Ripstop Nylon Has Just Been Added To The NZ Catalog
Like many countries across the globe, New Zealand is banning single use plastic bags. To compensate and give shoppers a way to carry their purchases, stores are offering reusable tote bags as an alternative.
But not all shoppers want totes with a retailer’s graphic. So there’s much opportunity to create fashion-forward reusable bags with one-of-a-kind style to either sell for profit or use to build your brand. The secret? Laser cutting ripstop nylon.
What You Can Make With Ripstop Nylon
Why laser cut bags instead of making them by hand? Laser cutting seals off the edges of the material, giving it a cleaner and more professional finish. If you’re making quantity to sell, it’s faster and a better use of time to have the lasers cut the parts. And you know these shapes will be consistent and accurate because of the precision of the laser.
But the most interesting—and fun!—reason is that you can laser cut cool patterns that could be quite difficult to execute consistently by hand (such as a design that incorporates a repeating logo pattern if you’re making promotional products).
To test out this latest addition to the NZ materials catalog with a real-life tote bag, we laser cut a coral-inspired pattern into the side panels to not only add stylish flair to an otherwise basic design but also validate the material’s strength. It worked really well both aesthetically and functionally. Check it out:
Here’s another view:
If you’d like to make fashionable tote bags like these, download the laser cutting files here.
For a more utilitarian approach, this shopping bag is not only strong but it also easily folds up for convenient carrying when you’re out and about.
Here’s the flat view:
If you’d like to make shopping bags like these, download the laser cutting files here.
While all the bags above were sewn up, you certainly don’t have to be a sewing master to do this. (We certainly aren’t; hello pile of sad failed nylon projects in the corner we won’t talk about…) These bags were easy to make and even the sloppiest sewing doesn’t really matter. Simply sew the sides first then the bottom/handles and turn it right-side out to hide all that sewing business. Boom! You’ve got a bag. That said, if you’re planning on selling your designs on Etsy (or elsewhere), you’ll want to buff up on the sewing skills to make it look professional.
Now Available: Black Ripstop Nylon
With high strength and durability, ripstop nylon is a great choice for functional designs. The visible crosshatched reinforcing technique makes this woven nylon fabric resistant to tearing and ripping. Since the laser melts and fuses the edges for a crisp finish that resists fraying, cut details remain strong. This makes ripstop nylon especially suited for bags, banners, bunting, lightweight clothing or any application where durable yet relatively lightweight fabric is needed.
Maker Tips: Laser engraving ripstop nylon isn’t recommended. The material is too thin and the engraving burns right through. Dashed cutting lines might be a more reliable way to create markings for folds, etc.
Additionally, ripstop nylon is not cut with protective paper, so some flashing may be visible along the laser-cut edge and at the back of the fabric. Finally, a grid texture is apparent on this material, which may not be perfectly straight when placed in the machine, so you’ll want to design accordingly.
To learn more about ripstop nylon, get all the details here and pick up a sample here.
What Will You Laser Cut With Ripstop Nylon?
Not to let the cat out of the bag, but we think this ripstop nylon is pretty special stuff. Do you agree? What designs come to mind that you’d like to make? Well, fire up the ol’ Mac and jump into Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape so you can turn this inspiration into to tangible designs. Whatever your laser cutter project ideas, give us a shout in the comment box and let us know what you can’t wait to make. We’d love to hear all about it!
