Ogden Made is a brand of locally designed and manufactured bags its makers say will last a lifetime. The line includes messengers, totes, equipment bags, pencil pouches and more.

Launched in 2013 with a Kickstarter campaign, the company is an outgrowth of the Gura Gear brand, also based in Ogden. Gura Gear manufactures camera bags and other photo equipment necessities such as beanbag stabilizers, while the Ogden Made brand manufactures daily use bags such as the Junction City Messenger and the Historic 25th Tote.

Gura Gear was first envisioned on the back of a napkin in the middle of Africa.  The founder, a photographer leading conducted photo safari expeditions, realized there was a need for a bag that could carry a long lens and also pass airport standards. From this, Gura Gear was born. Flash forward five years and, after some experimentation in the sewing shop, a messenger bag was developed, and with it, the name Ogden Made.

Since then, Gura Gear has purchased the Tamrac brand and now carries that well known camera bag name alongside its own Gura Gear and Ogden Made company names. But the bags have been offered without much fanfare; being featured in June as part of the First Friday Art Stroll is the only attention the company has brought to itself locally.

Still, orders are coming in steadily. The warehouse is thrumming. Orders are stacked for delivery on a daily basis.

The company tries to source everything locally, though some materials do come from Asia. All  production is done at the Ogden facility and the bags are made to order with about a two-day turnaround on bags once the order is placed. The customer picks the color and chooses from various options. The fabric is cut and produced the following day.

There are also ready-made models in stock for those who prefer something ready to go. Each bag is hand-signed by the artisan who assembled it.

The prices are reasonable for a handmade item. Best of all, the buyer is also supporting a local, American-made product.