Discussion with Seventeenthirtythree
Can you please introduce yourself ?
My name is Phil Schade, I'm the founder and designer behind 1733. A bag and accessory brand based in Chicago, USA.
Can you explain what your work is ? When did you start doing this and why ?
I design and manufacture 1733 products in a small studio on the northwest side of Chicago. I started the brand in 2014, shortly after teaching myself how to sew. I was looking for a creative outlet working with my hands and had interests in design and fashion so all those things came together nicely.
What did you do as studies ?
In college I studied mechanical engineering, I thought I wanted to work in the auto industry but realized that I didn't care about cars that much. The design labs and the problem solving techniques I learned in college have definitely been valuable tools for me during the past 6 years of running 1733.
Why “seventeenthirtythree” ?
1733 is the number of the house I grew up in in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My parents still live there, and it is a very special place to me. Naming the brand 1733 is my way of saying that all my life and experiences are going into my bags. There is no committee or design team, just me and what I can think of, and I credit my upbringing with fostering my creative mind.
What’s the piece that you are most proud of and why?
The indigo dyed Daily Tote I did for Meridian last year is my favorite bag I've ever done. I'm quite proud of the originality of the Daily Tote design, it's probably the best bag that I make. And on top of that, the amount of experimentation and work that went into dying that fabric was immense. The end result is something I think is quite beautiful and unique.
Nowadays, with sustainability issues, do you think it’s important to focus on the durability of the product ?
Outside of sustainability, durability is especially important for bags. They are being taken far and wide, and asked to carry valuable things. If a bag fails on you at the wrong time you could really be in trouble. I'm trying to make bags that people see as special, that they cherish and that they can use frequently for a long time. I think if I can make something that a customer has a connection to, and that is build well so that it can last, that will keep it out of a landfill. And maybe if the owner has an emotional connection to the bag and it performs well they will be more thoughtful about other purchases they make of something that might normally be more disposable. I also will repair my bags to make sure people who are using them hard can get as long a life as possible out of them.
What is the key to create and produce durable items ?
When I design I am always balancing form, function, material, and construction considerations. Being deliberate and particular about all of these factors contribute to making a durable bag. The most basic ingredients for a durable bag are strong materials, double (or triple) stitched bound seams, and reinforcement stitches and materials where weight and wear are the highest. But there is a lot more nuance that can contribute to making a bag durable, and because I am self taught and do the sewing of the bags myself I am very familiar with where a problem could arise and can design around those issues.
Can you talk a little bit about a future project that you are excited to do and what are you going to focus on next ?
I'm very excited to spend time in the near future making bags out of scrap materials from my studio that I've been saving for the last 5 years. I have so much of these small pieces of material that I can't use for multi-bag production runs but can be parts of some special one of a kind bags. I'm hoping to get that project started in the next few weeks.
