Ashley Clarke England

Heritage Leather Briefcase: C.F. Stead Waxy Commander Edition

£975.00 GBP

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Taxes included.

This edition of the Heritage Briefcase is crafted from a rugged, waxed suede, typically used for boots, offering durability like no other. Handmade in my Lincolnshire workshop using age-old techniques, it’s designed to tell your story and be passed down for generations.

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Premium features

100% leather throughout
Custom shoulder strap length – choose from S,M, L
Two full width external pockets
One 36cm x 20cm internal pocket
4mm thick bridle leather handles, shoulder strap and base
Solid brass hardware throughout
Internal accessory tabs with eyelets to keep valuables safe
Designed to carry a 17” laptop, A4 notebook, plus your everyday essentials

Dimensions

Briefcase:

Width 40cm (15.7”)
Height 31cm (12.2”)
Depth 10cm (3.9”)

Shoulder strap custom lengths:

Small 120 – 135cm (47” – 53”) (standard briefcase strap length)
Medium 135 – 150cm (53” – 59”)
Large 150 – 165cm (59” – 65”)

Product care

I make my products to stand the test of time. This briefcase is crafted from a durable, heavily waxed, waterproof leather which will only look better with age.

However, you can give your briefcase some extra TLC by:

Wiping any dirt from the surface of the leather with a damp cloth.
Buffing out small scruffs or scratches from wear using a cotton cloth. This brings the natural oils to the surface of the leather.
Feeding the leather with Original Sedgwick Leathercare to protect and replenish the natural oils in the hide. Please note that this product will slightly darken the colour of the leather permanently.

Made to order

Each leather briefcase is handmade to order in my workshop, using traditional techniques. It takes three weeks to craft a briefcase, from the point of order to shipping.

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More information

This edition of my Heritage Briefcase is made to order in a limited quantity from Charles F Stead "Waxy Commander" suede. Customise yours by selecting the shoulder strap length that suits you, at no extra cost.

Created with attention to every fine detail. The Heritage briefcase features hand dyed edge finishing's, fully leather-bound internal seams, logo embossed zip tabs and a base inspired by the shape of a falconry lure, a nod to my leatherworking roots.

The Heritage briefcase is large enough to carry a 17” laptop, an A4 notebook or folder and all of your everyday essentials. Mine is packed with notebooks and pens, I carry four or five notebooks for when inspiration strikes.

This bag is built to last, it’s suitably smart to accompany you to the office, yet adventure-ready for a day outdoors. My designs marry heavy duty functionality with a classic aesthetic.

Designed, cut and sewn in my Lincolnshire workshop using traditional techniques.

Crafted from the finest materials

This leather is hand-selected from the historic Charles F. Stead tannery in Leeds, England. Established in 1904, Charles F. Stead continues to produce some of the finest suedes in the world.

"Waxy Commander" is a heavy waxed suede, typically used in the manufacture of boots. During its unique tanning process, the hides are shrunk by up to 25%, tightening the fibers and strengthening the leather.

With its heavy waxed finish and tight grain structure, this leather is fully waterproof. With these properties, your bag promises to develop an unrivalled patina straight out of the box.

The briefcase handles, strap, and fine details are cut from J & E Sedgwick bridle leather. Based in Walsall, the tannery is famous for its superior quality leather, which is traditionally used for horse tack due to its strength and durability.

I’ve finished the Heritage briefcase with solid brass hardware, produced by Abbey England, the last remaining traditional brass foundry in Britain.

Designed to last a lifetime

I’ve selected a really durable leather for this briefcase. In my opinion, a leather should hold its own so I choose a thickness that will support itself without the need of a synthetic lining.

My rule of thumb is: does it look good? Yes. Could it spend a day out in the field, in the great British weather, and still perform? Yes. This standard of leather makes the cut for an Ashley Clarke England original.

When I pick materials, I carefully consider durability as well as aesthetics. I design my pieces to perform and to look better with age.

Over time, your briefcase will take on its own story. I encourage you to embrace scuffs and scratches from everyday use. Your bag is designed so that one day it might be used by another generation of your family, who will cherish those signs of your journey through life.

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Made in England

Each briefcase is made from start to finish in my workshop in Grantham, England. I design my patterns using an age-old method, drawn by hand with pencil and pattern card, and cut with a scalpel.

Each new design goes through several stages of leather mock-up, there’s no use of CAD in this process, everything is done by hand.

My cutting knives are made bespoke for each product that I produce. Workshop visitors often comment that these knives look like heavy-duty pastry cutters!

Every briefcase is carefully made one at a time using traditional techniques. This is how leather has been worked for centuries and I'm proud to continue that tradition.

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Heritage Leather Briefcase: C.F. Stead Waxy Commander Edition