Mom's business turns old clothes into backpacks

photo Jessi Harris hand crafts her backpacks using recycled clothing and vintage fabrics.

• What: Children's backpacks

• Company: Bratsacks Babyware

• Website: www.bratsacks.com

• Telephone: 706-847-9942

• Owner: Jessi Harris

• What's special: Harris handcrafts her backpacks using recycled clothing and vintage fabrics. Her main material, corduroy, is made in only a handful of colors every year. By using corduroy produced in different years, Harris said she is able to offer a more colorful, durable product than mass-manufactured items. "When things are made (in an) assembly line, mistakes are made and quality is compromised," she said.

• The origin story: Harris made her first pack in 2006 as a birthday gift for a friend's son. When she asked her husband how large she should make it, he suggested making it large enough to hold a Dr. Seuss book. The finished product was a big hit. "That backpack has lived through three children, I think," she said, laughing. "It's still functional, but beat up. The toddler-size pattern I use now is pretty much the same [design]."

• How long does it take to make: About an hour per pack

• Where it's sold: Through her account on the Etsy online crafting network, http://bratsacksbaby.etsy.com, as well as at Chattanooga Market and area craft fairs

• What it costs: $28-$39

• Expansion plans: Harris recently introduced a line of adult-sized bags with adjustable straps. She said she would like to keep the business a cottage industry. If she needs more help, she said she would like to hire other work-at-home mothers, rather than expand into large-scale manufacturing.

• Lessons of the trade: "Just managing my time," Harris, said, laughing. "I have two special-needs children. I think having family support to help me with everything is probably the most important thing a mom with a work-at-home business can have."

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