Briefcase Appreciation thread

[shanetrudell]

Simon has never been easy to contact, but he does excellent work. However, be prepared to wait. It takes about 2 years from date of order to delivery.

Quote:

For some context, the famous bespoke Japanese casemaker Fugee has a wait list of 6 years! I believe his strapped briefcase of the type we often picture in this thread costs about $3700 USD. His ex-apprentice, Ortus, has a wait list north of 18 months. Fugee, along with his apprentices, takes about 15 days of work to produce a briefcase. From what I understand from clients experiences, and what I've seen, I believe Fugee offers the most truly bespoke offering for those wanting something very unique. The Ortus process is supposedly more rigid, and the language barrier is a challenge in each, although Ortus allows online purchase - for Fugee you must visit the atelier in Tokyo.

A small note about Simons timing - he works without apprentice!

My own waitlist, being a young business, is typically closer to 6 months. I'm in the process of developing a line of made to order, but less-than-bespoke, cases which I hope to be able to deliver in only 3 months. We shall see how this affects client relations! The actual bespoke process typically takes about a month or two of back-and-forth conversation and design work (with feedback). Material orders can't be made until this is complete, so the project isn't ready to join the bench queue for several months after the process begins.

The pleasure of restraint, the suspense of creation... Bespoke is so lovely, no doubt partially because of the time it takes!

Cheers,
Shane

 

[raindog]

This is what I recently received from a friend of mine who has taken up casemaking not-so-long ago. It's English Bridle Leather (Australian nut is the name of the colour, if I'm not wrong), with solid brass hardware. It's my second order and it was very well thought over. I waited for nearly a year, but I totally love this babe (the case, not the casemaker, although he's a cool bloke, too).




And some details of the front (while the case was still in the making):



The guy is really very talented.

 

[Nikola]

This is what I recently received from a friend of mine who has taken up casemaking not-so-long ago. It's English Bridle Leather (Australian nut is the name of the colour, if I'm not wrong), with solid brass hardware. It's my second order and it was very well thought over. I waited for nearly a year, but I totally love this babe (the case, not the casemaker, although he's a cool bloke, too).





And some details of the front (while the case was still in the making):




The guy is really very talented.

Does he have a web page? Any deets on the price as well?

 

[raindog]

Well, he only has this for a website: http://niestrojleatherworks.pl (there are links to his Facebook and Instagram though). His prices are affordable and depend on the leather, but a piece similar to mine, made of EBL, can be had for a three-digit sum in USD.

 

[d4nimal]



Well, he only has this for a website: http://niestrojleatherworks.pl (there are links to his Facebook and Instagram though). His prices are affordable and depend on the leather, but a piece similar to mine, made of EBL, can be had for a three-digit sum in USD.

Does he speak English? Great work but worried about a language barrier.

 

[raindog]

Yep, he speaks good English, no problems with that. Also, he once told me that in his part of Poland most people are bilingual in German, including him, so you can try that, too, if you want to practice (I didn't test it though, as my German is rudimentary).

 

[Jr Mouse]



Well, he only has this for a website: http://niestrojleatherworks.pl (there are links to his Facebook and Instagram though). His prices are affordable and depend on the leather, but a piece similar to mine, made of EBL, can be had for a three-digit sum in USD.

Looking over his Instagram and FB pages, you can tell he does good work. I am particularly found of this one.

 

[raindog]

Yes, it is a lovely piece indeed. Interestingly enough, it is made of Russian leather coming from Poland, whose greatest advantage is to age in such a grateful manner. I have a bag made of this leather, too.
The leather is dirt cheap; it comes in very few colours (natural, dark brown, light brown and black), but the natural hue can easily be hand-dyed (Darek, the case maker, sometimes dyes the leather manually).
This is another bag made of this leather (with suede lining):





And here is an example of a hand-dyed one: https://www.instagram.com/p/BAfbKVWmkb0/

 

[alugrp]

Hey guys,
I am currently looking at the Ray Clark Grantchester and the Hrothgar Stibbon Winchester briefcase. I mostly wear business casual clothes, which is why I wonder if the Grantchester looks too "dressy" to carry without a suit. Would you recommend me one of the two? Is it okay to carry the Grantchester/SAB Westminster Wrap with business casual clothes?

Thanks!

 

[raindog]

I think so, but it also depends on the colour. Still, a wrap briefcase in cognac or chestnut (not in black or even dark brown) looks quite business casual to me.

 

[nnnnick]

Highly recommend Hrothgar Stibbon. I Ordered Winchester briefcase with modification (you can actually modify almost anything in design) and the result made me very happy in all aspects (service, quality and time time of making).

 

[d4nimal]

Highly recommend Hrothgar Stibbon. I Ordered Winchester briefcase with modification (you can actually modify almost anything in design) and the result made me very happy in all aspects (service, quality and time time of making).

You have some pics, by any chance? I've been interested in Hrothgar Stibbon for a while - in emails he seems like a real standup guy. There aren't that many pics of his work out there though.

 

[nnnnick]

Yes. Here are some. I almost copied the briefcase posted earlier in this thread

 

[chev4x4]

I was happy to see this. Am placing an order later today.

Have you got your briefcase yet? If so, please post some pics of it here.

 

[trlhtn]