picks up this time of year as bikers start gearing up for the warmer months. Waxwing Bag Co. is a one-man show. Cain makes each bag from waxed canvas and leather. Because they’re custom-ordered, each one is different. “There’s just a variety. People have creative ideas and I love that,” said Cain. Though there’s variation in each order, Cain’s love for these bags and his bike shows through just the same for each one.
“It’s one of my great passions. I love that I can do that for other people, you know make bags for other people and help them enjoy what they do.”