This time of year, I find myself on the move more than usual, and I am really passionate about having the right bag for my everyday needs. Most men don’t think of a bag as a necessity as a part of their wardrobe, but we all have so much to carry around most of the time that a good everyday bag can make life a whole lot easier. Just consider the time and effort we go into making clothes look and feel great and then imagine a perfected silhouette completely ruined by phones, key fobs, credit cards, cash, and all the other accouterment a modern guy usually has with him. This baggage excludes any laptop, iPad, or any paper documents he may need during the day, so for me, it is a modern must-have that a J.Hilburn man should have at least one bag that can work with him and his J. Hilburn wardrobe effortlessly.
Our Bag collection has been designed with this in mind, completely relying on our partner in Italy, whose Laboratorio (that’s their own word) is in the hills just outside of Bologna. Here, the science and art of Italy is executed by leather artisans who are renowned throughout the world. Working with my designs, they apply technique and experience to deliver us a product that is second to none regarding quality and value. They have exclusive contracts with the biggest luxury group in the world, and whilst I am not allowed to divulge names, let’s just say you know the brands. Because I have a personal connection, they have always kept a place for J.Hilburn
The bonded Italian leather makes the bag construction lighter than other bags, with a built-in lining construction that relies on working with the shape, eliminating stiff internal materials for structure. The palladium trims are processed for lasting quality and shine, with even the zippers tested for durability. The Italian leather is lightly treated to enhance the natural grain and supple feel of the bag, a traditional technique that these Italian artisans have been perfecting for years.
We began offering the collection in classic black and a rich brown, both colors known as go-to’s for men’s accessories, but we have seen younger and more adventurous clients opting for the newer, mid-tone Cognac and the (brighter-than-navy) Cobalt.
The various styles in the collection of J.Hilburn bags cover every type of bag necessity and have similarities in design and function across the range. Starting with the Briefcase with sturdy, double grab handles or alternatively a detachable and adjustable shoulder strap, the size is ample for a laptop or iPad Pro with room for other documents or connection cables in the main compartment. The Briefcase, as with all the bags in the collection, has an internal, detachable pocket zip system that has been thoughtfully designed as a keep-all for valuables. This internal pouch can be detached by two snaps so that it can be kept with you in situations such as overhead cabin storage or using an in-room safe of a hotel. The external pocket is an extra place to keep your things, and I find it really useful when going through TSA, sliding in my phone and wallet last minute.
The Duffle is the same design as the briefcase, just a larger size in line with carry-on standards for a trip of a few days or overnight depending how you pack. Some guys have told me they love this size for gym visits or for the golf course, as a perfect size for carrying their change of clothes in style. The Backpack is a hands-free design that is laptop size and is a go-to for airport travelers with a large zip partition as the main compartment of the bag—added to the front is a secondary, smaller zip pocket for phone, passport etc. keeping everything organized and easy to reach. The double back straps are ergonomic and comfortable to wear even if you have to run to your gate. We added a strong grab handle to the top as an easy way to pick up the Backpack. To complete the bag collection we added recently a Portfolio, which doubles as a laptop case and/or for documents as another alternative to carrying things sloppily by hand, which never shows up well professionally when making an entrance to a meeting. With a range of small leather goods of Wallet, a Card Case and a rather splendid Travel Kit, every J.Hilburn man should complete his stylish wardrobe by adding a piece or two from this exclusive range of Italian-made collection.
Working with all of our Italian partners reflects not only working with some of the best-in-class manufacturing in the world but also lets us leverage some of the most beautiful products born out of a passion for the very best. Italians really do things better, and having worked alongside them for most of my career, I know they are truly driven by creativity coupled with a sense of tradition, then executed utilizing cutting-edge technology. Every part of our collection tries to reflect the same philosophy, and when we choose a partner, we evolve a partnership over time, leveraging strengths and spotlighting the best both in quality and value.
