For the real connoisseur - learn more about the construction and the origins of the exceptional materials used in your bag.
Our leathers are made in Italy, Finland, Sweden and Norway. The supplier in Norway could possibly be labeled the worlds most clean tannery. Situated beautifully at the bottom of a fjord, they have their own sewage cleaning facility to make sure absolutly no residues are let out into nature and the sea.
All our leathers are vegetable tanned (with the exception of suede).
The hardware is made in Italy, and some parts in Switzerland. Most are solid brass, with some simpler parts made in a zinc alloy. They are finished in palladium, to give a stronger surface and avoid tarnishing.
Our philosophy is a celebration of small scale production. We buy materials from small family owned companies with a long tradition in their field. For example, the paper boxes each bag is delivered in are handmade in Italy, the dust bags are sewn by a small company in Österlen in southern Sweden, the metal buckles and other metal items are hand-finished piece by piece in Italy.
Medium
The Norwegian vegetable leather is soft and supple with a natural feel. Only herbal substances was used in the tanning process. The bag has a slouchier and less structured look. The same model in Italian leather is more structured, with a natural but distinctly luxurious and classic feel, this is the Medium II. Spanish pig suede lining or Finnish reinder suede.
The hardware is all palladium finish, except that on the strap which is nickel finish with a protective coating. The handles on these, and the other models with round handles, are our signature style. They will show a bit more of their structure when you have used the bag for a while.
Mini
The construction of the Mini is similar to the Medium. It lacks the outer pocket. It's size makes it unique. The leather is the same as Medium II. The lining is reindeer suede from Finland. Like the Medium, it comes with an attachable and adjustable strap, which is rather short because it is intended for slinging on one shoulder rather than crossbody (which still may be possible if you prefer it). The strap has subtly logoed Italian-made hardware.
Weekend
A very sophisticated Italian shrunk leather. Vegetable tanning. Inside lined with Spanish pig suede. The hardware is palladium finish to avoid tarnishing, and like all our hardware comes from Italy and Switzerland. Signature handles with structure. The bottom is reinforced, and the Weekend is quite structured, and will retain it's shape even when empty.
Valfrid
An ancient Viking name on a bag made of vegetable tanned Italian calf leather and Spanish pig suede on the inside. This leather ages very well, becoming softer and more polished the more you use it. It will slouch more when "broken in". The bottom has a reinforcement to help the bag retain its shape when carried.
Laholm
The name is taken from the beautiful coastline in southwest Sweden with a sandy beach that goes on for miles. This bag has a summery spirit, with its golden, sunny suede. It is made from Italian calf suede, which shines and even sparkles subtly like the tiny reflections in grains of sand. The leather trim is a Swedish lightly pigmented natural calf leather. On the inside it is lined with Spanish pig suede. This bag will become softer and a bit more slouchy with use. Although this bag has a surface protection that makes it more resilient to water and dirt, please mind that suede is a sensitive material. It is also recommended to regularly reapply a protection spray.
About flaws and naturalness
Leather are natural materials, and they are marked by the environment in which the animal lived. Hildestahl do not consider these healed scars and irregular surface structures to be defects. Each skin is different, and we think this is part of the charm. You will therefore find that on close inspection each Hildestahl bag is not identical.