Grey Fox & Harry are interviewed for The Ettinger Journal

I wanted to thank Ettinger, British manufacturers of top quality leather goods, for interviewing and featuring Harry and me in the latest version of The Ettinger Journal. I hope to bring you more about this brand next year. Meanwhile, please click here to read the full story and go to their shop to see their beautifully made products.

Harry and I were interviewed in our local park. Details of my British-made outfit are in the Ettinger Journal feature

Whitehouse Cox Luxury Leather Goods: A Photoshoot

I wrote about Whitehouse Cox's luxury leather goods a few months ago. They make their products, wallets, bags, key rings and note cases in Walsall in the English Midlands, the home of many leather workers (Walsall Football Club has the nickname 'The Saddlers'). Using bridle and saddle leathers, all are beautifully made and, like the best leather goods, will improve in appearance with age and use. Their travel collection includes sponge bags and canvas and leather holdalls of varying sizes.

They kindly asked me to model for a photoshoot showing some of their products earlier this month and here are some of the results. The photography was by CBZphoto and Harry, my labrador retriever, kindly also took part in the 'shoot.

I wrote about Whitehouse Cox before on the blog here. To browse their website for products for men and women, and to buy, click here.

This post is a collaboration with Whitehouse Cox.

Bennett Winch: Top Quality Made in England Bags

I've been trying out a leather and canvas brief case from relative newcomers, Bennett Winch. There are a lot of men's bags and luggage out there, but the skill is finding the good stuff. My experience has been that you seldom go wrong with British-made bags. The skills of manipulating leather and canvas have been around a long time in our country. Recent interest in British-made has revived skills which were getting rarer. 

In the case of Bennett Winch, the best British manufacturing skills have been supplemented by outstanding design. The chocolate brief (I'd buy it just for the name) is made from grain leather (I love seeing the texture of leather) and high quality canvas. The combination of materials makes it lighter than it looks, yet it feels robust and all the brass fittings, zip and clips, are solid and work smoothly. Inside is every sort of pocket and flap you're going to need to carry documents and technology around with you. 

In a competitive market, Bennett Winch have produced a bag which looks different but remains supremely practical. It's become a firm favourite and often accompanies me on my bloggy outings. Best of all, it smells gorgeous, although after a few days you have to press your nose to the leather to really appreciate it (don't do this on the bus or train).

To see and buy the full range of Bennett Winch bags, visit their website.

I was sent the bag for review but have received no compensation for this feature. All views are mine alone.

Whitehouse Cox: Leather Goods Made in England

Whitehouse Cox was established in 1875 and hand make leather goods in Walsall, England. They pride themselves on the quality not only of their workmanship, but also of the (largely British) leathers they use. All are natural vegetable tanned leathers and their other components are sourced where possible in the UK.

As with so many other British businesses I talk to, they are better known in Japan, where consumers appreciate the heritage, quality and skills that go into making such products. It seems a shame to buy foreign-made leather goods with designer labels when you can support the home team with well-made products like these. They sent me some products to look at. All are beautifully made, robust and will improve with age, as only the best leathers can. For more information, see Whitehouse Cox.

Products reviewed and pictured above:

Credit Card Notecase (saddle leather, red and black above)
Bloomsbury Hipster Wallet (Newton bridle leather above)
Travel Wallet (saddle leather)
Key Case (saddle leather)

This is a collaboration between Whitehouse Cox and Grey Fox Blog. All views expressed are mine alone.

Competition: Win one of Loake's New Leathergoods Range

[This competition has closed and a winner announced. Steve Baker has won a choice from the range] Traditional shoemaker Loake has introduced a range of leathergoods for the first time. The small and reasonably priced collection comprises four pieces: the Horseguards messenger bag, the Thames washbag, the Balmoral weekend bag and the Guildhall briefcase (left to right below).

In this exclusive competition you can win a choice of one of the range by simply by signing up for the Loake newsletter by clicking here. The competition closes at midnight on Sunday 11 June 2017 and the winner will be selected and announced on Monday 12 June.

