„Dyed in the Wool“: Sustainable bike bags for Riese & Müller.
25.08.2025 | Sustainability
They are known for their durable and stylish bags for everyday cycling and leisure cycling: Dyed In The Wool produces bags for Riese & Müller in Poland. We talked to Charles Chambers, one of the two heads of the family business, about the cooperation and his company philosophy.
Sewing workshop in the barn
For several years, Aleks and Charles have been living on an old farm in central Poland, about 60 kilometres northwest of the capital Warsaw. It is on this flat land that they founded Dyed in the Wool (DITW) in 2020: a manufacturing company that specialises in the production of bags for bikes – locally and sustainably. “When we started out,” recalls Charles, “we wanted to stand out from the crowd by sourcing everything we need locally and producing it as sustainably as possible.” They knew that there are factories in Poland that produce the materials and parts they need for their bags. Today, most of them come from within a radius of about 120 kilometres. They sew their bags in a barn, which they have fitted out for this purpose. When selecting the materials, they pay attention to short supply routes, as well as to durability and environmentally friendly resources.
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“Dyed in the wool” is a common phrase in the north of England that expresses dedication and perseverance. After all, once wool has been dyed, it stays dyed.
A trust-based collaboration
Aleks is actually an architect and Charles a product designer, but they have been cycling enthusiasts for a very long time. You can see both in their bags – from stylishly coordinated colours and printed fabrics, a clear design style and thoughtful details: two professionals are at work here. DITW also has a high-quality presence on social media and on its website. This is also how the Development team, led by designer Verena Kuck and Dominik Mahr, Head of Design at Riese & Müller, became aware of the Polish manufacturer. They ordered a few bags to be delivered to Mühltal and were so persuaded by the quality and design that they got in touch with DITW.
And so began a development process on an equal footing, explains Charles: “We communicate in very similar way. Aleks and I have a history of making prototypes for large companies and experience with sportswear brands. We work in a very similar way to Riese & Müller.” Prototypes of the 90-litre bag for the Carrie (please see picture below) were repeatedly sent back and forth between Riese & Müller’s head office in Germany and Poland, modified on both sides, refined, and suggestions incorporated until the finished design was ready. It was a development process that worked this seamlessly because it was shaped by a great deal of trust on both sides and a common vision.
» Partners like Dyed in the Wool are very important to us. You can achieve a lot on your own in terms of sustainability – but you can achieve even more working together with suppliers who share our conviction to operate sustainably and produce high-quality products locally. «
Dominik Mahr, Head of Design, Riese & Müller