Our newest product, a carry-on bag. A joint project with Francli Craftwear.

I hope all is well. Today I want to tell you about our newest product, which is the apex of what we are trying to achieve with Gladstone / Hellen.

It’s a carry-on bag. It is absolutely exceptional.

It’s much harder than it should be to find really good luggage. I am often amazed by how stylish, clever people overlook the quality of their luggage while taking great care with their clothes, cookware, whatever. You see them at an airport with all of the right gear, except some shitty sports bag.

This bag is the result of a joint project with Francli Craftwear. We decided that we wanted to produce a bag about a year ago, and yet finding a British manufacturer who would make for companies other than their own was curiously difficult. All three of us had admired Francli from afar (thank you Instagram) for their cheerful manner and general good taste.

So, we approached them. And hey presto!

The bags have been handmade exclusively for us in their workshops in Cornwall. Reaching a conclusion on this bag has been a long process and every stage has been deeply considered and thorough, resulting in an excellent product. Making in Great Britain is what we do, and here it has been educational and a true pleasure, resulting in a truly excellent product.

If you want a job done well, get great people to do it. We do and we did.

What seems to have worked is marrying our love for great British materials with their nous for design and making.

I suppose you can talk about DNA here. And for a company that champions British manufacturing, the DNA here is immaculate. It is made near Falmouth, in converted buildings on Argal Farm, to be precise.

And.

The bag is our notion of a perfect one. Let me talk you through that.

First, the structure.

The leather base will protect the heavy canvas from anything you throw at it. It has two zipped side pockets and one zipped (and one unzipped) inside. It has a clever hook system at each end in order to neaten it up when full. Perhaps most brilliantly, it has adjustable-length carry straps, so it works on a shoulder or in your hands. This is rare -because it adds a lot of cost- but once you have a bag like this, you will never go back.

It will fit any airline’s carry-on size restrictions and is a perfect size for a weekend.

Now, the components. These too are exceptionally special.

Get this!

The 13-ounce, 450 gsm 100% cotton canvas is woven in Dundee.

It is dry waxed.

The webbing for the straps is British, too.

The leather is full grained and tumbled. It is fully traceable to regenerative farms certified by Pasture for Life.

The buckle and adjusters are made in Powys.

The zip is made in Leicester.

The brand engraving is done by Cut by Beam, a wonderful company with whom we’ve worked for 15 years, in Falmouth.

Thank you Francli. Well done Sarah, who, at our end, has tirelessly sourced components.

Perfection. We are all super proud of this.

Have a look here and all my best for an exciting week.

All best wishes

Charlie