MOX´ SACKS

wentyfive years ago I bought a small canvas clad carvel built sailingboat, six meter stem to stern for a symbolic sum. Made by a famous swedish boat designer, Arvid Laurin, in 1954. Cream white hull, chalk white deck with the name Sirocco after a mediterranian wind. Soft rounded mahogany details. With it´s centerboard you could reach almost every cliff in the archepilago of Gothenburg.
Along with this beautiful boat I wanted a practical sailors sack. I sewed one out of 900 g cotton sail canvas, a very thick fabric. I added two inventions to the age old traditional sack design. A zipper opening from below enableing grabbing the stuff at the bottom and a new rope strap construction which I´ve never seen even on todays sacks. A sack you can safely throw into the cockpit without doing the woodwork harm just before you cut the ropes to sail.
As an illustrator, photographer and as Master of fine arts designer I have always strived for simple low key quality in my design, searching combining function with aesthetics in optimal harmony. Aesthetics adding to the ultimate expression of functionality. The result is the MOX´ SACK.

I always carry two bags with me wherever I travel. One bigger, one smaller. On buses, trains, flight transport lines, swetty hotel rooms, for long long walks the sacks has endured. It has by practical use been thoroughly tested. Carrying my belongings in an easy way. The bags have been conveniant friends and an easy burden, easy on my sholders, easy to throw onto a bus´ luggage shelf. Stashing my laptop in the middle of a sack surrounded by my clothes protecting it from bumps and hard treatment.
I present a quiet joy. A shoulder companion, a lifetime friend with it´s interiour small pockets for small gems, passports, paper notes you pick up along the road. Rub it with sweat, tears and smears of amber, honey and incence and patchouli on your way to the mysteries of India.

A journey of mine. Next is yours.

The design process of mine is nowdays done pretty intuitive. I many times use what I call a “whole body decision making”. I´m “thinking” with all of me. More than intuitive. Everything decides. Even all of universe is participating.
Form follows function is an idiom much debated. Function leads of course to form, but is functional form all there is? No. Aesthetics is function as well. One aspect of this is integrating aesthetic function in a interesting unexpected way, solving the functional demands in an elegant creation. Elegancy here means aesthetics. Aesthetics can also have a quality of it´s own.
The function of pleasing the eye when it encounters and realize the real existant world with it´s depths and mindboggling complexity. Reminding you of the eternal laws of the universe. In a sigh of awe. Psychology, history, philosophy, languages in all forms, symbols, our mindreeling technical achievements and why not culinary pleasures – are our labels on top of the depth beneath the surfaces.

“Nature shows it´s depth and complexity in beauty. It´s perhaps the only
way it has to show it.” ~ Kandinsky

Thomas Asplund Mox • Designer

his sack or bag if you prefer, is sewn by an artist normally devoted to illustrations, book- and web design but who desired a detour in his creations. What was a practical need for a sailors bag, resulted in a self sewn plain white sack. I wanted it sturdy and glanced at the traditional old sailors bags. I added to these simple designs two small but important improvments.

A zipper opening from the lower part of the bag and a new sail strap construction running from a buntline hitch at the bottom, all the way through the gromets at the brim at the top. Ending tying the bag with a double round turn. Although there´s tons of sailors bags on the market, no one seems to have come up with this unique little nifty invention.
Just for a lark years later, I began developing the design, searching comfort in something else than computor design.
Since then I´ve made a few additions; gromets for small padlocks to secure the zippers handy at air ports. You can buy airport approved combination locks. With a cable padlock you can secure the top brim gromets as well.

The bag have neat small inside cargo pockets for small items, pens, passports, maps etc. I also added an outside nifty ring utility hanger for minor items such as a little plastic bag with oranges or even a travellers' ukulele.
Rough canvas, 950 gr/m for endurance and strength. The fabric is hand dyed and bleached for the look and prevention of bleeding when washing in preferably 40 °C.

This bag is of practical need. But also of a joy of living.

Thomas Asplund Mox • Designer