About us
Why does Playbag exist at all?
We could have offered you handsome leather handbags and backpacks for around 2,990 CZK, stitched in anonymous factories somewhere far from Europe, or in the Chinese-run plants of northern Italy, often under conditions you would rather not see. Cheap labor, relentless pressure on volume, a backstory you are better off not asking about, and a tidy little label that reads "Made in Italy." But to us that feels twisted, unfair, and above all, it simply would not make us proud.
We chose the harder, longer road instead. A road that, at higher cost, means a higher price for the customer, fewer sales, and often slimmer margins, but it sits right with us. We want to prove that great design, honest materials, and fair conditions for everyone in the chain can be done differently than the fast-fashion "norm" dictates.
We believe there are people who appreciate not only how our products look and work, but also what stands behind them:
Fair working conditions
We respect everyone who has a hand in making our products.
Italian leathers from certified farms
We choose only the finest European materials.
Respect for the people who make them
We know exactly who holds our products in their hands during production.
We love creating tangible, beautiful, quality things from materials we never have to be ashamed of. Things where we know who made them and under what conditions. This passion, paired with the drive to prove it can be done honestly and the ambition to build a strong European brand, is the reason Playbag exists.
We do not want to be "just another e-shop with accessories." We love to create, to seek out new paths, and to assemble unexpected shapes. We want to shatter the received wisdom of "how it's supposed to be done" and show that a functional object, a backpack, say, can be practical, beautiful, and able to elevate both your outfit and your conscience rather than wreck them.
Who Playbag is for
Playbag does not follow the beaten path. On the contrary, it forges its own, built on solid values, quality, and a sense of play.
We create for people who choose consciously. For those who understand that beauty carries a dimension of responsibility, too.
Yes, the most sustainable product is no product at all. But as long as we keep our feet on the ground, we believe in sustainability built on:
Quality that lasts
Years, not seasons. Our products are built to last.
Timeless design
Design that won't burn out after a trend or two and will serve you for years.
Fair relationships
Across the whole chain, from the tannery through the workshop all the way to you.
Playbag is still a small company from Zlín that produces in its own Zlín atelier and two more specialized Czech workshops. Small as we are, we have big ambitions and a hunger to keep getting better, in design, in quality, and in how we show up as a brand in the world.
How Playbag came to be
Jan Boruta
CEO & CO-OWNER
Jan Boruta picked up where that history left off. In late 2023 he took the helm, acquired a majority stake in the brand together with friends, and helped reignite its growth. Jan pairs a genuine passion for beautiful, quality products with experience leading other companies. The goal is clear: to build on the brand's original playful spirit, push quality and design to the next level, and steadily grow a brand confident enough to hold its own not only in the Czech Republic but across Europe.
"We're building a brand with the confidence to hold its own in Europe."
Aleš Loch
Founder & designer
Playbag was founded by Zlín-based designer Aleš Loch. He gave the brand its unmistakable signature, playful, inventive, and yet practical. One result is the now-iconic Volta backpack, of which thousands have sold. Aleš loved playing with shapes, turning ideas into new objects, and finding unexpected solutions. That playfulness and urge to create are written firmly into Playbag's DNA. At the end of 2023 Aleš decided to sell his majority stake; today he helps his father run the production of work bags and clothing in the trade, and is developing his own further projects.
"Playfulness and the urge to create are written firmly into Playbag's DNA."
So today Playbag is a blend of four things: honest craftsmanship, quality materials, unconventional design, and the ambition to build a strong European brand.
If you're after things that last, carry a story, and fit your life and your outfit alike, you're our kind of person :-).
Our team
A small team with big ambitions. Each of us brings a piece of ourselves to Playbag, along with a shared passion for quality things.
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Jan Boruta
CEO & Co-owner
Leads Playbag with the vision of building a strong European brand. He combines a passion for quality with hands-on business experience.
Andrea
Product development
She is in charge of custom production and the development of new products. Ideas and prototypes come to life in her hands.
Michaela
Customer support and Prague pickup point
Míša now takes care of you, our customers. She's always glad to help with anything you need. Since she also runs our Prague pickup point, you can stop by to try on how our backpacks, handbags, or wallets suit you.
How we make it
Every Playbag product is born in Zlín or in two specialized Czech workshops, where craft tradition meets modern design.
Craftsmanship in every detail
Our seamstresses work with the finest Italian leathers from certified European farms. Every stitch, every seam, and every detail is the result of more than 15 years of experience and meticulous handwork.
Production takes place in Zlín and two Czech workshops, where we uphold the highest standards of quality while also caring about fair working conditions for everyone who takes part in making our products.
See how your backpack comes to life
From the first cut to the final inspection, step inside our workshops and discover the story of your backpack.
Ready to discover our products?
Take your pick from a collection of backpacks, handbags, and wallets crafted from the finest Italian leathers. Every piece is a story of honest Czech craftsmanship.