Hand sewn, hand cut, natural veg tan Italian leather, one of a kind, leather travel goods and travel backpacks. 

Made in England by James Leask Frazer.

My name is James Leask Frazer. I am a Traveller. 

When I first began my journies, I looked for ages for a travel bag made of leather that would age with me.

Gaining the patina and colour of the sun, rain, and general wear, that would speak a journey and tales that need not be told once I put my bag down.

A bag that would tell who I was, wherever I went, and be accepted in a beautiful hotel as well as on a stall at a street food stand. 

Inconspicuous, yet outspoken for any occasion.  

Well, I could not find it.

So I decided to make my own. 

I learnt to cut, sew, to saddle stitch, and invested in a collection of

handmade leather tools, from a tool craftsman on the outskirts of Tokyo. 

I wanted the best. A fine cut of hide, tanned in the most traditional way, natural, unfinished and the best quality you could buy. 

After a long time searching and visiting various leather suppliers, I found a hide that stood out for its smell, quality, softness yet firmness, look, finish, grain and supplety. It was expensive but it was just what I was looking for so I bought it. It was stamped on the back with it’s origin. 

Carlo Badalassi – Made in Italy.

It turned out that it came from one of the age old tanneries in Tuscany, which make up part of the ‘Pelle Conciarta al Vegetale’ in Toscana, Italy. A consortium of Italy’s finest natural tanneries, producing beautiful, Grade A, veg tan hides. The quality of which can be smelt and seen before it’s felt.

And so I began. After designing and shaping, I began to cut and sew and create my travel bag. 

The one you see. 

It went on to travel thousands of miles.

Through Europe, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan to name a few. On planes, trains, busses, and hiking in the mountains. It got rained on and sunburnt. It got scratched and scuffed and lived and aged beautifully.

It also got a lot of comments from people too. After engaging in conversation, I replied, “It’s a one off, handmade by me, there’s only this one”.

So what next? Just to stop. No.

I returned after travelling and made another bag. I refined it, adjusted it and made it with the same energy as the first, with the thought of it’s onward journey and the next person it will serve.

The intention was to sell it. But after making it and all the effort that went in, I decided to keep it. 

With the experience from travelling for both time and distance with a leather travel bag, I learned and understood what to improve. How to keep it strong and how to make it stronger.

Reliable. Hard wearing. 

Afterall, it will not heal again! 

I enjoy working with leather, so I continue to make my travel bags. For now.

One at a time. Once finished, I list them available for sale. 

Each bag can take up to six weeks to make. Work in progress so to speak. 

Every bag is different. Unique. 

When it’s sold, it’s gone. Not repeated.

It is the innovation, art, physical creation and implementing my knowledge of what is needed for making a leather travel bag that that keeps me crafting.

My enjoyment comes from the artistry of a new design, still with the fundamental vein of look, functionality, longevity.

And of course, it’s specific use – Travel.