KEEPING IT BRIEF
We take a look at some of the best briefcases on the market for style-conscious businessmen and women
madEByNativE thE oLwEN miNi casE
UAE-based MadeByNative is a collective of skilled craftspeople and artisans that creates luxury handcrafted products. The group’s Olwen Mini Case (a smaller version of the $560 Olwen Case) is a good fit for business folk on the go, fitting most tablets or small laptops, along with other essentials such as a notebook and pens. The natural Italian vegetable tanned leather is available in seven different colours, including mustard, plum, agave, mint, black, tan and tumbled chestnut.
$5,500 BōLE couNty GovErNor BriEfcasE
The price-tag might bring a tear to many an eye, but this offering from Swedish tannery and sadlery Bōle is not your average briefcase. Made from a single hide of spruce bark tanned Swedish cattle, with a Nordic reindeer skin lining, the County Governor Briefcase also features Italian brass locks, a 15 year guarantee and a free annual service. If you’re prepared to part with even more cash, the company’s Double Minister Briefcase – hailed as ‘arguably mankind’s crowning briefcase achievement’ by one reviewer – crashes in at $6,765.
Gucci wEBBy LEathEr BriEfcasE
Designed with women in mind, this offering by Gucci makes the kind of statement you would expect from the iconic fashion house. Featuring the Gucci Web detail in its signature green and red combination, the case has a single gusset, open back pocket, ample space for business accoutrements and a lock with detachable leather key holder. Hand-painted edges, antiqued brass hardware and protective metal feet add extra touches to the piece.
J.w. huLmE co. PortfoLio BriEfcasE
J.W. Hulme Co’s Portfolio Briefcase is available in four styles: Greystone Canvas, American Heritage Leather, Saddle Heritage Leather and Black 1905 Leather. The Greystone Canvas case uses a hardy, 22-ounce grey waxed canvas, which is claimed to be as tough as leather and descended from the military grade canvas tents that the 112-year-old company manufactured for the US army during the First World War. Big enough to fit a 15-inch laptop, the case features a single main compartment and two exterior zip pockets.
$670 Korchmar Lux ELLiot
Celebrating its centenary this year, Korchmar is regarded as one of the finest makers of briefcases in the US. The Lux Elliot has a double gusset interior with multiple and expandable interior pockets, a built-in sleeve for tablets, optional shoulder strap and combination locking system. Big enough for most 15-inch laptops as well as those all-important business documents, each case is made in the family-run business’s US factory.