Refined Simplicity – Hand Held Or Tucked under The Arm
In business, image is important. Turning up to a meeting with all your possessions housed in an elegant, unique and handcrafted portfolio, or a beautiful bespoke attaché case, can make all the difference.
To make a briefcase requires the highest level of craftsmanship and ability to overcome the technical complexity of creating an elegant, durable product, that within its elegance, is sturdy enough to withstand the stresses of everyday use. Portfolios are refined simplicity tucked under the arm or hand held for those who just have a computer and a few important documents.
Most of my handcrafted bags are created to order, either as a bespoke or made to measure project.
If I decide to accept the challenge, the customer will be invited to discuss their needs and will then receive a proposal in the form of photos, sketches and written explanations, as well as the cost.
For bigger, more time consuming requests there may be a wait of several months. Over one year it would be unusual for me to take on more than four or five such ventures.
I normally have a few portfolios available in the boutique/atelier to buy or they can be ordered made to measure.
The Process
Leathers, lining and metal hardware are chosen. Then the leather will be cut and dyed by hand* with all the benefits that hand dying proportions.
The bag will then be assembled and reinforced with leather where necessary and it will be hand stitched with French linen thread. All zips are from ykks Exelia range.
* If exotic skins have been selected the skins usually have been dyed previously.
Portfolios & Attaché Cases
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Some questions, some answers
Like so many artists or craftsmen my inspiration comes from nature, my life, the place I live, the people I meet and the trips I take.
Necessity is also a great driver to be creative. If I were not creative I would have to close my business. This is a powerful incentive to create and innovate.
As I make so many products with very different techniques, it is difficult to give an accurate guide to prices, but I will give you a few guidelines so that you can get a rough idea.
Belts would start around 120 euros for classic simple models and could go over a 1000 euros for the more fancy labour intensive designs. Small bags and clutches would probably start around 300 euros and could go to around a 1000 depending on the type of leather and labour intensity. Bigger bags would be made to measure only and tend to cost around 2000 euros or more. Sandals are only made to measure and start at around 300 euros.
