How to Make a Drawstring Backpack: Manufacturing Guide

Drawstring backpacks are the ultimate blend of simplicity and versatility—no zippers, no buckles, just a pull on the strings to secure your gear. Their minimal design makes them easy to produce in high volumes, while still offering plenty of room for private‐label customization. Whether you’re outfitting schools, gyms, or promotional events, understanding the end‐to‐end manufacturing process empowers you to launch a standout product.

A drawstring backpack is a single‐compartment bag with fabric sides and a closure formed by threading cords through top hems. Typical fabrics include 210D polyester, 12 oz canvas, or nylon ripstop. You need roughly 0.3–0.5 square meters of body fabric per bag and 2.5 meters of 5–8 mm cord. Follow precise patterning, CNC cutting, lockstitch assembly, cord insertion, and QC steps to ensure consistency and durability.

What Is a Drawstring Backpack and Why Is It So Popular?

Drawstring backpacks pair an uncomplicated design with ultimate user convenience. Picture a bag with two fabric panels stitched together on the sides and bottom, and a simple cord that, when pulled, cinches the top closed—no zippers to jam or buckles to fumble. This stripped-down construction keeps production simple, drives material costs down to as little as $2 per bag, and delivers a versatile product that resonates with students, athletes, and event promoters alike.

Because there are no hardware failures to worry about, brands report up to 25 percent fewer returns than with zippered packs. And with large flat surfaces on the front and back panels, drawstring backpacks become walking billboards, making them a marketing favorite for school giveaways, concert merch, and corporate swag.

The Appeal of Drawstring Packs

1. Minimalist Construction

   • Fewer components mean fewer failure points and faster assembly.

2. Cost-Effective

   • No complex hardware—just fabric and cord—drives material costs down to $2–$4 per unit.

3. Customization Canvas

   • Large flat panels and hem areas are ideal for screen printing, sublimation, or heat transfers.

4. User Convenience

   • Quick open/close action appeals to kids and adults alike—no small fingers fumbling with buckles.

5. Branding Opportunity

   • Cost per print is only $0.20–$0.50 per color, enabling vibrant logos and full‐color art.

Which Fabrics and Materials Are Best Suited for Drawstring Backpacks?

Selecting the right material ensures your backpacks survive daily wear and tear while fitting your budget and brand story. Here’s how the top options compare:

Drawstring backpacks require ~0.3–0.5 m² of main fabric and ~0.2 m² of lining (optional). 210D polyester offers a $2.5/m² price point and 10,000 Martindale abrasion cycles; 12 oz canvas ($6/m²) brings a premium, rugged look; nylon ripstop ($4/m²) adds a lightweight, weather-resistant option.

Fabric Options and Yardage

1. **Fabric Yield Calculation-**How Much Fabric Do You Need

   • A standard 42 cm × 52 cm panel uses 0.218 m²; two panels per bag = 0.436 m².

   • Add 10% waste → order 0.48 m² per bag.

2. Cost Implications

   • At $2.50/m², fabric cost = $1.20 per 210D bag; at $6.00/m², canvas cost = $2.88.

3. Lining Choices

   • Optional 150D lining adds $0.80 per bag but improves structure.

How Do You Create a Pattern and Tech Pack for a Drawstring Backpack?

A clear tech pack translates your vision into factory-ready specs. Your pattern must define each panel and detail the cord channels:

Draft panels: Front/back 42 × 52 cm, side gussets 4 × 52 cm (if needed), base 42 × 4 cm. Include 1 cm seam allowances. Your tech pack should list fabric specs, cord type, hem dimensions (2 × 2 cm channels), stitching stitch‐per‐inch, and artwork placements with Pantone color codes.

1. Panel Layout

   • Front/Back: 420 × 520 mm with 10 mm seam allowances.
   • Hem Channel: Fold two 20 mm channels at the top edges.

2. Tech Pack Components

   Section	Detail
   BOM	Fabric type, cord spec, optional lining
   Artwork	Pantone codes, logo dimensions, placement
   Stitching	Lockstitch, 8 SPI, bar-tacks at cord entry
   Packaging	Polybag size, hangtag design, carton specs

Including exploded views and LED-highlighted callouts for critical measurements (e.g., channel width for 6 mm cord) prevents misinterpretation and speeds sample approvals.

How Are Drawstring Backpacks Cut and Sewn Efficiently?

Efficiency hinges on precision cutting and a streamlined sewing line.

Use CNC cutting for ±0.5 mm accuracy and 90% nesting efficiency, reducing fabric waste to under 8%. Sew in modular cells: panel assembly, channel hem, cord installation, and final QC—each unit completed in ~4 minutes.

• CNC vs. Die Cutting

  • CNC Laser: Nest patterns to cut 30 panels per m², reducing waste to 8 percent.

  • Die Cutting: Faster for stable SKUs; tooling cost $100 amortized over large runs.

• Sewing Workflow

  Step	Equipment	Time/Bag
  Side Seams	1-needle lockstitch	45 s
  Hem Channels	Double-needle	60 s
  Bar-tack Points	Bar-tack machine	30 s

• Quality Checkpoints

  • Inline spot-checks every 50 units catch mis-stitches.

  • Final bag inspection focuses on seam integrity and channel alignment.

This cell-based approach boosts throughput by 20% while keeping scrap below 2%.

What Hardware and Components Does a Drawstring Backpack Require？

Beyond the fabric, the cord and optional hardware define usability and aesthetics:

Standard drawcord: 5–8 mm braided polyester or cotton cord, 2.5 m per bag. Optional components: plastic cord locks ($0.05 each), end caps ($0.02), metal eyelets ($0.10 each)—choose based on target market and price point.

String Choice: Polyester cord stretches less than 5 percent and holds color; cotton cord offers premium feel but may sag over time. Depending on your market, you can custom-dyed cords in Pantone shades for +$0.05 per bag.

How Do You Customize Drawstring Backpacks for Private-Label Orders?

Popular customization includes 4-color screen print ($0.30–$0.60 per bag), full-panel sublimation ($1.00), 3D puff embroidery ($2.00), custom cord colors (+$0.05 per bag), and branded hangtags ($0.15).

Branding transforms functional bags into marketing machines:

• Print vs. Dye

  • Sublimation saturates entire panel; great for complex artwork.

• Embroidery Premium

  • Adds tactile depth, but costs triple compared to printing.

• Color Matching

  • Provide Pantone solid coated codes; expect ±2 ΔE variation.

How Do You Perform Quality Control and Packaging for Drawstring Backpacks?

QC includes inline fabric checks (weave, print registration), seam strength tests (ASTM D1683, >8 kg breaking force), cord pull‐tests (20 kg), color consistency (ΔE <2), and final visual inspection. Package in polybags with custom hangtags or bulk ship in cartons of 100.

A rigorous QC protocol minimizes defects and shipping surprises:

Packaging Options:

• Individual polybag + hangtag: $0.30 per bag for retail-ready units.

• Bulk cartons (100 bags) with dividers: $0.50 per bag, best for cost savings.

• Optional printed boxes: $1.50 per bag for premium segments.

Why Partner with Szoneier for Custom Drawstring Backpack Manufacturing?

With over 18 years of R&D and end-to-end manufacturing under one roof—fabric sourcing, prototyping in 5 days, CNC cutting, lean sewing cells, and integrated QC labs,Szoneier ensures your drawstring backpacks meet quality, budget, and timeline goals.

Ready to get started? Contact Szoneier for a free consultation, rapid sample yardages, and a detailed quote. Let’s bring your private-label drawstring backpacks from concept to reality—faster and more cost-effectively than you thought possible.