Manhattan Portage is
Manhattan Portage
Born out of challenging and gritty streets of New York City over four decades ago, Manhattan Portage started out with a simple goal in mind: provide high-quality bags to as many New Yorkers as possible.
Our first bags were designed for NYC bike messengers and East Village DJs, aimed at simplifying the lives of people.
Born out of challenging and gritty streets of New York City
In the late ’60s, there was an increasing demand for personal messenger deliveries across New York City. While every messenger relied on the heavy military style bags to withstand the challenging landscape of New York, we saw an opportunity.
And in 1983, a brand called Manhattan Portage was born, which revolutionized the messenger bag industry forever by creating a bag with a lightweight and durable alternative to heavy metal buckles. What started as a messenger bag company soon became a local legend and an icon seen everywhere on New York streets - and now all over the world. The little red label became a cultural thing and owed the streetwear scene at the time.
Manhattan Portage created a new urban lifestyle and changed the face of fashion forever with other brands embracing the culture we started and recognizing Manhattan Portage as a respected leader in the world of fashion industry.
That’s Manhattan Portage … It’s New York Tough!
Born out of challenging and gritty streets of New York City
Original pioneer of the authentic messenger bags
What was originally designed for bike messengers in NYC and DJs in the East Village has become mainstream. It's more than a statement or passing trend, Manhattan Portage has become a niche brand and a necessary part of NY culture!
Our red label now flashes on avenues and boulevards around the world — New York to London, Toronto to Tokyo, San Francisco to Singapore, Boston to Beijing which demonstrates the scope of national distribution, global outreach and world-wide success.
Born out of challenging and gritty streets of New York City
A bag for everyone
So what becomes a legend most after all these years?
We have products that fit a wide variety of lifestyles with the slogans, “New York Tough” which represents versatility, durability, adaptability that are in Manhattan Portage’s DNA and Another principle, “a bag for everyone.”
We’re on a mission to make our bags reflect the exciting but difficult realities of the new year and the changing international environment. As a recognized and respected leader in the volatile worlds of fashion industry, we have created a new vision which is rooted in our past embodies the present and answers to the future…
Born out of challenging and gritty streets of New York City
We take pride in our global manufacturing process: New York is where bags are designed; Taiwan is where production occurs. Our presence in both locations is fueled by experienced craftspeople who are industries finest and time tested again and again.
Manufacturing philosophy
First, we spent our days designing bags to meet the practical urban need of New Yorker's. We design our entire line of bags in New York City.
Second, all MP products are constructed with durability in mind from our signature military grade CORDURA® fabric, best-in-line YKK components and designed for the rigors of modern life and crafted with expert care.
Third, a dedicated factory that exclusively manufactures Manhattan Portage products enables us to have numerous quality controls during all stages of production allowing us to detect and correct most issues when they happen, long before our bags ship out and hit retailer's shelves.
For Manhattan Portage
It's taking a great idea of making it even better.
#1200 OWNED AND USED FOR THE PAST 42 YEARS.
Originally purchased as a gift by his mother-in-law in 1982, Dennis of Queens, NY returned his bag with the original hangtag for warranty service in 2012. This bag has traveled with him all his working life and he has never used another backpack since. The original green logo is what makes this piece special.
Born out of challenging and gritty streets of New York City
MP is there for the long haul, designing and manufacturing bags for four decades now. It has a strong reputation for authentic designs, durability and practicality. We have built a loyal following and word-of-mouth advertising from satisfied customers, and this has been our best testimonials over the years.
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"My father purchased this bag for my son 5 years ago and it is still going strong. He used it all through college and now he uses it to go to work. It looks just as good as when the day it was bought. It's amazing."
"I just wanted to let you know that the Manhattan Portage bag I bought from you a few years back is one of the BEST products of any kind that I have ever owned. Thank you for putting quality FIRST in a time where it seems like nothing is built to last anymore. You have earned a customer (and advocate) for life. Please keep up the good work!"
"I rarely leave reviews, but I just have to with this bag. I got this last year while I was still a student in NYC. It served me well the whole year and was the perfect size for carrying around my computer and notebooks. Granted if I was going to the library with a lot of books or articles, I needed an extra bag. But for everyday use, it was the perfect size. Now I'm living and working in Thailand and I drive a motorbike everywhere. I knew that this bag was supposed to be water resistant, but when I got caught in a torrential downpour today while driving my bike to work, I panicked thinking all my papers were going to get soaked (luckily I had put my computer in my seat). When I got to work, I myself was soaked and the outside of my bag was definitely wet, but EVERYTHING inside was perfectly fine... not even damp! Bravo, Manhattan Portage... this truly is an extraordinary bag!!"
Born out of challenging and gritty streets of New York City
Tough is not being invincible: it's embracing vulnerability
Tough is not digging in your heels: it's moving forward
Tough is not a loud parade: it's a quiet commitment
Tough is not rolling the dice, it's persistence
Tough is not resoluteness, it's an open mind
There is tough, and there is New York Tough