While on the subject of bespoke luggage, Cleverley recently started doing its own pieces with two old guys situated down in its Cornwall workshop. Leather bags were previously made by the Robert Simpson factory that also makes for Tanner Krolle and others, and I visited here. Smaller and non-bespoke pieces will continue to be made there.
This piece is particularly lovely – an alligator briefcase made of one piece across the back, without a seam. It is hard to find top-grade alligator skins that are big enough to make single pieces like this. It’s in midnight blue with violet suede lining and was commissioned by a client in Beverly Hills. Nice.
I am in the market to commission something like this but wanted your knowledge in helping make a decision.
Two points:
1. How is the craftsmanship on this compared to an Ortus briefcase or Hermes breifcase?
2. The quality of the skin beats anything I have seen from Hermes or Ortus. Agree?
1. Very similar to Ortus – ie pretty much all hand-sewn. And on the same level as some Hermes, but not all of it.
2. No, I wouldn’t agree. It’s different more than anything else. Cleverley and English makers tend to use stiffer bridle leathers; French makers and some like Ortus tend to use calf, as well as some bridle