Habermas 1052: Havana Outside, Sand Inside

Hermann Oak leather comes thick, and the Habermas 1052 uses all of it. The outside is Havana, a deep red brown, and the inside is sand colored suede, so a heavy bag opens onto a soft, light interior.

Thick leather and what it does

The listing says it plainly: this is Hermann Oak leather, and it comes thicker than the rest. When I add suede on top of that thickness, the result is a thick, heavy briefcase meant to last a lifetime. The side and top photos show the stacked edges and how substantial the gussets are.

The page on leather choice gives the background on Hermann Oak, a tannery with more than 130 years of experience. The journal article on bridle versus harness leather compares it with the English leather I use elsewhere.

Havana and sand

Havana is a rich dark brown with red in it, and the sand suede lining sits against it as a quiet contrast. The strap in the photos matches the sand suede. If you want the color story of a bag like this one, the interior photo shows it best, with the flap lined all the way up.

The page on suede lining explains the Italian calf suede I use, and the leather care page gives the care routine for suede, which keeps it away from oil and water.

Latches and straps

The 1052 carries brass Marcellino latches, with a small chain on each, and a shoulder strap that clips to rings on the sides. The journal article on solid brass hardware explains why I use it.

Built by hand

Everything on the 1052 is saddle stitched, thick thread set back from the edge, and the page on hand stitching describes the method. The article on the saddle stitch covers the reasoning.