theoceanfrontbag.com Open in urlscan Pro
185.199.111.153  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

THE OCEAN FRONT LEATHER BAG BY A. M. AIKEN



The Ocean Front Bag was born out of a personal need and a moment of clarity
under the sun. While using the Strathmere Weekend Bag by the pool, I realized
that although it was perfect for a weekend getaway, its features were overkill
for a simple sun-soaked afternoon. Thus, the Ocean Front Bag was conceived—a bag
of the same luxurious quality and size, but without the unnecessary extras. Just
a few essential pockets and a breezy, open-top design with a snap button
closure.

When packing this for the pool I typically pack the following, in an effort to
convey what you may be able to fit into yours for your walk up to the pool or
beach:

 * 3 beach towels
 * 2 large 32oz water bottles
 * 2 pairs of goggles
 * a set of pool rings (for my son to dive for after I throw them into the
   water)
 * snacks (crackers, chips, etc)
 * a small pouch which carries my wallet, notebook, pencil, pencil sharpener,
   house keys, chapstick, and so on.
 * another small pouch for various lotions
 * pool passes (in the smaller interior pocket)
 * current magazine I’m reading through (in the larger interior pocket)
 * current book I’m trying desperately to read through
 * phone (in one of the exterior pockets)
 * glasses case (in the other exterior pocket)



The Strathmere Leather Weekend Bag is intended to pack your clothes and such for
a weekend getaway, then strap it down and throw it into the trunk of your car.
The Ocean Front Bag is intended to be used once you’ve arrived at your
destination as your daily carry.


INSPIRATION AND DESIGN

Imagine a couple strolling down to the beach from their oceanfront stay, each
carrying their own Ocean Front Bag. Packed lightly with a towel, a book, and
some water—just enough for comfort. The bag, whether slung over the shoulder or
hanging by the side, is a perfect fit. A few grains of sand might sneak in, a
small reminder of a day well spent by the sea.

This bag’s simplicity is its charm. Rustic yet refined, it beckons you outdoors.
It doesn’t like to sit idle; it’s meant for adventure, even if that adventure is
just a short walk to the pool or the shore. The Ocean Front Bag transcends
gender, making it a suitable companion for anyone. It’s perfect for a trip to
the office, a quick errand, or a leisurely coffee shop visit. Versatility is its
silent strength—load it up with your essentials, and you’re ready for anything,
whether business or pleasure.


FEATURES AND FUNCTIONALITY



 * Dual Carrying Handles: Versatile enough to be carried by hand or over the
   shoulder, with a handle height of 9.75”.
 * Simple and Secure Closure: Three 24-line button snaps provide a secure
   closure for the main compartment.
 * Exterior Pockets: Two smaller pockets (8” height x 7” width) with a shared
   flap lid, secured by tuck-lock clasps, perfect for quick-access items. (I use
   these for my phone in one pocket and my glasses or sun glasses in the other
   pocket.)
 * Spacious Interior: A main cavity for larger items, plus two interior pockets
   for organizing magazines, documents, and more. (Using mine to keep my current
   magazine read handy in the larger of the two, and then my wallet in the
   smaller. While on a trip I could see the smaller pocket being useful for
   keeping keys, rental fobs, and so on.)
 * Durable Construction: Cut from a single piece of continuous leather, ensuring
   durability and a sleek design.






THE ESSENCE OF THE OCEAN FRONT BAG

When I look at this bag, I can hear the waves, feel the breeze, and see the
seagulls soaring overhead. The warmth of the sand on my feet and the sun’s
embrace come rushing back to me. These are the moments that make me feel most
alive, and the Ocean Front Bag is a tangible reminder of them. It’s about
travel, family, love, memories, laughter, and dreams.

The Ocean Front Bag is more than just an accessory—it evokes emotion. It’s a
call to adventure and a companion in everyday life, blending functionality with
a sense of freedom and nostalgia. It’s a bag designed for those who cherish the
journey as much as the destination.


THE STORY

Every product I create has a story. Something in my life or in my mind that
inspires a thing to exist. That story for Ocean Front is below, is all true and
from the depths of my heart. All of the personal photos below are from our beach
trips in the past.



