Gouache
Gouache is a Philippine-based handcrafted waxed canvas and leather bag manufacturer based in Marikina, serving urban professionals, photographers, cyclists, and corporate gifting clients through DTC e-commerce, its own showroom, and premium retail partners across Metro Manila and Cebu.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersSan Roque, Philippines
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Gouache does
Gouache is a Philippine-based, privately-held manufacturer and retailer of handcrafted waxed canvas and leather bags and accessories, headquartered at a combined showroom and workshop in Marikina. The company operates as the pioneer of canvas waxing in the local Philippine bag industry, producing each piece by hand using a proprietary wax blend applied to cotton canvas, paired with water-resistant ripstop linings and YKK zippers. Its portfolio spans 53+ SKUs organized across Everyday Big Bags (backpacks, duffels, messenger bags, totes), Daily Small Bags (sling, clutch, belt bags, biker and camera bags), Organizers (pouches, dopp kits, stationery rolls), and Apparel (aprons), priced from ₱270 (coin purses) to ₱6,300 (collaboration totes).
The business operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce (own Shopify storefront with a pre-order system for collaboration items and ₱3,000 free-shipping threshold), a physical showroom/workshop in Marikina, multi-brand retail partnerships (Common Room across 4 Metro Manila locations, Rustan's department stores across 5 locations including Cebu, The Roots Collective, MVP Camera, and DTI Go Lokal), and a B2B corporate gifting channel. Revenue is generated through one-time unit sales across these channels, supplemented by recurring limited-edition collaborations with Filipino brands (RIOTASO, Anthill, The Spark Project, Motovita Manila) and an upcycling initiative that converts production fabric scraps (retaso) into accessory and collaboration SKUs.
Customer segments are diversified across urban professionals, photographers and artists, cyclists and motorbike riders, travelers, and corporate gifting clients. The company is bootstrapped with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or external investors, and operates with a small artisanal workforce (11-50 employees) producing entirely in Marikina. No AI/ML capabilities, patents, certifications, or external validation beyond a Philippine Star media feature are present in the source data.
Gouache firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gouache
- Legal name
- Gouache Bags
- Website
- https://gouachebags.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Gouache is a Philippine-based handcrafted waxed canvas and leather bag manufacturer based in Marikina, serving urban professionals, photographers, cyclists, and corporate gifting clients through DTC e-commerce, its own showroom, and premium retail partners across Metro Manila and Cebu.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gouache industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Handcrafted Bags and Accessories
- NAICS
- Textile Bag and Canvas Mills (31491)
- SIC
- Leather & Leather Products (3100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Backpacks & Travel Bags (CRAAAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sports, Outdoor & Adventure Packs Manufacturing (Backpacks/Duffels) (IMAOAHAE)
Keywords
Where Gouache is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Roque
- HQ country
- Philippines
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gouache business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Direct Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of waxed canvas bags, accessories, and everyday carry essentials through own e-commerce platform and retail store. Products include backpacks, messenger bags, totes, slings, dopp kits, organizers, camera bags, bike bags, and aprons.
- Retail Distribution: Wholesale distribution through multi-brand retail partners including Common Room, Rustan's department stores, The Roots Collective, and MVP Camera. Retailers carry selected best-selling designs.
- Corporate Gifts Program: B2B corporate gifting program for bulk orders, with dedicated page and contact channels for corporate clients.
- Limited Edition Collaborations: Special collaboration products (RIOTASO X GOUACHE, Anthill x Gouache) sold at premium price points, creating urgency through pre-order models.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories and Small Items |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-Range Bags and Organizers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium Bags |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Collaboration Items (RIOTASO x Gouache, Anthill x Gouache) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels9 records
Gouache product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gouache manufactures and sells handcrafted waxed canvas bags, leather bags, and everyday carry accessories. As the pioneer of canvas waxing in the Philippine local bag industry, each piece is meticulously handcrafted by Filipino artisans in Marikina using a proprietary wax blend applied to high-quality cotton canvas, producing water-resistant, robust, and pliable fabric. The product range spans backpacks, messenger bags, totes, slings, camera bags, bike bags, dopp kits, pouches, organizers, aprons, and caps, including limited edition collaborations with brands such as RIOTASO and Anthill.
Product overview
Gouache is a handcrafted waxed canvas bag and accessory brand based in Marikina, Philippines. The company offers a diverse portfolio of bags and accessories organized into several product categories: Everyday Big Bags (backpacks, duffels, messenger bags, totes), Daily Small Bags (sling bags, clutch and belt bags), Organizers and Essentials (pouches, dopp kits, organizers), and Apparel (aprons). The product line also includes specialty collaborations with brands like RIOTASO and Anthill. Gouache emphasizes sustainability through upcycling initiatives using retaso (fabric scraps) in their products. The company positions itself as the pioneer of canvas waxing in the local bag industry, with each piece handcrafted and featuring unique finishes that age beautifully with use. Products range from ₱270 (coin purses) to ₱6,300 (Dian Errand Bag), targeting urban professionals, streetwear enthusiasts, photographers, cyclists, and travelers who appreciate craftsmanship, functionality, and understated style.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Messenger City Bag A vintage-feel satchel for urban adventures with water-resistant waxed canvas, genuine leather accents, ripstop lining, multiple pockets, and a padded laptop divider fitting 15-inch laptops.
