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What types of leather do you use for your satchels?
We pride ourselves on using the highest-quality, ethically sourced leather for our satchels.
We primarily use 100% Genuine Cowhide, a traditional material for satchel making that has been valued for its durability, natural beauty, and ability to develop a unique patina over time.
From time to time, we also offer exclusive top-grain leathers and specialist leathers. Additionally, we can work with materials like English Bridle Leather, and we welcome bespoke requests for specific leathers. If you have a leather from a tannery that meets our requirements (in weight, structure, and size), we’re happy to craft a satchel tailored to your preferences.
Each satchel is meticulously crafted to showcase the natural characteristics of the leather, making every piece truly one of a kind.
Are your leather satchels handmade?
Yes, all of our leather satchels are meticulously handcrafted by our skilled craftspeople at The Leather Satchel Co. workshops.
Each piece is cut to order, tailored to your preferred customisations and specifications. It is then stitched using heavyweight threads and finished by hand with traditional skills perfected over decades. This meticulous process ensures a standard of quality that has earned us a reputation for excellence. The attention to detail our small family business puts into every satchel is often regarded as world-class.
This approach embodies our core values, as these satchels are not just products to us—they’re lifelong companions designed to endure and evolve alongside you. Every mark, every scratch, doesn’t just tell any story—it tells your story, making each bag as unique as its owner and a true reflection of their journey through life.
What sizes are available?
We offer a variety of satchel sizes to suit your needs, whether you’re looking for a compact everyday bag or a larger satchel for work or study.
Our smallest size, the Hipster Satchel, is just 7 inches wide—perfect for carrying your absolute essentials. On the other end of the spectrum, we produce a 16.5-inch Satchel Briefcase, a true portable office, capable of accommodating everything you need for a busy workday.
Each size is carefully crafted to suit specific uses and carry the items our clients often rely on. For instance:
- Festival Satchel: Ideal for light essentials, like phones, wallets, and cosmetics, that you want to keep close at hand.
- 14-inch Classic Satchel:Perfect for tablets or A4 documents, offering a practical balance of space and style.
- 16.5-inch Leather Briefcase:Spacious enough to fit most laptops, along with files, folders, books, notepads, pencil cases, and other daily necessities.
We also offer custom sizes upon request, ensuring your satchel is perfectly tailored to your unique needs. Whatever the size, each bag is designed to combine practicality with timeless style.
Can you send me samples of leather?
Sure, we can! Sometimes, a photo just isn’t enough, right?
We’ve got you covered! If you need to get your hands on some leather—to see, touch, and even smell it—then you’re in the right place.
We understand you’re not just searching for a color but for 'The One'. This process can’t be rushed—we fully understand—it needs to be done right, and we’re here to help.
We offer swatches for a small fee, but here’s the good news: the amount you spend is returned to you as a gift voucher. So, as long as you place an order, the swatches won’t cost you anything. This policy helps us ensure that our generous offer is used responsibly, as our swatches are high-quality and can even be repurposed as stylish keyfobs.
Are the bags lined?
We do not use lining in our leather satchels because we believe in showcasing the natural beauty and integrity of our high-quality leather. Unlike some manufacturers who use lining to mask low-grade leather, all our products are crafted from premium, heavy leather that we are proud to show off.
To ensure the reverse side of the leather looks and feels as good as the outer surface, we apply a currying process. This involves treating, buffing, and finishing the underside of the leather to create a smooth, consistent surface. Currying enhances the leather’s durability, prevents fraying and fluffing, and ensures a refined finish that complements the bag’s overall quality.
If you’d like to learn more about currying and its history, feel free to visit The Worshipful Company of Curriers, an organisation dedicated to this traditional craft.
Can you change the colour of the inside of my bag?
The raw hides used for our satchels undergo a meticulous process to ensure the highest quality. First, they are drum-dyed to a base colour that perfectly complements the top pigment applied to the outer surface of the leather. This step is carried out by the tannery in carefully managed batches of 50 hides at a time to maintain consistency.
After the base dyeing, the top pigment is meticulously applied to the leather’s outer grain, achieving the desired finish. This, too, is performed in 50-hide batches to ensure uniformity in colour and texture.
Finally, the leather undergoes a traditional currying process, during which the rough flesh grain is smoothed, and waxes and resins are applied to the reverse side. This step creates a smooth, durable backing, ensuring the leather meets our exacting standards for both exterior appearance and interior durability.
What’s the difference between a satchel and a Briefcase satchel?
The difference between a Satchel and a Briefcase Satchel lies in their design, structure, and functionality:
Satchel: The classic satchel has a timeless design, featuring a shoulder strap and a practical front pocket for added storage. It does not include a handle, making it ideal for carrying over the shoulder or across the body. Its design makes it lightweight and versatile, perfect for casual use or as a daily companion for books, laptops, and essentials.
Briefcase Satchel: The Briefcase Satchel is an upgraded variation designed for added structure, durability, and professionalism. It features a reinforced leather panel at the top, which helps the satchel maintain its shape over time. This added structure not only enhances the bag’s durability but also provides better protection for items inside, reducing the risk of bending or twisting.
The Briefcase Satchel includes a comfortable rolled leather handle, designed for easy hand-carrying. This ergonomic grip allows the bag to be carried all day without needing the shoulder strap, making it a popular choice for city workers and professionals.
Additionally, the Briefcase Satchel comes with an automatic upgrade to a fully detachable shoulder strap, offering flexibility for those who prefer to alternate between hand-carrying and wearing the bag over the shoulder.
Both styles are handcrafted with the same attention to detail and high-quality materials, ensuring they are both functional and stylish. The choice comes down to whether you prefer the casual charm of the classic satchel or the structured, professional feel of the Briefcase Satchel.