First Look: Unboxing The First Loyal & Elvie Prototype

After months of sketching, planning, and dreaming, the moment finally came: the very first Loyal & Elvie backpack prototype arrived on my doorstep.

I was so anxious to open the box. Check out my last blog post to see how long I let the package sit in my driveway while I avoided the first look. 

Don't get me wrong, I was excited too. But my brain kept worrying - would it look and feel the way I’d imagined? Would it truly capture the vision I’ve been carrying with me all this time? I had made my first at-home prototype in June of 2024 (check it out, it was a mess!) - and now it was April 2025! That's 10 months of holding a vision, and it was culminating in this moment! 

First Impressions: Even Better in Person

When I tipped the bag out of its packaging and into my lap, I felt such deep relief and happiness. It looked even better than I expected!

What I Noticed Right Away

Unboxing is just the beginning. As I ran my hands over the straps, zipped and unzipped pockets, and tested how things felt, there were things in need of refinement.  Some pockets needed more room, some needed more structure, materials needed to feel a little richer, and closures a bit sturdier. All small tweeks, but so important for me to feel good about marketing to other moms. I need it to be beautiful and to function seamlessly in everyday life.

Little Surprises Along the Way

One of the best parts was discovering small details I didn’t even realize would bring so much joy. The way the backpack straps adjusted was just so elevated, not cheap nylon with a plastic slider, but full leather straps with beautiful metal grommets. I thought, "yes, that’s exactly the kind of surprise I want someone else to feel when they see this for the first time."

What Matters Most

Every tweak I've made since seeing that first version has been guided by one question: How will this make life easier, simpler, and more beautiful for the person carrying it?

Because this backpack is for real life, for parents juggling snacks and storybooks, travelers navigating airports, and anyone who wants something that feels high-end but works hard every single day.

Looking Ahead

By the time this blog posts - I will have had a chance to see version 2. I'm no less anxious this go round. I've learned so much since reviewing the first version. This time I'm not just thinking about what the bag will look like and how it will function. Now it's getting real. Now we have to think through tariffs and the price per unit. How to position this bag and market it. It's so much more than designing something beautiful, and I know as little about all of that as I did about production and manufacturing. But I figured that out, and I can figure everything else out, too. 

unboxing first prototype by Jeneitzmann