I wanted to take some time to talk in some detail about our leather bag collection. Whilst none of us are even thinking of leaving our home at the moment, let alone travel, we will get our life back and we will eventually get back on the move again. Having a great stylish bag that adds to your outfit as you get back to a busy life is a must-have edition for any modern man.
I’ll admit, it makes me cringe when a guy thinks in today’s day and age, he can stuff his pockets with wallets, keys, phones and thinks it is OK to make his pants look like a lumpy bag of potatoes. Add in today’s digital needs of iPads or laptops – why on earth would you not want a beautiful piece to carry everything in? I believe that your bag should be on a par with your watch, your car, your electronic gadgets and last but not least, looks thoughtfully designed to work effortlessly with your custom-made J.Hilburn wardrobe.
Let me share some details of why the J.Hilburn Bag Collection is so unique.
Our product is handmade. Over my career I have been able to develop and sustain relationships with some of the best luxury producers in the world. It was to very special Italian artisan that I turned to even when launching my own collections and our leather goods here at J. Hilburn. I am committed to keeping the goal of producing sustainable affordable luxury product with a true value with no sacrifice to quality. Keeping the knowledge of artisan heritage techniques alive from generation to generation of artisans and unifying that with modern silhouettes and technologies is at the core of our mission.
Our leather-goods all start life as a sketch.
I personally sketch by hand (my left one to be precise) and then computer, every detail, seam and fold, expressing the art of design and knowledge of construction, similar to an architect with a building or a painter with a canvas. When every detail is arduously studied and refined, the process of selecting the best European materials and working with the highest artisanal techniques at our disposal, begins.
In complete contrast to mass production, where high turnaround and velocity are of the essence, our philosophy is that beautiful product takes time and patience, just like the hand-painted edges of our Duffle Bag which are patiently stained and dried multiple times over a four day period.
The culmination of our modern design with craftsman skill, is to produce some of the most unique pieces offered today. From the shape, to the built-in practical necessity, and the refined details, everything about our product, is truly special.
First our leather is drummed, this process is akin to a washing machine except it softens the leather and helps to accentuate the beautiful natural grain.
Next a bonding technique is used to adhere pebble leather with microfiber. This process gives the leather more shape and fullness while also eliminating any need for lining. (Most “bag brands” use lining to hide poor internal craftsmanship and poor quality resulting from mass production.) This technique lead me to design the unique detachable pocket system which is a separate pouch with zipper closure that is usefully removable. I find this particularly great when travelling with valuables and being able to put it directly into a hotel safe or slide it into the back of an aircraft seat.
Which Bag is right for you?
Black and Brown are both very traditional in a bag and a safe choice for any man. The decision between these comes down to your preference in footwear – if you wear black predominantly, go that direction. If brown, opt for that colorway.
Cobalt and Cognac are very unique and definitely stand out from the crowd of black and brown. Either colorway would be a great choice for someone who is looking for something slightly bolder in his looks. That being said, the Cobalt color could be a great option for someone that has always favored a black bag but is looking for something new and different, but at the same time works perfectly with everything Navy Blue. The same goes for the Cognac, try this colorway for an update to the dark brown bag, and can accent the natural tones of summer.
Let’s not forget that there are some important gifting opportunities coming up that the gift of a new luxury leather bag would be perfectly fitting for. See below for some suggestion. However, with our choice of colorways it might be hard to narrow down.
For more information on each bag type, follow this link for our previous article on our Leather Bag Collection.
*link to Simon Says from 12.18
“Father’s Day”
BTW Father’s Day is one of the best occasions for gifting a nice bag. It’s thoughtful and provides function which we all love and, in this case, actually elevates your custom-made wardrobe.
The Cognac Duffle is the perfect bag to carry a few days worth of clothing to a future weekend beach trip. The Brown Briefcase is a great choice for a more traditional daily work bag and will elevate his look when we get back to our normal commutes and work lives.
“Back to Work”
Here’s looking to getting back to hopefully getting back to our normal lives, traveling for work, going back to the office, and reason for a new leather bag to make that transition even better.
The modern color palette of grey and black is an easy way to get back in the swing of work travel – hopefully in the not too distant future. Here the Black Duffle is a great way to carry a few things on a short work trip. Then the Black Portfolio is the perfect accessory to hold an iPad, small laptop, or just some documents and notepads, and easily fits inside the duffle along with your other items so you only have one bag on the trip.
“Graduation”
Although this event will most likely look a little different this year, all the more reason to step up the gifts for the new grad. A nice leather bag will not only see him into his new professional life, but also be an item he has for years and years to come.
Here we have two options, the grad going into finance or a more formal profession in his Navy suit with a great subtle Cobalt Briefcase that makes him stand apart from the guys still carrying their college backpacks. And speaking of backpacks, the look on the right could be a new grad going into a creative or tech related position and still loves the comfort of his favorite type of bag but “steps” it up to a backpack that reads more professional than college campus.
Combinations of color, texture and utility make our leather goods collection truly special and season-less. This skillful blend of the highest quality leathers enhances the array of modern and comfortable designs.
