“...we made use of every spare hour to produce the fishing and shooting bags which were the first bags we made”
In 1973, the Billingham story began. Ros and I started our journey from our own home, transforming a spare bedroom into a makeshift workshop.
A large table became our cutting surface, where canvas was meticulously shaped with scissors, and leather was carved with a knife. Another room housed our solitary sewing machine.
It was a labor of love, every piece crafted with dedication and care. In those early days, we poured every spare moment into creating our first products: durable fishing and shooting bags.
Balancing our fledgling business with full-time jobs, we worked tirelessly to keep Billingham afloat. By 1977, the growing demand for our bags allowed us to take a significant step.
We rented a small, 500 square foot unit and hired our first sewing machinist. This expansion marked the beginning of our growth. Little did we know, a serendipitous discovery was about to change our path.
We learned that our fishing bags, exported to the USA, were being repurposed as camera bags by New York photographers.
This revelation was our 'lightbulb moment,' a turning point that would redefine Billingham.
Inspired by this unexpected use of our bags, we swiftly designed the System 1 camera bag, now known as the 550. This iconic design remains a staple in our collection today.
At the time, camera bags were predominantly rigid cases, and our soft, adaptable design was met with skepticism from camera shops.
Undeterred, we took a bold step: placing an advertisement in the British Journal of Photography and offering our bags via mail order.
This initiative led us to our first photographic exhibition at Earls Court, where we received an unexpected visit from photography legends Lord Lichfield, Terence Donovan, and David Bailey. Lord Lichfield even won a bet and a System 1 bag from Terence Donovan!
Around this pivotal time, journalist and photographer Kevin McDonnell generously featured our bags in Practical Photography Magazine, significantly boosting our visibility and filling our order books.
Billingham camera bags were gaining momentum. From these early successes, our reach expanded. We began selling through retailers and distributors, and now, our bags are available worldwide, both online and in stores.
Over the years, we've had the privilege of creating bags for film crews, appearing in films and TV series, and collaborating with prestigious camera brands like Hasselblad, Leica, Fujifilm, and Olympus.
Billingham is frequently featured in industry publications, solidifying our reputation in the photography world.
Like any small business, our journey has had its share of challenges and triumphs. The highs have been exhilarating, and the lows have tested our resilience.
We've been fortunate to travel extensively, meeting incredible photographers and dedicated Billingham enthusiasts.
Our philosophy has always been rooted in respect and integrity, treating our customers, suppliers, and employees with the utmost care. We believe this ethos is reflected in the quality of our products, which we are immensely proud of. Thank you for being a part of the Billingham story.
- Martin Billingham.
