As a child, the simple idea that items such as shoes, jeans, and even toys, are meant to last, is a concept I think our little minds fail to grasp. Maybe its because we have the attention span of a gnat, or maybe its all the sugar, I don’t know. But as we begin to grow, we quickly begin to grow out the items that once fit, and toss then aside like rags, it sorta sets this throw-away mentality in children. The idea that once something has become worn, has been around for a long period of time, gets tagged as something that needs to be replaced. Sadly, most of the retail industry thrives on this state of mind, and they make their products accordingly. Constructed to last just long enough for your credit card to clear. I’ve fallen prey to this bait and switch many times, and have finally arrived at the point in my life were products that I buy should be more like a long term investment then something to get the job done for now.
My first venture into responsible purchasing, was for and item that I’ve needed for a good period of time, a briefcase. As an adult, I thought that when I went to interviews or to meet clients I should look the part. And while there are plenty of brilliant looking backpacks, they don’t fit the professional ascetic I’d like to portray. That being said, I began the task of hunting for the briefcase to fit my needs. The selection process was pretty strict:
- needed to be constructed of quality material that can stand up to the elements and wear
- made by a company with a track record of quality, long lasting products
- have shoulder and hand straps that could put up with varied amounts of weight and not damage the bag or break
- and finally will look great, if not better, years down the road.
After a couple weeks of research, the company at the top of my list was Filson, with the Original Briefcase in tan.
I managed to pick up one locally at one of my favorite shops, Unionmade. The awesome part about their Filson section is, they have one wall lined with the brand new version of each bag, and lining the opposite wall, the aged versions of each. After eyeing what my bag wound look like in a year’s time, I can’t wait for mine to start getting beat up and worn in.
The bag itself is like a tank in hand. Constructed from industrial weight cotton, you’d think this thing could stop a bullet. All of the straps, handles, and the lip joining the zipper to the bag itself, are made from high quality bridal leather. Overall the bag looks and feels spectacular, and probably one of the smartest investments I’ve made in some time. If you’re interested in picking up one for yourself, or just checking out the huge range of goods Filson has to offer, just head over to Filson.com
Comments (5)
Great post and good choice. Filson is the best quality and their products can withstand hella wear and tear.
BTW- Love your site, your photography and how the pictures appear as you scroll down. Very nice my friend.
Darian
Hi. First off, great site and pictures. I’m currently trying to purchase the same bag and was js wondering if they will be able to fit a 13 inch laptop and an A4 sized folio in it as the bag does look pretty slim. Thank you very much and have a nice day.
It’s spelled “bridle leather” (though a wife-to-be who wanted to be outfitted in same would admittedly make for a fun wedding.)
An out-of-state friend of mine liked our Filson briefcase so much because of your photography that she is going to buy one. And when she forwarded the link to your blog — we liked the photos so much, we have passed them around as examples of what our photography could be. So you in turn, have inspired Filson.
just a heads up, “ascetic” does not mean what you think it does.