L-R: Horseguards messenger bag, the Thames washbag, the Balmoral weekend bag and the Guildhall briefcase

I've been using the Guildhall briefcase and am very impressed by the quality of the design, construction and leather. A nice touch, for example, is that the carry strap has a suede lining to prevent it slipping off the shoulder.

With the exception of the messenger bag, they come in vegetable tanned leather, specially selected for its round, plump tannage which is relatively scuff resistant. The messenger bag comes in dark brown combination calf and full grain leathers. All the leathers will develop a beautiful, natural patina with age and are teamed with 100% cotton twill linings. 

The range (which will soon be extended) has been designed and engineered in-house with classic styling, practicality and ruggedness in mind. It is manufactured in India by the same people that make Loake’s Indian Goodyear Welted footwear. It is exclusively available in Loake shops in the UK and overseas, and from the Loake online store.

Balmoral Weekend Bag £225

Horseguards Messenger Bag £165

Guildhall Briefcase £180

Thames Washbag £55

This post is a collaboration with Loake.

Billy Tannery: An Exciting Enterprise Launching Today on Kickstarter

In the week of Meet the Manufacturer, that celebration of British manufacture, it's good to bring news of the launch of Billy Tannery on Kickstarter (links below). Another new enterprise from Britain's exciting new wave of young entrepreneurs, Billy Tannery is, as its name suggests, a brand which makes products from kid goat leather tanned in their small-batch tannery or ‘microtannery’.

Image Grey Fox

Founders Jack Millington and Rory Harker (both aged 28) discovered that a growth in demand for goat meat in the UK had coincided with the decline of the British leather industry, leaving thousands of British goat hides going to waste. In response they have collaborated with ethical goat meat supplier Cabrito to use leftover hides to produce premium vegetable tanned kid leather in their new tannery near Northampton. 

Billy Tannery is launching a range of luxury kid leather bags and accessories that are designed and handmade in Britain. I recently had a preview of some of these products and can confirm that they are beautifully designed and made. The first range of Billy Tannery products launches on the crowdfunding site, Kickstarter, today, 24th May 2017. 

Please get behind another exciting young brand whose vision is to design and manufacture here in the UK. Our support is needed, especially at a time when the UK, Brexit bound, needs more than ever to promote its own wares. Here are the web links:

See Billy Tannery on Kickstarter to support them as they launch.

See Billy Tannery for more information.

Meet the Manufacturer.

Cabrito Goat Meat Ltd.

This is an unsponsored feature. If you'd like to support Grey Fox Blog please email me here.

Hidepark Sheepskin Flying Jacket

Hidepark sells affordable quality leather and sheepskin jackets. They offered me one to try and naturally I selected one of their sheepskin flying jackets. Based on several historic and classic US and UK designs, they are made of 100% pure sheepskin. 

Image Paul Harries

Naturally warm, it's flexible, soft and fairly hefty. Ideal for very cold days and perfect for the open-top sportscar or canvas top vintage Land Rover. See Hidepark for their wide range of leather and sheepskin coats and jackets. The flying jacket costs £299.50.

The jacket was provided for the purposes of the review. I received no financial compensation for this post.

Holdall & Co Briefcase: Made in England & a Christmas Reader 15% Discount

It's about time I brought you up to date on Holdall & Co, whom I first featured on this blog on its early days and have mentioned occasionally since. Founded by Rai Navickaite, who received support from The Prince's Trust, it produces some of the best made leather folios, briefcases and accessories you'll find. Rai set out to educate herself on the complexities of leather working, trawled the country for manufacturers who would make the product to her high standards and, by her early twenties, was running her own business selling goods made in England.

Carrying a Holdall & Co brief case (image Jonathan Daniel Pryce/Holdall & Co)

14" Slimline Briefcase Black

I started out with one of Rai's folios; simple and plain, they hold documents with panache and without fuss. The development of the product has been slow and careful, as Rai is keen not to move far beyond her original concept of a basic but beautifully made leather bag. By the simple addition of a handle and shoulder strap (both optional items) she has retained the basic shape, but ended up with a briefcase (pictured above - available in various colours) with a slightly different function to the original folio (shown in red, below).

