The Latest Adventure
From time to time I like to write a review of my own cross body bag. It was the very first ‘proper’ thing I made and it was this bag that got me into leather craft six years ago. This cross body bag has meant more to me than most would imagine. I have used this cross body bag for a number of years now on a daily basis. It works for me exactly how I want it to. However it has also given me an opportunity to test my workmanship and the materials used. This is why I write a review of it from time to time. I like to reminisce over what it has been through with me. I want to be able to tell people that my leather work is not only authentic, traditional and of a very high standard, but I also want to be able to say that the things that I make are made to last. I have tested this thing beyond the boundaries of normal use. Beyond what it was designed for to gain the confidence to stand behind my work with confidence.
The latest adventure was a walk around Kinver Edge near Kidderminster in the West Midlands where I spent an afternoon walking with the children and then picnicking on benches with a view. Please see the photographs below. On this trip there was no extreme testing of my cross body bag. Instead it carried my usual items plus a stash of chocolate hidden from the children. The bag performed as well as I have become accustomed to expect it to. Everything in perfect and quick reach, not too heavy and not so bulky that it gets in the way. Of course there are sometimes odd moments when it does get in the way such as the time when I showed the children how to collect tinder from the bark of the Silver Birch or when we finally sat down for the picnic. In the case of the latter setting me quarter staff obliged by offering a hanging point as shown in the photographs below.
Disclaimer: should you acquire one of my pieces then you really shouldn’t do with it what I have done with my bag. With that said if you are interested to read about the adventures this bag has taken me on and how it has fared then please read on.
A little bit about the bag.
The leather is traditional English bridal leather. It is dyed through and has a fully aniline finish which means that when handling this leather one is touching the leather directly. No surface pigmentation is present. This is also full grain or top grain leather which has not been corrected for irregularities. Therefore this leather ages beautifully. It imbibes the environment and something of its user. The leather also has its own features in the form of growth marks, vein marks and scar tissue from injuries. This makes each piece truly unique. It also means that it can get stained and it forms a lovely patina where rubbing occurs. All of which gives the leather a life of its own.
This bag was made form offcuts because at time I had not started purchasing full hides. It took a bit of trickery to make the gussets and the strap because there were no pieces long enough to make these parts in one piece. Not ideal but the only option at the time.
The design is completely my own, made to my specifications and requirements. The straps are highly adjustable, the front pocket has an organiser inside for various items, there is a rear flat pocket and the main compartment is large enough to carry most things needed on a daily basis, including a small laptop, a tablet, books and the like with some space for unexpected items picked up during the day. Additionally I later added strap system with which to attach items on the top outside of the bag. I usually carry a pencil case but have also carried my rain coat, umbrella and water bottle within these straps for example.
The whole bag is hand cut and hand stitched using traditional pure linen thread and it is hand finished using all natural and non-toxic materials.
The Review
In and nutshell this bag has been soaked in heavy rain several times, it has been filled over its capacity with camera gear, it has taken the full force of a fall on rough tarmac and it has been on numerous hikes, camping trips, shopping trips and meetings. I have tried, whenever an opportunity arises, to test this thing to its limits. In the process it has acquired some serious scratches and has been bent out of shape.
Despite this abuse this bag continues to serve me in the same way as it did the day it was completed. What has changed one may ask. The simple answer is, not much.
Firstly the appearance is completely different. The colour has darkened. This is to be expected. UV light from the sun, handling and rubbing against things has darkened the leather. Also the scratches are quite visible although they have faded somewhat with time. Secondly the strap attachment loop at the back broke. I was expecting this because the piece of leather used to make the loop was from a part of the hide that was very loose and fibrous. It was easily replaced and the problem solved. I realise that the loop would have lasted much longer if I had not been over loading the bag in the first place. Thirdly the small closure strap on the front fell off (or I should say I pulled it off in anticipation of failure). The reason being that the stitch line was not long enough and despite back stitching the whole stitch line, after two years the stitches became loose. Again this is a very easy fix.
Besides these ‘faults’ the bag has been a rock! There is no sign that the leather is weakened by its many soakings (contents were always dry btw). I really couldn’t be happier with it. Having said that I have made some modifications to the design so that people who commission me to make them a similar bag benefit from the torture that my bag has been through.
I do have some future plans for my bag. Firstly I will re-burnish the edges to return them to a smooth and glossy finish. Something that can’t be done with pigmented or rolled edges. Secondly I will line and stitch all of the straps for aesthetic reasons and also to make the main strap slide on my shoulder with less resistance. Thirdly I will wash the leather with saddle soap and re-feed it several times. These processes will not restore the leather to original finish. Not what I want anyway. Rather it will keep the bag in good condition so that it continues its life for a very long time whilst retaining the features it has gained through its life so far.
Below are some photographs of the latest adventure that this bag went on with me where we were witness to one of the most beautiful sunsets beheld by man (I am sure). The quality is not great but I am sure you will get the point.
