We make things that help you make bags.
Klum House is your go-to online bag making shop and school based out of Portland, Oregon. Our women-owned and powered company offers bag making kits, patterns, tools, supplies, and classes to help bag makers like you create heavy-duty bags on a home sewing machine. You can do it!
ALL THE GOODS
Everything you need to
become a bag maker.
LOTS OF SUPPORT
Crystal-clear teaching patterns &
classes that don't leave you hanging.
BADASS RESULTS
Make handcrafted goods with
"I made this!" bragging rights.
Build Skills
Time and time again we've witnessed the transformation that takes place when a maker is brave enough to show up and try something new. As teachers there is no greater joy than watching someone light up when they discover what they're capable of creating.
Whether it's learning to sew, using a new tool, or working with leather and hardware for the first time, building skills is the foundation for any bag maker's practice. At Klum House, we've created a robust and approachable support system to guide you at every step.
Make Bags
We humans have been making bags for many thousands of years. A bag is a container to gather and hold the things that are important to you as you move about the world. Klum House bags are stylish and functional—classic designs built to stand the test of time.
We provide makers with a comprehensive, customizable, and fully-supported bag making experience. Our kits contain everything you need, so all you have to do is make! Made from premium waxed canvas and leather, your bag will look and feel seriously luxe.
Shift Culture
Why make a bag when you could buy one? Choosing slow fashion over fast fashion, redefining your relationship to production and consumption, learning, through embodied experience, the value of labor and skilled craft(wo)manship—these are radical acts.
When you make something from start to finish with your own two hands, you can't help but emerge transformed. You learn to embrace imperfection, dismantle limiting beliefs, and develop a sense of your own efficacy. You are powerful! Make more beautiful things.
Meet Ellie, our founder!
Klum House founder Ellie Lum has over twenty five years of professional bag making experience. With roots in industrial sewing and small batch manufacturing, Ellie's super power is teaching makers to achieve professional-quality results on a home sewing machine— and have a hell of a lot of fun while doing it. She's passionate about empowering folks through sharing her craft.
Our Journey
WHEN IT ALL BEGAN
1998
At 18, Ellie was a bike messenger in Philly. Given her background in sewing, she saw an opportunity to make messenger bags better—both the product and how they were produced. With partner Roland Burns, she co-founded R.E. Load Bags, opening shops in Philly, Seattle, and San Francisco. Ellie trained dozens of stitchers, witnessing how these skills empowered people to start their own ventures.
BECOMING A TEACHER
2011-2013
Training stitchers at R.E. Load revealed Ellie's passion for teaching, leading her to study experiential learning and sustainability at UC Berkeley. Using an organic garden as her laboratory, she observed people gaining confidence through embodied experience and working with their hands. This deepened her commitment to empowerment through hands-on education.
KLEIN + LUM = KLUM
2014
Klum House sprouted from Ellie and her husband Dustin's desire to repurpose materials from their previous ventures, R.E. Load Bags and Cadence Clothing. Their collaboration led to a playful merging of names—Klein and Lum became 'Klum'—embodying their shared vision of creative reuse. This new endeavor reflected their commitment to sustainable, handcrafted goods, breathing fresh life into leftover materials.
KLUM HOUSE WORKSHOP IS BORN
2015
When Ellie and Dustin moved to Portland in 2015, Ellie transformed Klum House into a business that combined her passions for teaching and sewing—thus, Klum House Workshop was born. It was (and is) a labor of love. The original Klum House operated out of Ellie's home. In true DIY spirit, she converted her basement into a beautiful teaching studio and welcomed her first students. Drawing on her roots in industrial manufacturing, she taught them how to harness the full power of the home sewing machine, creating bags that are as durable as they are stylish.
FIRST COMMERCIAL STUDIO
2017
Over the next couple of years, Klum House built a following among those seeking high-quality sewing education. In 2017, Ellie seized the opportunity to move into a commercial space in the Williams District. This marked an exciting new phase for Klum House. With more space and increased visibility, we expanded our offerings to include industrial sewing workshops, artist talks, and public events.
PATTERN + KIT COLLECTION LAUNCHES
2018
A year later, Klum House took another big step by launching a line of bag sewing patterns and maker kits. These patterns and kits allowed Ellie to teach a much wider community of makers, not just those nearby. Fully illustrated with easy-to-follow instructions, Klum House patterns reflect Ellie’s 25 years of experience as a bag designer, maker, and teacher. Our maker kits include everything needed to complete a bag at home, including waxed canvas, leather, and hardware.
EXPANDING OUR ONLINE OFFERINGS
2020 - Present
In 2020, Klum House went fully online, launching a new website and a comprehensive range of online classes. While we no longer offer regular in-person classes, our new platform connects us with a global community of makers. Our growing collection of patterns and kits supports every step of your bag-making journey, providing everything you need to make beautiful, durable bags from home. With an expanded online shop and vibrant community, we’re dedicated to fueling your creativity and skill development. Ellie also travels to teach at expos and events, bringing the Klum House spirit directly to you.
😍 Maker Stories
"He authentically could not believe that I had made it. He was genuinely shocked at how legit it looked."
"Everything feels luxe: the waxed canvas, buttery leather, and beautiful hardware. It was a joy to make throughout the whole assembly process. From start to finish, having all the supplies at my fingertips made this project immensely satisfying."
"This bag turned out so radical! It was cool to be able to make a whole badass backpack with zippers, rolltop, leather, hardware."
“WOW! This is all put together so well and the instructions are crystal-clear, it’s amazing! I’m usually easily confused by written instruction 🤪 so, the illustrations are so helpful.”
"I'm a sucker for clever designs and this is such a fun one."
"My first bag ever is finished and I am IN 💛! The kit with high-quality fabric, leather, and hardware was incredibly helpful. The online class was invaluable for the trickier parts. Ellie is an amazing instructor & breaks things down so clearly! This bag was an absolute joy to sew."
Watch me make the Naito!
"In tow is my Portsmith tote that I sewed up last week. Wanting to sew up all the waxed canvas things now!"
"Get your sewjo busy with a Portsmith tote bag from Klum House"