You know you own a classic piece: these will outlast most of their owners and the straightforward, robust and clean nature of their bridle leather design lifts them above the fussy and over-detailed quality of lesser brands.

Holdall & Co's clients can order bespoke pieces, selecting colours, choosing whether to have handles or straps, monogramming and pattern embossing or different sizes and styles. I've ordered a slightly deeper brief case to fit a blogging camera, and I'll report on that in due course. 

Holdall & Co offer a 15% discount for Grey Fox Blog readers; ideal for Christmas. Rai is also offering a free monogramming service (and free UK and international shipping for all orders over £50). To obtain the discount quote GreyFox at checkout. Click here to browse and buy.

Rai now kindly supports the blog by advertising here and, while I would feature her work on the blog whether she did so or not, I mention it here for total openness.

Campbell Cole Simple Collection: British made leather accessories

Campbell Cole's products are infused with a minimalist, high quality design ethic that always leaves me totally impressed. I've featured their British-made products here before. The products in the Simple Collection are made from Italian vegetable tanned leather and develop a patina of age, looking better and better as they're used. 

I've used one of their key wraps for a few years and it's never let me down - as well as looking good. The Simple A5 pouch, leather on one side and suede on the other, either slips inside a brief case or can be used to carry all those little objects (keys, wallet, passport, phone) that would otherwise ruin the carefully tailored lines of one's jacket or trousers.

I'm in awe of this young enterprise. They've never compromised on their pursuit of the highest quality and design. If these objects were embossed with other certain international high-luxury fashion names they would cost several times as much and wouldn't be as good quality (and probably be made in Asia). There are other pouches, wallets and holder in the Simple range. Go to Campbell Cole to find out more.

I was sent some of these objects for review. I've received no compensation for this feature and the views expressed are entirely my own.

Tim Hardy: bridle leather belts made in England & a discount code for readers

Some of the best leather belts I own are made by Tim Hardy of The Worcestershire Leather Company. I was privileged when he recently invited me to have input into the design a couple of belts for his bridle leather collection, all made in his Worcestershire workshop in England.

The Cropthorne Grey Fox edition belt

Tim grew up on a farm surrounded by horses' tack and this inspired him to train at the famous Cordwainers Technical College where he learned how to make leather goods. Vegetable tanned bridle leather is extremely durable and its look improves with age, particularly if looked after with products like dubbin or hidefood. 

The Bruton Grey Fox edition belt

Like many men, my wardrobe is dominated by blue and I suggested to Tim that we use this colour in a couple of specially commissioned Tim Hardy/Grey Fox belts which are now available for all to buy. Handmade by Tim, these are made to your custom waist size. The prices quoted here are before the 15% discount code (see below).

A navy blue leather belt with nickel-plated brass fittings - the Cropthorne - which is 1.25" wide, £65.

The second belt - the Bruton - is wider than the standard at 1.5" and is made from old sage cotton webbing, navy leather and nickel-plated brass fittings, £60.

Both belts are available with a 15% discount code (on the prices quoted above) for readers of the blog: GFOX16 - see Tim Hardy for other products.

We also used navy leather for two other products which Tim has made, but you will have to wait to see what these are, as we are keeping them under wraps for a few more weeks.

Lumford: wallets optimised & minimalised

Mike Mueller of Lumford Wallets felt that wallet design left a lot to be desired, so he set out to 'optimise' them as he puts it. He sent me a few to try out. The leather is high quality and the design minimalist and with no excess; a logical development if you want the product to be as slim as possible. 

Minimalist Tri-Fold

Minimalist Tri-Fold

The wallet on the right is beginning to age nicely

They are also small, yet somehow fit all the usual cards, notes and assorted items a man needs to spend, travel and introduce himself.

Being leather, the wallets, which are made in Spain, improve in looks with age. I've taken to using one of Mike's wallets daily as it seems to hold everything I carried before, but in a smaller and more secure package. Go to Lumford Wallets for more information and to buy.

