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Made with Care. Used with Love. Cherished for Life.
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The New Bags Have Arrived
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It has been a couple of quiet weeks from us in your inbox, and that is entirely on purpose: we were down in the workshop with our heads in leather and canvas, finishing the two bags we told you about back on July 2nd. They are done, they are in the shop, and we could not be happier to finally show them to you.
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The first is the Forge Messenger, a waxed canvas and leather laptop bag built for the days you are carrying a full workload and do not want to look like it. The leather is full-grain, vegetable-tanned hide from Wickett & Craig in Pennsylvania, paired with heavy waxed canvas from Halley Stevensons in Scotland - a combination that is sturdy from day one and only gets better looking with wear.
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The second is the Harbor Large Tote, our answer to the days you need to carry everything and still walk out the door feeling put together. It is cut from pebbled Wickett & Craig leather as well, roomy enough for a laptop and the rest of your daily essentials, with the kind of structure that holds its shape trip after trip.
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Both are handmade here in our Ann Arbor studio, the same way we make everything else: slowly, by hand, one at a time. And this is just the start: more colors and additional designs in this same collection are already underway, so if neither of these is quite your shade or shape, stay tuned.
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Thank you for your patience while we got these right, and thank you, as always, for being part of this community.
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With gratitude,
Isabel & Shailesh
Arbor Trading Post
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The Forge Messenger | Waxed Canvas & Leather Laptop Bag
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Built for the professional who carries a full day's work and still wants their bag to look better a year from now than it does today, the Forge Messenger pairs full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather from Wickett & Craig in the USA with 18oz waxed canvas from Halley Stevensons in Scotland. The hardware is solid antique brass, built to age alongside the leather rather than tarnish against it.
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Inside, a cushioned laptop compartment fits machines up to 16" wide, with two front pockets and an interior pocket for everything else you carry. The adjustable shoulder strap runs 25"–30", and the whole bag is finished with a full cotton canvas lining. At 16" x 13" x 5", it holds a genuine day's worth of work without feeling bulky.
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This is a bag we are proud to have finally finished. It is ready to develop its own patina with your every commute.
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Artisan Leather vs. Mass-Produced: A Side-by-Side Comparison of What You Actually Get
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Two bags can look nearly identical on a shelf and still be entirely different products once you look at the materials and construction underneath. Here is a side-by-side look at what separates artisan leather goods from their mass-produced counterparts.
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6 Simple Tests to Tell Real Leather From Faux at Any Price Point
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Not everything labeled "leather" actually is. These six simple tests will help you tell the real thing from a convincing imitation, whether you are shopping with us or anywhere else.
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The Value of Handmade Leather Goods: Why We Do It the Old, Slow Way
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Mass production is faster and cheaper, so why do we still cut, stitch, and finish every piece by hand? This post is a look inside our reasoning — and why the slow way still makes the better product.
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This Week's Spotlight: Wallets
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Harbor Large Tote | Pebbled Leather Carryall for Everyday
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$385.00
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The Forge Messenger | Waxed Canvas & Leather Laptop Bag
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$450.00
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The Venture Leather Briefcase | Double Compartment | Medium Brown
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$975.00
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The MeadowLight Compact Leather Backpack in Soft Black Pebble Leather
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$420.00
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Leather Crossbody Satchel Bag in Chestnut, Turn Lock Closure
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$385.00
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