Harold's

Leather Craftsmanship in the Third Generation

The company Harolds from Obertshausen in Southern Hesse has been producing high-quality bags made from natural leather since 1936. It is now managed by the founder's grandson in its third generation.

Nikolaus Schmelz opened a leather bag workshop in Obertshausen in 1936. The core principle has not changed: Harolds leather goods are still mostly handcrafted. However, the family has continuously developed the production methods. The founder's son, Günter Schmelz, established international collaborations with partners in Italy, Colombia, and India starting in 1955, and the grandson, Thilo, refined the designs from 1999 onwards. To this day, each bag and wallet from Harolds is made from authentic materials and impresses with its timeless, constructive design.

Harolds Leather Bags

Harolds offers a variety of leather bags, such as shoulder bags, messenger bags, shoppers, as well as hand and belt bags. The different lines of Harolds leather bags include:

• Submarine
• Raboison Messenger
• Antico
• Antik
• Country
• Saddle
• Aber
• Crunchy
• Aberdeen
• Concepts Women

The company regularly implements new design ideas for its Harolds leather goods. For example, the Concepts Women line is aimed at women who appreciate the combination of color, natural leather, and unique design. These Harolds leather bags feature colored natural leather, creating distinctive models with a timeless modern aesthetic. Harolds imports the leather for this collection from Colombia. The cattle there live at altitudes of over 3,000 meters in the Andes. The resulting Harolds leather goods are tanned 100% using plant-based methods and processed naturally to maintain their original character. It is important to note that the hides used are categorized as "leftovers," which are by-products of the food industry. Therefore, no cattle are killed specifically for a Harolds bag.

Harolds Briefcases

If you want to combine design, functionality, durability, and style, a Harolds briefcase is a great choice. It can be simple and straight-lined, like the Country model (36 x 27 x 6 cm), with an inner lining, a snap closure, and an exterior zip pocket, or, as in the Antic Collection, feature two exterior pockets with buckles, adjustable straps, and, despite its deliberately antique appearance, a laptop compartment. The plant-based tanning gives this Harolds briefcase its typical look and distinctive texture.

Harolds Shoulder Bags

Among the Harolds leather goods, the shoulder bags stand out for their highly varied designs, giving them different functions. There are large shoppers with special phone pockets, as well as smaller bags in A4 size that are perfect for packing the essentials for the office. The messenger bags in the Harolds leather goods collection feature additional pockets for better organization. At the same time, they offer plenty of storage space for all the little things in daily life. The relatively small shoulder bag from the Antik series (only 21 x 18 x 8 cm) still has numerous pockets, making it a practical everyday companion. Like all Harolds leather goods, it stands out with the typical look created by the plant-based tanning process of the leather.

Harolds Wallets

The wallets for men and women from Harolds impress from the first glance: they appear elegant, modern, and high-quality, yet simultaneously antique. The secret behind this is a sophisticated technique: the manufacturer creates this special vintage surface by washing the entire wallet after its production. However, this process is not applied to every variant. Again, there are different lines:

• Country,
• Submarine,
• Saddle, and
• Aberdeen,

each with its own distinct design. This variety allows the company to cater to every possible taste.

More High-Quality Leather Bags on Bags.co.uk

Here, we present two additional brands that we find very impressive, alongside Harolds.

The manufacturer Buckle & Seam offers very beautiful bags for the office, city trips, or short travels. Special laptop bags are also included, some of which are additionally padded. Not to mention, they are waterproof and feature designs made from impregnated leather. For a weekend trip, men and women can choose a weekender from Buckle & Seam, which is spacious enough for a few days. Its compartments consist of a main and secondary compartment to sort travel items sensibly. At least one compartment is sturdy enough to hold and protect a laptop. Therefore, the weekender can also be used for daily activities when you need to bring more things to the office. Buckle & Seam also offers very stylish backpacks, some of which are business-appropriate eye-catchers.

At Castelijn & Beerens, leather craftsmanship meets modern lifestyle. We are convinced by these bags and wallets due to their straightforward elegance and the handcrafted quality that the Dutch brand places great importance on. Both men and women will find classic and modern crossbody or shoulder bags in different sizes, made from Italian raw and smooth leather. The brand's leather backpacks also impress with their designs and practical handling. The laptop backpacks feature padded compartments. Castelijn & Beerens also offers leather wallets in square or rectangular shapes, which can be compact folding wallets secured with zippers or magnetic closures. RFID protection is standard in most models. In their business line, Castelijn & Beerens offers high-quality briefcases and laptop bags, as well as business backpacks that stand for functional elegance. To accommodate notebooks ranging from 13.3" to 15.6", they are equipped with sturdy handles and detachable shoulder straps. Last but not least, the brand also offers beautiful luggage in a charming vintage style.