Briefcase Appreciation thread

[Leander walker]

Well they sure claimed it when I visited their store two years ago.

 

[Leander walker]

Swaine is still primarily made in England and a fine product. They are now making a few styles in Italy that seem geared to a younger audience. The British leather goods industry has been decimated in recent years. The traditional bridle briefcases , while excellent quality have fallen out of favor with a younger audience. Pittards , one of the world's largest leather processors and a British supplier for leather worldwide , went into administration a few months ago and has closed with large job losses. Whitehouse Cox , a quality English leather goods maker since 1875,went out of business this year. Alfred Dunhill , who constantly trumpets their British pedigree , makes all their leather goods in Italy. England was known worldwide for making some of the finast leather goods. Fortunately there are still a few of these companies left and they are still top-notch.

 

[pasadena man]

FYI: An old SF review of a Swaine case, and cursory comparison with the Filson satchel:

Briefcase Review -- Swaine Adeney Brigg Short-Strap Westminster (Filson Satchel comparison)

Briefcase Review Swaine Adeney Brigg Short-Strap Westminster (Also, comparison with Filson Satchel) In 2008, I posted on the AAAC forum a comparison review of two classic briefcases, the Swaine Adeney Brigg Westminster Wrap-Round and the Filson Satchel. You can find that review here...

www.styleforum.net

The review comparison is not an apple to apple comparison with Validus' bag, which I believe is vegetable tanned leather. The Filson satchel, discontinued and highly sought after on Ebay, is of bridle leather. Still the Filson is a half strap over (vs. the full strap around on the Clegg) and gives a view of English vs. American approach from someone who has owned both.

 

[ppk]

I posted a Halliburton, so....

Personally, I don't see Clegg as being better quality than Ettinger. They are of equal quality, though I think Ettinger designs are nicer. That said, there are about a dozen better makers in Japan, though they won't do business with you without an in-person visit

I don't believe SAB isn't as good as it used to be. People are always saying this about all these high end brands that got bought up, but in many cases can't specifically identify how.

Would you mind naming a couple of those Japanese makers? Thanks.

 

[pmart123]

I'm heading to Paris soon and am hoping to get a new leather work bag. Does anyone have any recommendations for French bands or local stores in Paris? Two I've found so far are Lancel and Le Tanneur. I'm aiming for a $750-1500 price range, but also willing to go a little higher as well.

 

[Leander walker]

As for the comparison of buckle strap briefcases , there were many posts in the past comparing the Swaine Adeney version with Filson. Both are bridle leather but the Swaine Adeney has a more refined look and was hand stitched as opposed to the machine stitched Filson. But the Swaine Adeney was over double the price. The Filson was a very nice , sturdy case but unfortunately no longer made. The Frank Clegg case mentioned cannot compare. It does not have a lock The two before mentioned cases have traditional , functional locks. The Clegg case looks unfinished and naked without a lock, incidentally , the Swaine case is still being sold. As far as Japanese makers,Goldpfeil,which has a long and storied history as a premier leather brand , was formerly made in Germany but for the past few years now produced in Japan. There are few styles you can see on their website and the quality is excellent

 

[epsilon22]

Interesting, when I bought my first leather briefcase I went for the Clegg zip-top precisely because I didn't want to get a briefcase with a lock. They just looked too unusual these days, in a way that'd attract attention (could be good for some, I suppose, but not exactly something I wanted as a junior who just started on the job).

Swaine had some nice stuffs, but was just not at a price point I could reasonably consider since I just started working. I'm considering getting a second briefcase in a different style for a change of pace (the Clegg is still in a good shape), maybe I'll check Swaine and a few other brands out.

 

[bjhofkin]

Would you mind naming a couple of those Japanese makers? Thanks.

This is an old thread but pretty much everything in here is absolutely next-level:

Japanese Leather Goods/Accessories

Hi All, The thread on Japanese shoemakers has got me wondering if there are artisans that craft exceptional quality leather goods (travel holdalls, duffels, document portfolios, etc.) made with the same attention to detail the shoemakers seem to exhibit in their work?

www.styleforum.net

Ortus does trunk shows at The Armoury and makes heirloom-quality bags.

 

[fazalmajid]

I'm heading to Paris soon and am hoping to get a new leather work bag. Does anyone have any recommendations for French bands or local stores in Paris? Two I've found so far are Lancel and Le Tanneur. I'm aiming for a $750-1500 price range, but also willing to go a little higher as well.

Le Tanneur is more akin to Tumi, range-wise. When I was a child, longer ago than I cared to admit, they were a common maker of kid's school backpacks (briefcases with straps, really, "cartables"), Lancel is a bit higher but neither would I pay $1500 for.

Have a look at Hosoï Paris:

HOSOI PARIS | Atelier de maroquinerie

Les sacs HOSOÏ-PARIS sont entièrement fabriqués par son créateur M. HOSOI (Meiller Ouvrier de France), de la conception jusqu'à la réalisation. Sac homme, atelier de maroquinerie, mof maroquinerie, luxury bag paris,

www.hosoiparis.com

Larfeuille:

https://www.larfeuille.fr/?lang=en

Valet de Pique:

Valet de Pique - Maroquinerie Artisanale Française

Maroquinerie Made in France 🇫🇷 | Femme et homme, sac, cartable, sacoche, sacs à dos, pochette d'ordinateur, porte-carte, porte-documents en cuir pleine fleur. Savoir-faire artisanal Français !

www.valetdepique.fr

and Joseph Duclos (probably far above your budget, like Hermès):

Joseph Duclos

For aesthetes, 1754.

josephduclos.com

You could also have one made bespoke by Atelier Subdivise (I've used him before for commissions, his work is rustic with strong thick saddlery leather rather than the more refined and delicate Parisian styles, but outstanding in quality):

Cartable – porte documents taille Jumbo

I would also suggest visiting the bags section of the Le Bon Marché department store (then go to La Grande Épicerie, their grocery next door, which is celebrating its centennial).

 

[marlinspike]

I'm heading to Paris soon and am hoping to get a new leather work bag. Does anyone have any recommendations for French bands or local stores in Paris? Two I've found so far are Lancel and Le Tanneur. I'm aiming for a $750-1500 price range, but also willing to go a little higher as well.

if you go to La Grande Épicerie could you please take a photo of their case of high end smoked salmon? They had one beans I can't remember the name of that I am trying to find, I'll know it when I see the packaging.

 

[ppk]

I ended up getting the Heritage Brief from Frost River. It's really a classic American design yet elegant.

I might still get one from Japan but it just seemed like too much friction at this time and I needed one now.

 

[marlinspike]

Would you mind naming a couple of those Japanese makers? Thanks.

Ortus
Fugee
Tsuchiya Kaban (one of the few that will sell to you over the net, but not as high end as the others)
Fujitaka

 

[ppk]

Ortus
Fugee
Tsuchiya Kaban (one of the few that will sell to you over the net, but not as high end as the others)
Fujitaka

Thank you. This is useful.

 

[single_origin]

Does anyone have any feedback on Pegai briefcases? The brand of Tanner Leatherstein

 

[TheFoo]

Anyone have experience or perspective on Metier London’s leather bags?

Looking for something more casual than a traditional briefcase that can act as a travel bag and go with me to work/meetings.

This one (the Vagabond) caught my eye: