Woodhull 4753: Red Sheepskin Suede

The Woodhull 4753 is a briefcase with a red sheepskin suede exterior, a showpiece rather than a workhorse, built on a natural veg tan frame.

Suede on the outside

Most briefcases keep suede inside, where nothing touches it. On the 4753 the suede is the outside. The skin is sheepskin, dyed red, and it is velvety and softer than calf suede. It is also less durable than the cow splits used for heavier suede, and that matters for how the case should be treated.

Suede cannot get wet. I call this a showpiece, and I mean it as a warning as well as a description: carry it with care.

Veg tan underneath

Suede alone would not hold the shape of a briefcase, so natural veg tan leather supplies the structure and the lining. I do not use cardboard anywhere. Cardboard barriers crinkle over time.

The undyed veg tan will patina as it is handled, or it can be dyed.

Closures and handle

Two Cobra quick-release locks close it, and a flat stitched handle carries it. Inside are the standard set of pockets and a back newspaper pocket. The body is hand saddle stitched, as every case in the line is.

Cleaning

For the cleaning I follow the method from my video on a sheepskin suede briefcase: no conditioner and no liquids. A soft brush or a clean cloth is all it needs.

Suede, and how to care for it

Sheepskin suede is the lighter of my two suedes and the more velvety. I offer it for linings on request, subject to availability, and the suede lining page shows examples. Here it is the outside, which raises the stakes.

For suede my care instructions are short: no oil conditioner, avoid water, clean with a soft toothbrush, or blow the surface lightly with a can of air.

The veg tan beneath is hand stitched. Bridle Leather vs. Vegetable-Tanned: What the Difference Means in Your Hands explains how veg tan differs from bridle.