- Kahlo Zippered Bag with Organizer Tokyo-fashion-inspired lightweight unisex tote with 8 pockets, 2 removable dividers, luggage holder, zipper lock, and laptop compartment fitting 13-inch laptops and full-frame cameras.
- Ross Knapsack Bag Backpack designed for city life and travel with laptop compartment, 2 zipper pockets, and 2 side pockets, fitting daily work items, laptops, books, documents, and tablets.
- Hogarth Duffel Bag A versatile bag that serves as a sports bag, travel bag, and office bag, designed to carry from the beach to a lunch meeting.
- Hudson 2-way Tote Bag Classy tote bag with spacious interior and multiple straps for versatile design, suited for hauling essentials to work or around town.
- Rennell Camera Messenger Bag Camera messenger bag designed for photographers and artists looking for stylish alternatives to traditional camera bags.
- Harvey Camera Sling Bag Designed by street photographers for street photographers, fits Fujis or Leicas as well as regular DSLR or mirrorless cameras.
- Bonnie Camera Strap Waxed canvas and leather strap with soft suede leather, designed for mirrorless cameras but capable of handling heavy full-framed DSLRs.
- Otto Mini Motorcycle Bag Handlebar pouch with multiple Velcro mounts compatible with different handlebar configurations, keeping phone, wallet, and keys secure while riding.
- Otto Motorcycle or Rider Bag Co-designed with Motovita Manila, a multi-use utility bag worn as a belt bag to house essentials while riding motorcycles.
- Moto Tool Roll Organizer Space-efficient tool roll designed to hold wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, and motorcycle tools.
- Sawyer Sling Bag A 3-way bag that works as a slouch sling bag, tote bag, and clutch bag with playful 2-tone colors, secured with YKK zipper and water-resistant ripstop lining.
- Finley Cross Body Sling Mondrian-inspired funky crossbody sling bag serving as a go-to travel pack for keeping wallet, phone, travel docs, and sunglasses safe.
- Theodore Dopp Toiletry Pouch A spacious toiletry pouch for carrying grooming tools during travel.
- Bennet Apron with Pocket Artisan apron made of leather and waxed cotton canvas with adjustable strap, designed for craftspeople.
- RIOTASO X GOUACHE Collaboration Line Limited-edition collaboration products with RIOTASO crafted from signature waxed canvas and upcycled fabric scraps (retaso), giving new life to materials that would otherwise go to waste. Includes dopp kit, coin purse, bucket bag, and 3-way rider bag.
Quantifiable outcome
- 53+ products across multiple categories
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Gouache
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Gouache technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Gouache partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- RIOTASOcoreColorful collaboration with the 'funky folks at RIOTASO.' Products crafted from Gouache's signature waxed canvas and retaso (upcycled fabric scraps), giving new life to materials that would otherwise go to waste. Each piece is uniquely assembled with no two bags exactly alike. Products include Dopp Kit (₱1,800), Coin Purse (₱400), Bucket Bag (₱2,700), and 3-Way Rider Bag (₱3,200). Available in Avocado Green, Blue Berry, and Ripe Mango colors.
- ANTHILL (Anthill Fabric)coreFilipino heritage collaboration featuring handwoven local fabrics (hablon, kantarines). Bold, unapologetically Filipino designs like the Leona Bib Tote with handwoven panel centerpiece, Diego Dopp Kit, Dian Errand Bag, and Sinta Sling. Products range from ₱2,000-₱6,300, celebrating heritage while supporting local textile traditions.
- The Spark ProjectminorSocial enterprise crowdfunding platform collaboration on the 'Spark Bag' - described as 'The Modern Briefcase.' A flexible bag that can be used as hand carry, backpack, and shoulder sling. Features water-resistant polycanvas, YKK zipper, padded laptop compartment fitting 15-inch laptops.
- Motovita ManilaminorCo-designed the Otto Motorcycle/Rider Bag - described as 'a rider's best friend.' Multi-use utility bag worn as belt bag or mounted on motorcycles. Collaboration created the ultimate multi-use bag for cyclists.
- Common RoommajorMulti-location lifestyle retail partner with 4 locations across Metro Manila (Power Plant Mall, Alabang Town Center, UP Town Center, Manila Bay). Carries majority upcycled specialty items plus selected retail styles. Stores open 11am-9pm.