Our family beach vacations were always the highlight of each year for me as a
young husband and then as a dad. My wife at the time and I would plan the trip
in January with her parents, looking for the right place, the right dates, the
right price. Once the dates were set, I started a countdown on my phone. Time
would crawl from that day on, each day checking to see how many days remained,
wishing time to move faster. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, it was the week
of the trip! At last!

I always took off work the Thursday and Friday before our Saturday check-in.
Thursday to get things packed and start to unwind from work, Friday to hit the
road.

We would leave Friday morning, not rushing out, but maybe around 9 or so.
Leisurely.

Our first stop was always for a sticky bun and coffee at a local stand next to
the Lancaster Visitor Center just off of the highway. Enjoy those, get a few
photos of our son, a toddler at this point, with the Amish Buggy, then get back
on the road. Taking 896 south and eventually getting to Route 1, if my memory is
correct. Just a few hours and we’d be in Dover, Delaware, pulling into the
parking lot of the Air Mobility Command Museum located at the edge of Dover AFB.
A tradition that I miss, as with all of this.

Seeing the static airplanes on display never got old, even though my wife and I
had seen them plenty of times before. The fun part was keeping up with our son
as he would run from plane to plane, amazed at the size. I remember going into
one of them and they had an old fire truck inside the airplane. To our
3-year-old at the time, this was mind-blowing.



Next stop was our hotel for the night. We’d get there, find the room, then head
to the pool. Do some swimming, then head to our first slice of Grotto’s pizza
for the week. Eat dinner, enjoy the birch beer, play a few arcade games, then
head back to the hotel for bed.



The next morning: breakfast at the hotel buffet, then coffee at the Starbucks
just down the street. Then just an hour or so drive into the Rehoboth/Dewey
Beach area of Delaware. The final stretch into town could take a while depending
on traffic, so sometimes we would take a detour over to Rehoboth Beach to get
some vitamin sea, other times we’d conquer the traffic and head straight to the
condo rental.

(Quick aside to acknowledge that this is a lot so far. A lot for a story about a
bag. And truth be told, this bag, the Ocean Front, was never present for any of
these trips. I was not working with leather at that time, and if you told me
then that I’d be doing leather work in the future, I would not have believed
you. I was creative but not like that. Or so I thought.)

Her parents usually beat us there and had already done a grocery run to stock up
for a few days. All we had to do was unload our car, then head up to the beach
to see if the ocean was how we left it last year. It always was.



We typically stayed ocean block, but one year we did have an Ocean Front condo
and I have very clear memories of staying in that particular place. The deck was
my favorite, as with all of the places we’ve stayed over the years, because it
was Ocean Front and my view was always the ocean. The waves, I can hear them. It
made for the perfect place for morning coffee, afternoon cigar, and evening
wine. It was also a nice and short walk up to the beach. Not that ocean block
was a long walk, but Ocean Front just can’t be beat.

I digress.

And I could go on and on and on. Suffice it to say that my memories from all of
these trips, easily spanning over ten years, are all positive. Sure, as with any
family trip, there was drama to contend with, but I was always able to see just
beyond it and enjoy each and every moment with my family. At first, it was with
my girlfriend’s family, and then my fiancé’s family, and then my wife’s family -
our family. We went for several years before having our son, and then he came
along and we were able to include him in the traditional trip down to Dewey
Beach.



Dewey Beach is not a beach to necessarily write home about, but for me it was
and is. Those times are held tightly in my heart and I think about our times
together often. And now even more so with the launch of this bag, the Ocean
Front bag.

If you are still here, still reading up to this point, you are quite dedicated,
and I appreciate that very much. I have yet to take this bag to the beach, to
stay ocean front with it, and use it as I have intended it to be used. That
said, I am currently using it as my daily bag and as my pool bag. It is
developing character with use. Drops of water have landed on it, leaving marks,
making memories.

The tagline is very intentional, as all taglines should be: Your Memories. With
You.

The idea being that this is a bag to be used. This is a bag to take to the pool.
To take to the beach. To load, unload, reload, to use it for many different
purposes. To create memories with, or more accurately, for it to be present
while memories are being made.

