These bags are “hip”! Not only does our Otter Steps Hip Bag keep your keys, wallet, snacks and more hands-free yet close-at-hand, each bag diverts plastic water bottles AND plants trees—meaning you look good while doing good for the planet.

Designed by Sarah Agaton Howes (Anishinaabe-Ojibwe), the Otter Steps design is a merger of classic beadwork colors, traditional Ojibwe loom patterns, and modern making practices. The bag's design incorporates a traditional Ojibwe pattern called, appropriately, “otter steps.” This customary pattern is coming back into popularity with modern Ojibwe artists, including Sarah.

"My favorite part of design is bringing together old and new," shares Sarah. "The Otter Steps Hip Bag is the perfect meld of old weaving and loom designs with beadwork colorways in this contemporary piece. It's a perfect example of how we as Native artists are adapting yet staying close to our roots."

Whether you call this style a hip bag, fanny pack, sling bag, cross pack, belt bag, or bum bag, you’ll love our Balance Hip Bag for several reasons. First, these hip bags are extra roomy, ensuring you have enough space for your wallet, phone, and even a water bottle. Secondly, these bags are made of recycled PET, which means they save water bottles from the landfill, and are created with a carbon-neutral practice through SeaTrees.

Product details:

Two zipper pockets: main pocket interior 8.5” long x 2” wide x 6” high; front pocket measures 7.5” long x 6” high
Adjustable nylon belt; 34” circumference at smallest and 48.5” at largest
Colors include black, turquoise, ochre yellow, and pumpkin orange

Sustainability details:

Produced by a Certified B Corp specializing in sustainable, responsible manufacturing and product creation
Print is a waterless color transfer print
Body material is from recycled PET feedstock (recycled polyester/plastic), which means the textile has a lower impact in production and diverts plastic bottle waste from landfills; RPET raw material is collected from the local market/geographical territory (not imported from abroad) which saves on carbon emissions
Manufacturing process is climate neutral through the purchase of SeaTrees tokens
Certifications for material: GRS (Global Recycling Standard) certified at every stage in the chain of custody from raw material input through to final product
Responsibly manufactured in Colombia; factory is Mattel, Disney, Universal, and Coca-Cola audited as well as SEDEX SMETA audited for 4 pillars of social and environmental transparency in: Labor Standards, Health and Safety, Environment, and Business Ethics
Imported

Otter Steps Coverlet

Otter Steps Pillow — Oatmeal

Otter Steps Pillow — Teal

Otter Steps Hip Bag