- Rustan'smajorUpscale department store chain with 5 locations (Makati, Shangri-La, Alabang, Gateway, Cebu). Carries best-selling retail offerings in Men's Department. Stores open 10am-9pm.
- The Roots CollectiveminorLifestyle retail partner at Uptown Bonifacio Mall, Taguig. Carries selected Gouache designs.
- MVP CameraminorPhotography specialty retailer offering selected Gouache camera bags and accessories.
- DTI Go LokalminorPhilippine government initiative supporting local brands. Joint retail space with Common Room at UP Town Center, Quezon City, helping promote Filipino-made products.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Gouache competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bellroy: Bellroy is an Australian premium carry-goods brand making wallets, backpacks, totes, and travel bags with a slim, design-forward approach. It targets the same premium conscious consumer Gouache serves across the Asia-Pacific region but with greater scale and a wider product range.
- Fjällräven: Fjällräven is a Swedish heritage outdoor brand offering backpacks, totes, and travel bags (including its iconic Kånken line) built for durability and longevity. It competes with Gouache in the durable everyday-carry category and benefits from global brand recognition that Gouache lacks regionally.
- Herschel Supply Co. Herschel is a globally scaled Canadian heritage-style bag brand offering backpacks, totes, duffels, and travel accessories with design-led positioning. It competes broadly with Gouache for similar everyday-carry customers but does not specialize in handcrafted waxed canvas.
Direct peers
- Frost River: Frost River is an American maker of waxed canvas packs, duffels, and outdoor bags handcrafted in small batches with a similar material-first, heritage-craft identity. Gouache and Frost River share the waxed-canvas + leather-trim product mix and dependence on artisan production.
- Filson: Filson is a U.S. heritage brand making waxed canvas and tin-cloth bags, apparel, and accessories with a handcraft, lifetime-guarantee positioning. Like Gouache, Filson built its identity around rugged, patina-developing materials and premium pricing, making it the closest international analogue for Gouache's waxed canvas-first philosophy.
- Best Made Co. Best Made Co. sells premium handcrafted goods (including canvas/leather bags and accessories) under a strong craft-content brand narrative. Like Gouache, it has built a community around artisans, storytelling, and a curated lifestyle catalog rather than a mass-market distribution model.
- Magallen Goods: Magallen is a Singapore-based heritage bag maker specializing in waxed canvas and leather heritage-style backpacks, totes, and duffels. It is the closest Southeast Asian counterpart to Gouache - same material choices, similar craft positioning, and access to an overlapping Filipino/Southeast Asian consumer aesthetic.
- Maine Mountain Co. Maine Mountain Co. produces handcrafted waxed canvas and leather bags built in the U.S. with a similar vintage-utilitarian aesthetic. Gouache competes in the same niche for style-conscious urban and outdoor consumers who value patina and craftsmanship.
Emerging players
- State Bags: State Bags is a U.S. premium carry-goods brand built around socially conscious positioning, collaborations, and limited drops. Gouache's collaboration model with RIOTASO and ANTHILL echoes State Bags' playbook of partnering with artists and designers for buzz-driven capsule collections.
Regional players
- Rags2Riches: Rags2Riches is a Filipino social-enterprise brand producing handcrafted bags and accessories from upcycled and local materials through artisan communities. It is a Philippine-based peer with a comparable locally-made, sustainability-led value proposition, though Rags2Riches leans into weaves rather than waxed canvas.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gouache social profiles
Digital presenceGouache financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gouache leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Gouache funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gouache M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gouache
What does Gouache do?
Gouache manufactures and sells handcrafted waxed canvas bags, leather bags, and everyday carry accessories. As the pioneer of canvas waxing in the Philippine local bag industry, each piece is meticulously handcrafted by Filipino artisans in Marikina using a proprietary wax blend applied to high-quality cotton canvas, producing water-resistant, robust, and pliable fabric. The product range spans backpacks, messenger bags, totes, slings, camera bags, bike bags, dopp kits, pouches, organizers, aprons, and caps, including limited edition collaborations with brands such as RIOTASO and Anthill.
Is Gouache a public or private company?
Gouache is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Gouache founded?
Gouache was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Gouache based?
Gouache is headquartered in San Roque, Philippines, in the Asia region.
How does Gouache make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Direct Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are retail Distribution, corporate Gifts Program and limited Edition Collaborations.
Who are Gouache's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bellroy, Fjällräven and Herschel Supply Co.. Direct peers are Frost River, Filson, Best Made Co., Magallen Goods and Maine Mountain Co.. State Bags is listed as an emerging player. Rags2Riches is listed as a regional player.
Does Gouache have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gouache.
What industry is Gouache in?
Gouache's product category is Handcrafted Bags and Accessories. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAAJAB, Backpacks & Travel Bags, with a secondary code of IMAOAHAE, Sports, Outdoor & Adventure Packs Manufacturing (Backpacks/Duffels). Its NAICS code is 31491 and its SIC code is 3100.