custom bag fabric
 

Yea, I have a chrome and am getting tired of the front of it and am going to make my own custom front.. I just dont know what fabric to use. I want something i can easily cut out and doesent fray.. I was thinking something like felt, but that might rip too easy, but it wouldnt fray when i cut out the shapes. any clue as to a good fabric to use or what fabrics custom bag companies use?

yeah some felt, and a glue gun, maybe some rhinestones....

I bet Reload would make you a front for cheep, i mean you are in philly.

Only if you're riding a papier mache frame with a popsicle-stick wheelset.

All kidding aside, I don't think felt would hold up to the elements very well. A couple good rains or some sleet kicked up on it and it would probably get absolutely disgusting. I would think more along the lines of something waterproof, one of the goretex equivalents or something. Maybe even canvas for something rugged-looking. Or naugahyde if you want to be really swanky. :D

Colored leather would probably be pretty durable...

glue on some colored cling wrap, you'll get some killer 3d effects!

I agree that felt would be a very bad idea. ReLoad uses some crap called Cordura® I would guess that they would sell you the material if you wanted to go over to the shop, they seem like very cool people over there. either that or go down to Fabric Row and start asking the people in the shops what they would recommend, you may find a new material that no one else has thought of and that would make your bag pretty rad. either that or just put some glue and glitter on the back.

Yah Cordura® is what you need. You can find the basic colours (red white blue green black) at a good fabric store, probably run you $10 a yard or so. You'll want to buy a heavy needle and thread if you're doing it by hand which is your best bet cause a home machine can't do nylon69 thread and a machine that can will run several thousands
Have fun!

edit: you want 1000denier as far as the weight goes unless your sewing it over the current material like a large patch, then you can use a lighter one

Why not paint it. CreateTex is a textile fabric paint that never cracks and holds up even after washing. You can use metallic paint pens that Krylon comes out with for some special effects. This is my old bag. I can't wait to paint my Dank backpack.
http://www.pedalpushersonline.com/albums/forb/BAG.jpg

I will both look for Cordura and ask reload how much it would cost for them to just do the front for me to later attach to my bag.. good idea.. thanks alot.