ProtoBag Studio is the Munich-based liaison and project coordination point for China-side bag sampling and OEM production, working with independent designers, indie founders, and growing brands. We help clients in European design hubs — Berlin, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm, London, Paris, Milan, and Munich — move from a first idea to production-ready samples and batch production. Our Munich liaison office gives you one accountable contact in your time zone, while our China-side production team handles sampling and production without a broker chain in between.
We pair European-time-zone communication with direct China-side sampling and production coordination. Independent labels and first-time founders can develop factory-grade custom bags without cold-emailing overseas suppliers or working through an agent chain. Munich handles the client conversation and project coordination; our China-side team handles sample development and production. The person who answers your feasibility questions is the same person coordinating the build.
Most factories quote fast and move straight from a drawing to a sample. We do the opposite. Before any sampling begins, we review your project — reference bag, tech pack, product photos, intended use, target quantity, and budget — and share practical written feedback on structure, materials, hardware, MOQ feasibility, and production-side concerns. Catching a structural or material problem at the review stage costs nothing; catching it after a sample is made costs a full revision round. A better sample starts with a better review.
Sampling is paid prototype development based on a confirmed direction. The sampling minimum order quantity is one piece — you do not commit to a production run to hold a real prototype. A typical sample takes roughly three to four weeks of development at our China-side sample room, around two weeks to ship to our Munich liaison office for an internal quality check, and a few working days to forward to you: about six to eight weeks from a confirmed brief to a sample in your hands. Anyone promising a finished custom sample in days is reusing an existing mould or guessing.
Once a sample is approved, we move into batch production with material confirmation, scheduling, quality control, and shipping. Production minimum order quantity is typically around 200 to 400 units per style, depending on product type, materials, and construction complexity. OEM production runs are handled by our China-side production team with Munich liaison oversight. Selected facility certifications such as Higg and SMETA are available where relevant.
We work across backpacks, totes, duffels, slings, crossbody bags, camera bags, laptop sleeves, weekenders, belt bags, technical bags, travel pouches, and modular carry tools. Materials include nylon, polyester, canvas, PU and vegan textiles, recycled fabrics, and linings, along with zippers, buckles, webbing, and reinforcement components. We advise on material direction and sourcing as part of development.
Every project follows the same documented eight-step sampling and production process: project review, feasibility and quote, sampling agreement, design and tooling, prototype assembly, internal quality check, shipping to our Munich liaison office, and final delivery with a production-readiness report. The structure means a first-time founder always knows what is happening, what they owe, and what comes next — no black box and no three-day reply gaps.
We work best with independent designers, indie founders, growing brands, and niche product teams across Europe and North America. The most useful starting point is a reference bag, product photos with dimensions, a prepared tech pack, or an existing sample. You do not need a finished tech pack to begin — a clear idea of size, structure, materials, and intended use is enough for a first review.
Explore our six core bag development services — feasibility review, custom bag sampling, structure and material advice, sample review and feedback, OEM batch production, and quality checks. Browse sample work, read our FAQs on MOQ and lead times, learn about our Munich liaison office and China-side production team, or contact us to start a custom bag sampling inquiry.