Hello everyone! 

Production has been super busy but we're excited to share an inside look on what's been going on this past month. It hasn't been without hiccups but we're making great progress and can't wait to bring the first Watson backpacks into the world soon!

Golden Sample approved

Now that our prototype has been perfected down to the millimetre and our final materials are on hand, we have what we call a Golden Sample. 1-2-3-replicate! 

You'll noticed we've updated the printed fabric application - moving it to the inside. This is to maximize durability on the back where the bag is up against you. After further testing, the print was going to be too thin and ballistic nylon was the best choice.

After each bag is sewn, it moves on to our final assembly where all the hardshell components are added. 

Final details have arrived

Below are just a few of the 100+ pieces that go into each backpack. It's pretty exciting having all the components come together - despite turning our office into a bit of warehouse. These are some of the interior organization labels, leather zipper pulls, and care tags.

The presentation from our label supplier was so cool that we thought we'd share some of the mockups below. The final design ended up being a variation of these, but it was a tough choice! Stay tuned.

Shipping Dates

One of the last raw materials that was to arrive last week was our leather. Unfortunately, we learned that it was put on a palette for sea freight instead of being shipped by air as intended. As a result, it has been delayed by 5 weeks. Yikes!! To be honest, this is disappointing. We considered looking for a replacement leather that is available immediately in the interest of delivering on time, but this would have resulted in a compromise in quality that we couldn’t live with. What we are doing is finding ways to move forward with production in other areas to minimize the delay. Still, our final delivery date will be affected by a few weeks and and we’re now expecting to ship at the end of June / beginning of July. 

Admittedly this is a huge bummer, but we have to see it as an opportunity to learn and adapt. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding - we really appreciate it!

Monograms

Our lettering has arrived and is ready to emblazon with your I.D. 

Custom boxes are being cut and printed 

Look for this in the mail in the months ahead ;) 

As always, we are so so grateful for all of your support and anticipation. We’d be nothing without each of you on board for this awesome ride. Thanks for everything. Until next time,

- Watson Team

Hello Everyone!

A quick update on production, features, and timelines is right this way....

Cool Fact #1: Our leather is being custom made

No joke. When we couldn't find the perfect finish (smooth, no grain) and weight (not too rigid, strong enough to carry your gear for years) readily available, our tannery stepped up and offered to produce a custom run, just for us. This is nuts! And awesome. Plus, the tannery uses vegetable tanned leather (an old-world artisanal process using natural tannins) so no synthetic chemicals have been used in the tanning process. Such specifications wouldn't have been possible without so many backers (thus a large order) so thank you all!

Oh, and it's waterproof 

Cool Fact #2: New feature: Auxiliary strap 

No matter what size backpack you have, there's always the odd time you have an item that can't be stashed inside. Maybe it's a jacket, an umbrella, whatever incidental thing that's above and beyond your usual set-up. Insert: the Auxiliary Strap. A simple strap on the side of your pack allows you to neatly secure that extra item without increasing the size of your everyday carry. So much better than walking around with your jacket in hand. Now you can stash your Patagonia with one clip. Hands free. Here's a quick peek and we'll share more about this feature in action on the next update too.

Cool fact # 3: We heard you!

In our last update, some of you noticed we were prototyping using some different hardware. Don't sweat! The kickass metal zippers from the original Watson are here to stay. 

Cool Fact #4: We are on time - get your surveys in!

Watson is on schedule to ship in late June. If you haven't yet filled out your survey - head over to your KS account to fill out your shipping details. This will help us pack and ship your backpack ASAP. Additionally - if you ordered a Monogram Watson - we'll need to know your initials.

Cool Fact #5: Magic hour in the studio looks like this

Couldn't help it. Spring sunsets are the best.

Talk soon! - Watson Team

Hello everyone!

We've got some cool updates to share this month, including short videos that will take you inside various pocket and compartments and some manufacturing updates.

1. The Guts

We couldn't include every inch of Watson in our campaign, but we've had requests for a more thorough walk through of the interior space and dedicated pockets. Additionally, check out the charging pass through how-to for power on the go. Note some fabrics are used here for the sample only.

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2. Side Pocket Upgrade

After several test-drives, we found the quick-access side pocket needed some organization to that your keys and wallet - or whatever's most important to you - each have a dedicated spot. So we split it in 2, see below!

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3. Manufacturing

After months of R&D, sampling and sourcing, we’ve decided to manufacture Watson here in Toronto. This decision was based on a number of factors, but the biggest one is quality control. We want to make sure we get it right the first time, and being able to walk onto the sewing room floor at a moment’s notice means we can ensure the product measures up to our expectations. As a nice byproduct, we’re supporting the growing manufacturing industry here in Canada - it’s not all maple syrup and toques you know! With that said, Watson is still built with materials and services from all over the world: fabrics from Seattle and California, zippers, labels, and trimmings from Italy, hardware from China and Saskatoon. We're bringing the best ingredients from all over the world to create the optimal end product for you guys.

Cost: Watson’s cost actually remains the same. We pay more for labor but save the cost of shipping our inventory from China to North America, not to mention lost time on quality control.

Timeline: We are on track to ship all reward tiers in June - thank you for your patience!

We can't wait to share Watson with each of you and we are so grateful for all of your support!

Until next time,

- Watson Team

Hello everyone!

We're in the trenches of production so here's a quick update about how and when you'll be receiving Watson.

Surveys

Surveys for all reward tiers have been sent out. They're short and sweet - just fill in your shipping address, and if applicable, your initials to be monogrammed (for Watson Monogram reward tier only). Many of you have already completed them - so fast! This is much appreciated as we get set to ramp up fulfillment.

Delivery Dates

We're on track to ship all reward tiers in June. YES. 

We know pre-orders can be a bit of a tease, so thank you all for your patience. We are so pumped to be delivering the first Watsons to the world and grateful to have each of you along for the ride. Thank you thank you.

Until next time,

Valerie

Hello everyone!

The first thing we want to say is a massive THANK YOU to all of our new backers and those who have shared Watson with family and friends over the holidays. We're super pumped about this momentum and blown away by your support with just hours left!

Features

We've heard you! After numerous inquiries for added security and a luggage pass through to attach to rolling luggage, we've developed some exciting solutions to improve Watson and better meet your needs.

Here's how the integrated lock looks. The closure remains waterproof, but has a small groove where you can hook a lock through that catches both sides of the closure. You can add a small combination lock for extra security if you like or forget about it if that's not your thing.

A luggage pass-through is on the horizon! Here's how it's looking during prototype development. Don't mind the fabrics and colours - they're just placeholders. The main hurdle is how to maintain our airflow architecture - with space between your back and the bag. But it's coming along!

Production

Back online post-holiday, we're anxiously awaiting our first samples from manufacturers to test and approve. As part of the early production process, we've added an important partner to our team - Optitex.

Optitex is wicked software that lets us create, test, and modify our patterns digitally instead of by hand. We can even create virtual prototypes in-house in minutes and send them to all of our partners in one click. Sorry to geek out, but this has changed the game for us!

Media

Shoutout to Carryology blog and thanks for the post! Check it out here.

We've been big fans of Yanko Design for a while, so we're super pumped to be on their radar!

Thank you all so so much for your support and feedback.

Talk soon,

Watson Team