And then, when the trip is over, when you return home, use it as your day-to-day
bag. Pack your laptop, your paperwork, your water, your change of clothes…use it
how you use any bag. And by doing so, take your memories with you.



Now, every time I look at my Ocean Front, I think of my times taking it up to
the pool. With my son there with me, my ex-wife joining us, spending time
together by the pool - continuing to make memories.



I hope that I am doing an adequate job at placing the soul of this bag into the
digital realm for you to read, for you to feel. This is not just another leather
bag in a world that is swimming in them. This is a moment in the making, a
memory in the making. This is the bag for you now, for the trip you are planning
for later this year and the following. This is the bag for you to keep those
memories close and to never forget them.

Get the Ocean Front now and take Your Memories With You. I look forward to
making one for you!

Sincerely,
Aaron M. Aiken

Aaron is the Designer and Maker of Ocean Front, all Strathmere Leather products,
and the entire A. M. Aiken catalog.

> Go. Pack this bag. Take that book. Send a post card.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


PRODUCT DETAILS


MATERIALS

 * 100% drum-dyed vegetable tan leather (available in Tan, Brown, and Black)
 * hardware finish of your choice (which will be finalized once your order has
   been placed)


MEASUREMENTS

Exterior Dimensions:

 * Top Length when Closed: 21” (53 cm)
 * Bottom Length: 15” (38 cm)
 * Height: 15” (38 cm)
 * Bottom Width: 8.75” (22 cm)

Interior Dimensions:

 * Width at Bottom: 15” (38 cm)
 * Bottom Width: 8.5” (22 cm)
 * Width at Top when Open: 11” (28 cm)
 * Height: 15” (38 cm)

Luggage Terms:

 * Cabin Size: The Ocean Front Bag is designed to closely match the typical
   carry-on size requirements for most airlines, making it an excellent travel
   companion for flights. Its spacious interior and organized pockets allow you
   to pack your essentials comfortably for a short trip or weekend getaway.
 * Versatility: With its compact yet roomy design, the bag can fit under the
   seat or in the overhead compartment on most flights, ensuring your belongings
   are always within reach during your journey.

Note:

 * While the Ocean Front Bag is designed to be close to standard carry-on
   dimensions, please check with your specific airline for their carry-on
   luggage size policies, as they may vary slightly.

Unlimited lifetime warranty on leather workmanship. Details of coverage
available at amaiken.com/warranty.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


THE PROCESS

First, I had to get the design out of my head and onto paper. The blank page is
the perfect place to start.



After drawing it out and getting final measurements, cuts, placement of each
component, sizing of each component, and so on, I select an adequate side of
drum-dyed leather and make the cut for the main body of the bag.



Then, measure, cut and mark each piece that will make the bag complete.



Everything has to be attached to the bag before it is fully assembled. Both
straps, the interior pockets, exterior pocket with the flap, all hardware, and
so on…everything is attached while the bag is still in an unassembled state.









This all starts in my head first and then I turn it into something you and I can
use in our day-to-day lives. That process will never get old. I am given the
ideas, the inspiration is sent to me, and then I have the opportunity to turn
those ideas into reality. Absolutely incredible.

After attaching everything, I do some stretching to make sure I’m loose and then
head into fully assembling the bag inside-out, and then through nothing but
magic (muscle) flip it right-side-out. And tada! The Ocean Front leather bag is
ready for use!



Questions or comments? Just use the form here to send me an email!



The Ocean Front Leather Bag - Your Memories. With You.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Copyright 2024 A. M. Aiken - All Rights Reserved.

✋ Website Made by Hand in Harrisburg Pennsylvania by Aaron Aiken

📸 Unless noted otherwise, all photographs were taken by Aaron Aiken.

✒️ Ocean Front logo was designed and provided by Ning Kantida.

Ocean Front is a product of Strathmere Leather.
Strathmere Leather is a product line created and owned by A. M. Aiken.

49 🇨🇦🇨🇭🇩🇪🇬🇧🇮🇪🇳🇱🇷🇺🇸🇦🇸🇨🇹🇭🇺🇸 👋 2