Material Parables: Stitching History into a Dopp Kit

Making Use of History: Upcycled WWII Canvas Dopp Kits

In our studio, materials often arrive with stories embedded in them—stories we don’t fully know, but can feel. The WWII-era shelter half canvas we’ve been working with is one of those. These were once standard-issue military items: heavy-duty cotton canvas panels designed to be snapped together into small A-frame tents called “pup tents.” Carried by soldiers, used in the field, exposed to sun, mud, and time.

We've collected these surplus shelter halves years ago. They were used in the field, and in some cases repaired with field patches or reinforced by hand. But the canvas was still strong. It had aged beautifully. 

This material isn’t easy to work with as new material. It can be unruly, and every panel is a little different. But that’s part of what drew us to it. The dopp kits we made from these pieces are small-batch and labor-intensive. No two are quite alike. Some have stenciled military markings. Others show evidence of use or repair. We kept the blemishes where we could, reinforcing only where necessary—because these marks are part of the story.

We don’t believe in nostalgia for its own sake. But we do believe that when a material has earned its character, it deserves another life. Turning something forgotten into something functional—and beautiful—is one of the small ways we honor that belief.

These kits are available in limited quantities. When the canvas runs out, that’s it. No reprints. No recreations. Just a respectful reuse of something that has endured.

Shop the dopp kits here:
artifactbags.com/products/dopp-kit-in-upcycled-wwii-shelter-half

More stories from the studio: Material Parables #1