Long time lurker in this thread but first time poster. I was interested when I saw my briefcase in one of the earlier posts ~ pg 100 from Mitchell Leather.
I think the burgundy one on this page is actually very close to my briefcase when it was new:
Story:
I got the briefcase as a graduation present in 2010 and I can remember the feeling of getting something that was probably the most expensive thing I owned and was thrilled when I received it.
I have used it almost every day since then and it's held up really well considering it's now over 10 years old. I had to pack it away as I stopped going to the office because of Covid, but I just took it out today to give it a polish and a wax and was surprised by how well it's held up.
The brass could use a bit of a polish and when the briefcase is empty the buckles are a bit floppy now(see photo). It's also developed a patina and has some scratches on it from my daily commuting over various types of transport.
But the handle is still great and the feet have spared the bottom leather from wearing out. I also feel the shoulder strap has held up really well. It balances the bag so well that compared to other bags where the shoulder strap isn’t as rigid has probably saved me from some long term shoulder issues.
I was a little concerned about getting it scratched when I first got it, but after 10 years that is no longer a concern and I don’t mind taking the briefcase with me wherever. The best part is unlike some of the English bridle leather briefcases here this thing is very light, yet still very practical and durable. It also feels very well balanced even when packed.
Another aspect I’ve come to appreciate is the well thought out laptop compartment. I’ve been through several different ones from work and personal both Mac and PCs. It has a Velcro edge piece which means that you can adjust it to keep the laptop tucked in safely regardless of the size. That Velcro has also held up really well. I didn’t appreciate just how timeless and thought out this design was until I had to put it through situations I couldn’t have imagined when I first got it.
This briefcase has been on 4 continents and seen -30 to +45 and hasn’t missed a beat.
Overall the only thing that's worn down a bit is the edging in parts where the briefcase touches the ground or is a high wear area, but it's not actually broken. That part is binded with a piece of leather rather then painted or burnished and though it looks a lot more refined it's the one part that's likely to fail over time.
I've been able to keep most of the scratches to a minimum just with some semi regular polishing with leather conditioner and then different types of waxes and this has kept the leather in really good shape. I think this can easily last another 20 years with good care and a little bit of maintenance.
I think the burgundy one on this page is actually very close to my briefcase when it was new:
Briefcases: Examples
Other Briefcase Pages: Overview Exotic Leathers Order Form There are an endless number of possibilities for how your briefcase can look, but here are some of the more popular combinations we have built in the past. Classic in Horween Cognac Dublin with Brass Hardware Classic in Horween...
mitchell-leather.com
Story:
I got the briefcase as a graduation present in 2010 and I can remember the feeling of getting something that was probably the most expensive thing I owned and was thrilled when I received it.
I have used it almost every day since then and it's held up really well considering it's now over 10 years old. I had to pack it away as I stopped going to the office because of Covid, but I just took it out today to give it a polish and a wax and was surprised by how well it's held up.
The brass could use a bit of a polish and when the briefcase is empty the buckles are a bit floppy now(see photo). It's also developed a patina and has some scratches on it from my daily commuting over various types of transport.
But the handle is still great and the feet have spared the bottom leather from wearing out. I also feel the shoulder strap has held up really well. It balances the bag so well that compared to other bags where the shoulder strap isn’t as rigid has probably saved me from some long term shoulder issues.
I was a little concerned about getting it scratched when I first got it, but after 10 years that is no longer a concern and I don’t mind taking the briefcase with me wherever. The best part is unlike some of the English bridle leather briefcases here this thing is very light, yet still very practical and durable. It also feels very well balanced even when packed.
Another aspect I’ve come to appreciate is the well thought out laptop compartment. I’ve been through several different ones from work and personal both Mac and PCs. It has a Velcro edge piece which means that you can adjust it to keep the laptop tucked in safely regardless of the size. That Velcro has also held up really well. I didn’t appreciate just how timeless and thought out this design was until I had to put it through situations I couldn’t have imagined when I first got it.
This briefcase has been on 4 continents and seen -30 to +45 and hasn’t missed a beat.
Overall the only thing that's worn down a bit is the edging in parts where the briefcase touches the ground or is a high wear area, but it's not actually broken. That part is binded with a piece of leather rather then painted or burnished and though it looks a lot more refined it's the one part that's likely to fail over time.
I've been able to keep most of the scratches to a minimum just with some semi regular polishing with leather conditioner and then different types of waxes and this has kept the leather in really good shape. I think this can easily last another 20 years with good care and a little bit of maintenance.
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