Habermas 1053 in Two-Color English Bridle Leather
The Habermas began as a briefcase for New York lawyers, and the 1053 is the version I cut from two colors of English bridle leather. Suede lines the inside. The edges are left natural, so the leather itself shows where one color ends and the next begins.
Two colors on one body
Most of my briefcases are one color all the way around. The 1053 splits the surface between two, which turns an upright, practical shape into something closer to a composition. The page on leather choice explains why I work in English bridle leather, and the journal article what is English bridle leather covers how it is made.
The Habermas shape
This style has been refined over many years. It is a durable case for busy attorneys, made to last years or even decades longer than thinner, name-brand briefcases. If any word here is unfamiliar, the anatomy of a briefcase glossary names every part.
Brass latches on chains
The photos show the brass Marcellino latches with their small chains. The Marcellino latch page walks through how they are built, and the journal piece on solid brass hardware explains why I use brass.
Suede inside
The lining is suede, soft against the stiff outside. The page on suede lining describes the material, and the leather care page covers how to keep it clean.
Stitched by hand
The seams are sewn by hand. The art of hand stitching page and the journal article on the saddle stitch describe why a hand stitch holds.
Keeping it
A bridle leather case rewards a little attention. The journal article on how to care for a bridle leather briefcase lays out the routine.
