– A Unique Bag Inspired by a Cool Duck: The Muscovy –
Text & Photo by Rie Sawada
We have just received some attractive new bikepacking items from SimWorks USA!
Riebo from SimWorks USA planned this collaboration, and she has shared some words about the Randi Jo Fabrications brand and products she admires so much. We have translated her story to introduce them to you here.
Please take a look into Randi Jo’s daily life and imagine how she manages to create such captivating pieces, shaped by the dreamlike environment where she lives with her family.
Beautiful things are born when landscape and lifestyle are in harmony.
SimWorks has created a new bag in collaboration with Randi Jo Fabrications. Behind this project lies a wealth of time spent in the great outdoors and with loved ones, along with the thoughts, reasoning, and stories behind it all.
Randi Jo is a beautiful person and a strong woman whom I respect and always aspire to be like. She lives the kind of idyllic, fairy-tale life that many only dream of.
When I first met her, I immediately fell in love with her, her husband Eric, their son Beck, and their daughter Co, who had been born at home just days before I arrived. That was 12 years ago. Since then, I have often stopped at their farmhouse in Elkton, Oregon (population under 200) to rest on my way to the coast. It is a peaceful place that helps me relax and provides a refuge from my daily life.
Randi Jo’s family lives in her grandmother’s house, and everything about it is charming and lovely. The kitchen is simple, yet it looks like a scene from a movie, decorated with colorful tableware and kitchenware stored stylishly—and every item is well-loved and used. I admire Randi Jo and her lifestyle. It is simple, blends naturally with the environment, and is lived in a wonderful setting.
Every time I visit, I meet baby animals. I have had the experience of bottle-feeding lambs and goat kids, watching ducklings hatch from their eggs, and witnessing their growth. I have also been able to watch and feel the growth of Randi and Eric’s children, who are so pure, unique, and adorable.
Randi’s father is a carpenter, and they recently moved into a treehouse they built themselves. The workshop is a handmade trailer built by the whole family. It is in this truly fairy-tale-like environment that every Randi Jo Fabrications product is made.
Beautiful products are born in a peaceful, idyllic place filled with beautiful people.
We asked her to create a new bag that fits the Nitto Front Bag Supporter. This project began with a letter from Shinya of Circles in 2018, and we are finally able to release the ultra-limited "Muscovy Bag"! I am so happy to see this moment arrive!
The Muscovy Bag is a unique and beautiful bag that is perfect for picnics, commuting, bikepacking, parties, BBQs, and more. It is a roll-top bag that can hold everything from small to large items, and its design makes it easy to see and retrieve your belongings.
Just recently, while Randi was away from town, I stayed at their farmhouse for about a week and experienced a wonderful farm life with the animals. It was such a happy time.
When I saw a duck on the farm, it looked like a chicken to me, so I asked Randi about it. She laughed and said, "That’s a Muscovy duck. They’re so cool and look very prehistoric." And that is why we named this product the "Muscovy Bag."
This bag is made of "duck canvas" because, just like these ducks, it is very cool and unique.
By the way, I heard that in some regions of Japan, the Muscovy Duck is called the "Kannon Duck."
Muscovy Bag with Nitto Handlebar Bag Supporter
Material: 10.10oz Waxed Canvas
Size: L250mm × H160mm (when fully rolled down) / 370mm (when fully rolled up) × D140mm
Weight: 355g
*Includes 1x 6-inch Voile Nano strap
*Nitto Front Bag Supporter F-019AA (Φ31.8mm) included
(For drop handlebars only)
Price: ¥44,000- (tax included)
Using the same fabric as the Muscovy Bag, she also made the "Biggest MUT (Multi Use Tote)," which can be cleverly combined with the SimWorks Burrito Rack.
The "Biggest MUT" perfectly matches the aesthetics and practicality of the Muscovy Bag. They are a dynamic duo. The MUT is a practical-style bag that offers enough capacity to carry cargo in a secure, catch-all environment. The duck canvas material is weather and stain resistant, as well as highly durable, and will only look better as the years go by.
Randi Jo Fabrications x SimWorks Biggest MUT
Material: 10.10oz Waxed Cotton Canvas
Size: L40mm × D190mm × H110mm (when open)
Weight: 95g (without strap)
Price: ¥17,600- (tax included)
We are also releasing the "Bartender Bag" in Japan at the same time, allowing you to keep your daily essentials close at hand!
This bag is designed to be highly functional and can be attached to almost any handlebar and stem combination.
Thanks to the Bartender Bag, you can keep enough space open in the main compartment for a larger water bottle or a standard-sized bottle of wine.
On the outside, there are several slim slip pockets where you can store sunglasses, a mobile phone, energy bars, cutlery, and more. The material is the same waxed cotton canvas as the "Muscovy Bag" and "Biggest MUT" introduced earlier, which is durable and will age beautifully with years of use. It is available in Randi Jo's signature color variations.
Randi Jo Fabrications x SimWorks Bartender Plus Bag
Material: 10.10oz Waxed Cotton Canvas
6.25oz Waxed Cotton Canvas pockets
Height: 170mm–248mm (to the top of the nylon cord section)
Circumference: 355mm
Front pocket: 140mm x 100mm
Side pocket: 88mm x 95mm
Capacity: 1.5L
Weight: 102g (111g with strap)
Price: ¥14,300- (tax included)
Since everything is handmade by her alone, production numbers are limited, and we have only a very small stock arriving this time as well.
Be sure to check them out at our store or on our online shop while you can!