Minimalist Flat

I have not been paid for this post. Some products were provided for review without charge. All views are my own.

Ettinger x Gaziano & Girling and Great Creations Exhibition

During London Craft Week last month, British manufacturers Ettinger (leather wear) and Gaziano & Girling (footwear) showed a bag and shoes created in collaboration to show the best of British shoe making and leather working. This video tells the story:

The Ettinger x Gaziano & Girling portfolio is now touring the world with the GREAT Creations Exhibition which promotes the best of the UK to international audiences, encouraging them to visit, study and do business in the UK. The exhibition features the best of British design and craftsmanship, including contributions from David Bailey CBE, Nicholas Oakwell, Mulberry and Aston Martin. See more on Great Creations here.

For more on Ettinger, click here.
For more on Gaziano & Girling, click here.

This post is unsponsored.

Holdall & Co: leather goods made in England - 30% off sale

Holdall & Co have been mentioned many times on this blog before. Their beautifully made leather folios, brief cases and wallets are made in England to the highest standards. Founder Rai Navickaite is offering an end of season reduction of 30% for seven days with a discount code of SUMMER30. 

In these images I am holding some of Rai's products. The images were shot by Jonathan Daniel Pryce in the City of London. Visit Holdall & Co for full details and to buy.

Sam Brown leather goods handmade in England

I met Antony Todd of Sam Brown Leather recently and was impressed by the range and quality of his leather goods and belts, many with bespoke silver buckles. 

Anthony told me more about his bespoke leather service. "I am hugely motivated by domestic product and anything that smacks tradition and quality presses all my buttons so, whatever I was going to use was going to come form the UK. The resulting thorough search threw up a tannery in the Midlands who had been producing highest quality vegetable drum dyed hides since the 1800's. Samples were sent and I was blown away by the quality". 

"At this stage, which was maybe 18 months ago, it dawned on me that we could be missing a trick and that by sand casting classic alloys for the buckles and using contemporary finishes on the leather, I could create something that would hit the market at a great price. So I made a wax and cast brass, copper and pewter in both a vintage and a slightly polished finish, sewed them with Londonderry Irish Linen thread to hand cut straps and have not really looked back. When I say hand cut I mean hand cut by me using only traditional tools and materials, no machines involved whatsoever!"

"The authentic nature of my work has been well accepted and I now have two other skilled leather workers who help me. I still take commissions for sterling silver buckles which start at about £165.00 for a classic suit belt but, the business is now dominated by the alloy buckles and in particular the edge dye belts which start at £59.00. The website is a great tool not only showcasing our product, which has now expanded to include small leather goods but also enabling my clients to create their own combinations and once again, I seem to be taking more bespoke orders than anything else".

For more information, see Sam Brown Leather.

Ettinger: luxury leather goods made in England

So many British companies making extremely high quality products in this country are better known abroad (often Japan and the Far East) than at home. Ettinger, makers of luxury leather goods, is one of these and, although they are now becoming very well-known in the UK, they join the likes of Tusting, SEH Kelly and others in having a high reputation for quality in foreign markets while being less well-known at home than many brands selling lower quality fashion products made abroad. If only we took the time to search for home-grown quality we would find many treasures.

I met Robert Ettinger (yes, this is another of our wonderful family companies) and he told me how the company was started by his father who came to London to sell leather goods in the 1930s. The business grew after the war, continuing to do so, more recently being awarded a Royal Warrant. Manufacturing is centred on Walsall in the Midlands, a centre of leather-making.

From the early seventies Mr Ettinger Senior began to sell to Japan and that country (and the Far East generally) remains a large market for the company. Robert Ettinger told me something of the Japanese appreciation of quality. Consumers will save up to buy a special item and their search for perfection meant that, originally, a product would be rejected if it was made with 9.5 stitches to the inch as opposed to 10. This demand for the best has helped Ettinger reach the peak of quality, a story I've heard told in a similar way by other British companies exporting to Japan.

