5 Minutes w/Shai Levy

by Carry HQ, October 12, 2012

A new addition to our 5 Minutes With series, we get to take a peek into the world of Shai Levy, founder of Seventy Eight Percent, a brand based in Hong Kong which produces a range of bags and tech gadget carry products…

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1 – What key insights drive your products?

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We put our heart and soul into what we are doing. We challenge ourselves and learn from our mistakes, trying to get better at what we do. This is what drives us – and we drive our stuff. We also make sure we evolve and create genuine products.

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2 – Who else is doing rad things in the world of carry and why do you think they’re important?

There are lots of small brands out there that are doing great stuff and seem to be run by people who are passionate about what they are doing. The nice thing is that many of these brands have a unique style and point of view. They bring interesting products to the world of carry and that for itself is very important. It feels like an unorganized movement, an alternative for the big name brands.

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I like the industrial aesthetics and the roughness of Carga bags. I like the story, philosophy and simplicity of Postalco’s bridge bags. I like Teddyfish bags. They are pure and interesting. One noteworthy and passionate case maker is Calder. And there are more…

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3 – Are there any things other brands do that you think are great or could be improved?

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All products can be improved, even great ones. Perfecting a product is, literally, an endless process. I do not test or use bags from other brands and for that reason it is impossible for me to point out specific issues.

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On a broader scale, it frustrates me to see brands with exceptional designs that compromise on the quality of their products. They end up with bags that do not last and undermine the cleverness of their own designs. This waste of talent, material and labor seems criminal to me.

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4 – What’s next for you guys?

More bags and accessories, of course… We just launched raw Japanese denim versions of our Harrison Fold Collection. We are working on a collection of travel bags. We will be releasing a new tote bag very soon. We are also busy growing our retail base to allow more people around the world to touch and feel our bags.

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5 – What do you carry daily and how?

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I usually move around three bags. Most of the time I carry our Dimitri satchel, which is compact and yet big enough to carry everything I need on a daily basis. For business travel I use the bigger satchel, Schults. When on holiday, I am taking along our Gustav messenger bag.

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