How our bags are made
Inspired by the iconic designs of the 19th and 20th centuries, we create bags with lasting character. Natural materials, certified leather and traditional craftsmanship shape each piece, made in production facilities with audited working conditions.
Our approach to making bags
1. Timeless design
2. Genuine craftsmanship
3. Natural materials
4. Fair working conditions
Timeless design
Our inspiration comes from travels, history books and accounts of earlier journeys. We bring the bag designs of the 19th and 20th centuries into the present through traditional craftsmanship and practical details. Every design goes through several stages to refine its functionality and quality. We choose enduring shapes over passing trends, so your bag can accompany you for years. Keeping a well-made bag in use for longer also helps conserve resources.
Craftsmanship with character
Cutting
We cut our leather and cotton fabrics precisely, making careful use of each material and keeping offcuts to a minimum. The remaining leather pieces are used for small details and accessories.
Creating the patina
Selected leather components receive our signature patina using a leather colour treatment based on carnauba wax. This initial finish grows richer with use, making every journey part of your bag’s character.
Stitching
Hand stitching, machine stitching and traditional tools give our bags their final shape. The thick leather that provides structure requires specialist sewing machines capable of working through this demanding material.
Fitting the hardware
Our metal fittings are made to our designs, predominantly from brass. An electroplating process gives them their distinctive antique finish. While the fittings are manufactured by machine, each one is attached to the bag by hand.
Quality control
Every finished bag is inspected for defects, with particular attention to the stitching. Natural variations in colour and shading make each piece individual. These subtle differences are part of the character of a handmade bag.
Audited standards
Fair working conditions
Our bags are made in a family-run workshop near New Delhi, India. Long-serving craftspeople bring skill and dedication to every piece, drawing on traditions passed down through generations. We visit several times a year, and our long collaboration has become a close friendship.
Respect for the people who make our bags guides this partnership. Fair pay, working conditions, occupational health and safety are priorities. Our workshop has undergone regular audits using Sedex standards for years.
Audited standards
Natural materials, enduring design
Our travels and historical accounts inspire bags rooted in the designs of the 19th and 20th centuries. We combine traditional craftsmanship with the needs of modern travel. Each design is developed in several stages to bring together practical functionality and lasting quality.