As their name suggests, soft-sided cases and bags are manufactured with soft materials that, while often lighter than their hard shell counterparts, deliver effective protection to products and fragile items as they are transported. Portability and ease of use makes soft-sided cases and bags a valuable asset as emergency medical cases, military backpacks and sales sample cases, to name just a few applications.

One advantage of custom soft-sided cases is the flexibility they offer from a design standpoint. You have ample options when it comes down to the size of the case, the materials used, the brand elements included — and the list goes on. 

(Note: Speaking of materials, the use of textiles to develop a custom case sets up lower costs as compared to a plastic case. That’s because a custom soft case or bag is limited to patterns that are relatively inexpensive, whereas a custom plastic case requires tooling up a mold to produce the exact size case your application requires. Depending on the manufacturing process that is used, the cost of that mold can range anywhere from low four figures to high five figures.)

While design flexibility translates into more opportunities as to where you can take your custom soft case (or custom soft bag), it means sorting through more design decisions that ultimately impact your return on investment.

What Fabric Best Suits My Application?

Consider how and where your soft case will be used, and what kind of conditions the case will have to endure. Whether there is a need to keep out dust and water or cushion delicate instrumentation, the choice of fabric should be a reflection of these requirements.

Let’s use the example of a soft bag that is designed to transport liquids across the globe, and thus across various environments. A good fabric option, in this case, could be ballistic nylon, as it is both durable and can withstand extreme temperatures. Meanwhile, a firm polyethylene foam lining can further preserve the movement of cold air inside the case.

What Are My Weight Requirements?

While lightweight packaging solutions are ideal from a cost perspective, a soft bag also needs to be durable enough to support the weight of the products inside. For instance, a medical device company may want to create a sales demo case that is both portable and can accommodate an array of their products, some of which are on the heavier side.

Weight requirements do play a role in how a soft bag is designed, but with the right techniques, the end result still remains lightweight and cost-effective. Interiors can be molded to product dimensions so the overall space is reduced, with more rigid options available to suit heavier applications.

How Easy Will It Be to Transport This Case?

Weight will always have an impact on the portability of a soft bag — but there are other details to consider from a functional aspect as well. Adjustable and removable shoulder straps, inline skate wheels and webbed handles can all enhance the mobility of your custom case. When a bag is easier to handle, the product inside remains safer.

It’s also valuable to think about this from the perspective of setting up and packing up, too. Frustrations could come in the form of finicky locks on the exterior of the case or disorganized flat trays on the interior. The right closure — whether it’s Velcro, zippers or snaps — and custom foam inserts that match product needs can alleviate this problem.

Does This Custom Soft Case Reflect My Brand?

A soft bag isn’t just a vessel to transport your products. It’s also an opportunity to improve your brand recognition. And that's important, seeing as how businesses have just seconds to make an impression on prospective and new customers that builds trustworthiness.

Embroidering or embossing a company logo to your custom soft case is an easy way to enhance its look and feel — and make your case stand out among competitors. The same can be said for customizing the color of the case to your brand specifications, like that oh-so-recognizable blue from Tiffany & Co.

Need help designing and manufacturing your next soft case or bag? The team at Cases By Source offers an all-in-one solution with high-quality, economical results. Learn more about our process here.