I have been looking for a new laptop bag for a few weeks now. The item that started my quest is a bag that Veer is offering. Sexy. And a little pricey at $179.00 USD. Plus the taxes and the duty to import it to Canada. Surely there must be a local supplier, or, better yet, a local manufacturer. A Google search netted me an article from Metro on laptop case designers (though the link is to a Google cached version of the page because the real page no longer exists -- nothing ever dies on the web, my friends!) There are some very nice offerings highlighted.
Melissa Beth Designs is a Toronto designer who has her bags in Canadian and American boutiques. She designs laptop bags as well as iPod cases. One of my favourites is her "Pocket Full of Puter" bag (shown here). The article also showcases Acme Made who is the original designer of the Veer bag, Casuri Cases, and Case Closed - a New York bag designer. I must admit, my affections have moved from the Acme Made bag to Case Closed. They have a very sexy bag in their "Steve" collection that I am enamoured of -- the "Steve Collection: Rust Chinese" (you can't link because their site is in frames ... aaarrgggh).
Also discussed in this article are Targus' Ladies Cases. Seriously? Ladies Cases? OK, maybe there is an appeal to someone, somewhere. And it's not that I don't like the bags; they are more elegant than funky, but that's OK. It's the language. At least MobileEdge calls their line "Just for Women". "Ladies Cases" -- like they're laptop bags for my grandmother (do they come w/ white gloves?). Bah.
Update: I've expanded this post into an entire lens on "Funky, Chic and Cool Laptop Bags" over at Squidoo. Please check it out!
Update 2: I've also added a page on Funky, Chic and Cool Laptop Sleeves!