This ability to make and sell products of the highest quality is driving major growth in the company. The factory has recently doubled in size and Ettinger sells in 170 stores in Japan as well as many more around the world. Robert sees an increase in web sales, perhaps indicating a new direction for the company. He also sees the rise of niche brands, with British-made and the Royal Warrant helping this process.

I left the meeting with a bridle leather card holder. An Ettinger product has to be handled to be really appreciated. Apart from the delicious smell, the bridle leather is silky to the touch and the stitching, colouring and construction second to none. A wide range of products, in many styles and colours, offers a wide choice to the consumer, from accessories, to wallets, bags and holdalls. For more information, see Ettinger online. 

Next time you consider buying a leather product consider: is it made in England and is it made to the highest quality, as Ettinger products are?

Desirable objects: Worcestershire Leather Company British-made khaki webbing belt

I'm lucky enough to have had another belt made for me by the leather belt guru, Tim Hardy of The Worcestershire Leather Company. Longer term readers may recall my last one here, which continues to get better with age (as do all men, and anything else made of quality leather).

The Worcestershire Bruton bridle leather and webbing belt - made in England

This belt is entirely handmade and sewn from English bridle leather (it even had that lovely waxy bloom when it was brand new) in sixteen or more separate processes. The British-made heavy cotton webbing make it ideal as a spring/summer belt. Naturally it is completed by an English solid brass buckle (or nickel plated brass if you prefer a silver finish). This is a belt for life.

It comes in a choice of 11 leather colours and 5 webbing colours and can be ordered in different widths. Give Tim your size and it will come made to measure. This, as you would expect, is a seriously high quality British belt. See The Worcestershire Leather Company for more information and to buy.

Campbell Cole's small leather collection: designed and made in England

I've been impressed before by the quality and attention to detail of Campbell Cole's leather products. For spring/summer 2015 their Simple Collection includes an iPhone 6 case and comes in black, grey and tan. 

Campbell Cole Simple Collection card holder, wallet and key fold

I've used one of their key folds for a couple of years now and, like all quality leather products, it gets better as the patina of age develops. This is British design and manufacture at its best from two young designers. See Campbell Cole for more information or to buy. Have a look also at their beautiful leather bags and totes.

Simple Collection iPhone 6 case

Ruxx Bags - Made in England

Ruxx Bags is a brand new to me. They hand-make their bags in Oxfordshire, England and their recently-relaunched website includes a man's Alex Document Bag which drew my eye. Both handsome and practical, it serves as a backpack or briefcase.

Ruxx are planning to extend their men's range for next year. For more information and to buy visit their website here. 

The video below shows the story behind the brand. Watch how the fluffy dog disconcertingly turns into a bag and back into a dog.

Campbell Cole - immaculately designed leather bags, made in Britain

There are a few, very few, brands that hit just the right design note with their products, branding, images and general outlook on life. One of these is Campbell Cole, a young company I've had an eye on for a while. Ian and Felicity, the designers behind Campbell Cole, bring a special freshness of style to their work, whether its the shape of a leather bag, or the layout of their stand at a trade show. It's this flair and obvious eye for quality that first drew them to my attention.

Their Annex Collection for AW14 uses sculptural form, soft premium leather and meticulous attention to detail combine to create sleek bags carefully thought out for easy organisation of your daily essentials. They are committed to British manufacture and work with a factory that has years of experience making luxury leather goods. As I'd expect, their detailed approach to design ensures a finished product that's beautifully executed and immaculately presented. 

See Campbell Cole for more information.

Pampeano polo belts

Pampeano supplies polo equipment and has its roots in the Argentine, home of outstanding leather goods. Their polo belts are made from finest vegetable-tanned leather and hand-stitched with a variety of colourful designs - there are 16 to choose from - with 6 different lengths and two widths.

Getting nicely worn-in on a pair of my more battered raw denim jeans

The belts look good on a pair of denims, shorts or chinos, or even on your polo whites if you're playing a few chukkas. Like all good leather products (and, indeed, like Grey Fox readers everywhere), they improve in appearance with age. To purchase, or find out more, see the Pampeano website.