An Heirloom Story: Robin Kloos on Creating a One-of-a-Kind Bag with R. Riveter

At R. Riveter, every Heirloom bag tells a story—woven from the fabric of service, family, and legacy. For Heirloom customer Robin Kloos, the process of designing a custom bag was more than just creating a functional accessory. It was about honoring her husband’s military service while giving new life to a meaningful piece of his past.

We sat down with Robin to learn more about her Heirloom journey and what it meant to transform a well-worn military pack into a bag her husband now carries with pride.

Why did you decide to create an Heirloom bag?

“I read about R. Riveter, its mission, and the Heirloom option. I wanted to have a unique, but functional bag made for my husband that reflected his pride in service and his profession. And I was motivated to support the company's mission.”

For Robin, the opportunity to repurpose meaningful military materials into a one-of-a-kind gift was the perfect way to blend functionality with sentiment.

Can you tell us a little about your experience working with the R. Riveter team to create your bag?

“Everyone I worked with on the R. Riveter team did everything possible to make my Heirloom dream a reality. They bent over backwards to make everything right for me. It was a pleasure working with this team.”

What does your Heirloom bag mean to you?

“Just about everyday, I see my husband use his computer bag with pleasure, a smile on his face. His appreciation of my effort and the pleasure he is getting from showing his issue camo means the world to me. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Our team’s mission is always to bring each customer’s vision to life, and Robin’s story highlights the collaborative nature of building an Heirloom bag from the ground up.

What is the story behind the materials you sent in?

“The material I sent in was a field pack issued to my husband during his service, but was gathering dust in storage, fated never to be used again. I knew how much pride he took in his service and knew how much joy he would get wearing his colors again, but in a way that is functional and completely useful for him post-military.”

An Heirloom bag is more than just a bag—it becomes a daily reminder of service, love, and legacy.

Anything else you'd love to share about your Heirloom journey?

“It took a while for my vision to be realized because this was the first of its kind. I'm grateful to the R. Riveter Team for rising to the challenge, designing a new pattern, and creating an incredible, high quality work of usable art for me and my husband. I highly recommend R. Riveter to anyone making a similar journey. The last bag I’ll ever own – markokloos.com.”

By transforming repurposed military materials into a new design, Robin was able to preserve her husband’s service history in a way that is both practical and deeply personal.

Carrying Legacy Forward

Robin’s story is a reminder of what makes our Heirloom Collection so meaningful. Every stitch, every detail, and every repurposed piece of material becomes a symbol of service, sacrifice, and memory—crafted into something functional for the next chapter.

Robin’s story is a reminder of what makes our Heirloom Collection so meaningful. Every stitch, every detail, and every repurposed piece of material becomes a symbol of service, sacrifice, and memory—crafted into a custom military heirloom bag that’s functional for the next chapter.

Learn more about creating your own R. Riveter Heirloom bag here.