How our travel bags are made
Much has changed since the end of the 18th century, when the history of leather processing began in Offenbach am Main. At first, caskets, cases, wallets and purses were made in small companies for the regional market. Thanks to skilled craftsmanship and clever development of new markets, it quickly became clear how much potential there was in this still young industry.
By around 1850, the leather goods industry in Offenbach had developed into a significant industry and employed several thousand people. Sales were international, the variety of products manufactured had increased significantly, and tanneries and specialized suppliers in the toolmaking and mechanical engineering sectors were founded.
Leather goods from Offenbach achieved world fame and were celebrated at the World Exhibitions in Paris and London.
At the height of handcrafted production, at the beginning of the 20th century, the heyday of Offenbach leather goods, over 10,000 people worked in the leather industry in and around Offenbach. Due to countless company relocations to low-wage countries in the 1960s and 70s, the entire traditional industry declined.
Fortunately, a few of the old companies have survived. This includes the factory that was founded in the middle of the 19th century and which produces our travel bags. The family business is now run by the 5th generation and is one of the last remaining manufacturers in Offenbach.
The production facility, which opened in 1913, is located in the middle of Offenbach's city center. When you enter the building, you feel like you've gone back in time. You immediately sense that this is not a sterile factory; real handwork is being done here. It is a factory that has grown over decades and is spread over three floors. In every corner of the winding building there is a special work area, a shelf, leather is stored or tools are lying around waiting to be used. The few, well-maintained machines show that they have been used reliably for years. If something does break, you can repair it yourself, because spare parts have long been unavailable. The machines have been in use for decades.
The production of our travel bag begins with cutting the leather. Most of the leather parts are cut out using a large press and suitable punching irons; large leather parts are cut by hand using templates. When selecting the leather, care is taken to only use flawless leather without any damaged areas, or these flaws are skilfully left out.
Next, the edges of the leather are sharpened, i.e. thinned out. This makes it easier to fold over and sew. Some of the leather edges are also sealed, if necessary. This increases durability and ensures a permanently elegant appearance. This brings us to the most labor-intensive manufacturing step, sewing and assembling the parts of our leather bag. With a lot of experience and skill, each individual part is joined to its counterpart in a predefined order. Ultimately, our travel bag should be made to fit perfectly and provide years of enjoyment, even with heavy use.
Last but not least, the final quality control and packaging takes place.
As you can see, many work steps and a great deal of experience are necessary to make our travel bags. The result is a piece of wonderful handcraft, a reliable companion and a product with a long lifespan.
