Pinbuds Blog

Okay so the pin collector community figured this out years ago. Clear window bags, inserts for your pins, the whole display setup. But if you collect plushies, specifically Squishmallows, you've probably noticed that most of these bags were designed for flat things. Pins. Badges. Photocards. Not a round 5 inch stuffed marshmallow.The problem isn't the concept. The problem is the window size.Most display bags have tiny windowsThe average ita bag, which is what the pin community calls these clear window bags, has a display area somewhere around 15 to 20 centimetres wide. That's fine for a grid of enamel pins. It's not fine for a Squishmallow, even a clip-on size. You end up squishing your squish against the plastic and it looks cramped rather than cute.And that's if it fits at all. A lot of bags have a narrow gap between the clear panel and the insert board, so there's only about 2 to 3 centimetres of depth. A flat pin is maybe 3mm thick. A Squishmallow clip is about 8 to 10 centimetres deep. The maths doesn't work.What you actually need for plush displayDepth behind the window. This is the thing nobody talks about. You need at least 8 to 10 centimetres of clearance between the clear panel and whatever is behind it, or your plush is pressed flat against the PVC and looks like it's trapped rather than displayed.A window that's at least 20 centimetres in one direction. You want the plush to have breathing room around it, not touching all four edges.An insert that's removable. Pin inserts are great for pins. They're terrible for plushies. You want to be able to pull the insert out entirely and just let the plush sit in the display pocket on its own, maybe with a small charm or two around it.Why our 17 inch bags work for thisWe didn't design them specifically for Squishmallows. We designed them for pin collectors who also wanted to hang charms, keychains, and small plushie keychains inside the window. But it turns out that when you build a display window big enough for a layered pin display with charms hanging from D-rings, you also build one that fits a 5 inch plush comfortably.The display area on our 17 inch backpack is roughly 30 by 40 centimetres. That's room for a clip-size Squishmallow with space around it, or two smaller plush keychains side by side, or a mix of plush and pins together. The three internal D-rings let you hang a plush from a clip so it sits in the middle of the window instead of slumping to the bottom.Pull out the pin insert, clip your plush to a D-ring, and the window becomes a plush display case you can wear on your back.The daily carry questionHere's where plush collectors and pin collectors actually want the same thing. Nobody wants a bag that's only good for display. You still need to carry your phone, your wallet, your keys, probably a drink. A lot of display bags are so focused on the window that the rest of the bag is an afterthought.If you're looking for a Squishmallow display bag that you can also take to class or to work, check whether it has a laptop sleeve, internal pockets, and comfortable straps. "Cute display bag" and "functional daily bag" shouldn't be two separate purchases.What about bigger Squishmallows?Let's be honest. If you're trying to display a 12 inch or 16 inch Squishmallow in a bag, you're going to need a tote, not a backpack. Our 21L waterproof tote has a wide opening and a display window that can handle larger items, but really anything above 8 inches starts to look like you're smuggling a pillow. At that point a shelf at home is probably the better display option, and the bag is for carrying your smaller ones around.