I first mentioned Billy Tannery on the blog nearly two years ago when they launched on Kickstarter to create a tannery to make leather from goat hides which were otherwise going to waste as a by-product of the meat industry. Their bags and sneakers have introduced many of us to the supple, robust delights of kid leather and their recently introduced brief case makes good use of this attractive leather.
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| Billy Tannery goat leather brief case |
Made in Somerset, the brief case is 40cm wide by 30cm deep (plus the handle) and it really benefits from the soft and nicely textured goat leather. Accessible through a wide opening with a copper zip, the interior will hold a 15" laptop (sorry to be mixing unites of measurement here) and has been well-designed with cotton padding and several zipped or open pockets for all the all you need. Outside is a pocket for a phone or notebook and a pair of robust bridle leather handles.
Over the years I've tried many bags as part of my blogging life. Most are fine for the job, but a few stand out as being perfectly designed for the job. It's these that become the grab-and-go choice if I'm going out for the day. The Billy Tannery brief case is perfect for those days when you just need to take a few items and I find I'm using it now for most of my visits to town. It will take a mid-sized camera, my pens and notebooks, something to read and an iPad and still leave room for a tweed cap and pair of gloves in the winter.
Priced at £450 and available in black or chestnut, it's competing with many similar products at lesser prices. But it has to be remembered that this is a beautifully designed British product made from the best kid leather which has been been produced sustainably here in the UK. Nobody has been underpaid, the bag hasn't been flown around half the world to get here, you're not going to see everyone else using one and it will outlive you. Compared to many lesser quality products with international designer names stamped on them, this is a shrewd buy.
I was sent a brief case for review but was not compensated for this feature. All views are mine alone.