Hi, I’m Alyssa – co-founder of Higbee Bikes. And I’m really excited to personally introduce our first-ever Higbee accessory: The Woven Tote.
This one is special. It’s the first product I’ve led from idea to reality, and it’s something I wanted for my own Martini. We created it in partnership with Underwater Weaving, and it’s designed to fit perfectly on the front rack of a Higbee Martini.
In this journal, I want to share what inspired it, the many bags and baskets we tested (and ruled out), and how this tote finally came together.
The Higbee Martini (like any good martini) has distintive proportions. I didn’t want a standard wire basket or an overbuilt cargo bag — I wanted something with personality. Something relaxed. A little unexpected.
The spark came while we were in Italy. We spotted an old scooter in a ridiculously picturesque spot in Positano with a quirky woven basket mounted on the back, and it immediately caught my eye. The shape, the texture, the ease of it — it was charming, vintage without being precious.
Once I got home, I went deep. I scoured the internet looking for anything with a similar shape and feel. Eventually I stumbled onto something called a “pack basket,” traditionally used by fishermen to carry gear on their backs. It had the height and proportions I was drawn to, so we ordered one from L.L. Bean to test.
It fit surprisingly well on the bike, and the backpack straps made it easy to attach. Friends and family immediately liked it — but to me, it still felt too manufactured. Too modern. I wanted something closer to that Italian inspiration: more woven, more timeless, more character.
At that point, I started seeing inspiration everywhere—even at our local bars. Shoutout to Grace & Proper.
Meanwhile, Alex wasn’t totally sold on wicker. He was ordering and testing everything—sailcloth, canvas, metal baskets—trying to find the right balance of function and durability. But I couldn’t shake the vision. I kept coming back to woven forms, digging into vintage references, especially from Portugal and Southern Europe.
Eventually, that obsession led us to Underwater Weaving. What followed was a lot of back-and-forth: dialing in the shape, the weave, the proportions, the hardware, and making sure it worked not just visually — but on the bike. The result is a tote that feels right at home on the Martini: useful, unfussy, and quietly beautiful.
It comes on and off in seconds using solid brass hardware — more like vintage luggage than bike gear. Off the bike, it sits flat and looks at home on the beach, in the living room, or wandering the farmers market.
This basket started as something I wanted on my own bike, and became something we could make for others. Huge thanks to the wonderful craftspeople at Underwater Weaving for bringing it to life. If you haven't heard of them, check out their website for more beautifully handwoven bags - I have my eye on many of them!
We have a limited number of Woven Totes in stock – after that they will all be hand made to order in Maine!
— Alyssa
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