Words and photos by Morgan Taylor.

Swift Industries has been making bicycle bags by hand in Seattle for eight years now. The first four of those years were spent in Martina and Jason’s basement, laying the foundation for a company that to this day produces each of its products in-house. When orders kept coming in, and they needed to hire help, Swift Industries moved to the space you see here, in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood.

As we made our way through Swift’s various spaces spread throughout the floors of the vibrant old industrial building, I was taken by the bits of character at every turn. Greeted by shop dog Loki, we settled in for a cup of tea and soaked in the vibe. The photo set is split into two main parts: the production room, where raw materials become Swift product; and the retail space, where setups are dialed and adventures are planned.

Just days after our visit, the Swift crew packed up their Ballard shop and began a new chapter in the heart of downtown Seattle. Their new location in Pioneer Square puts them at the north end of a vibrant corridor of Seattle-made gear companies. Swift’s open studio hours will remain the same – Thursday and Friday 4-7pm, Saturday 12-5pm – beginning Thursday, March 31st. Visit Swift Industries at their new Pioneer Square studio at 562 1st Ave South, Suite 201, Seattle.

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