Shopper cowhide

After the manufacturer of our blank leather shopping bag went into well-deserved retirement, we started looking for a suitable replacement - but we couldn't find anything suitable. So without further ado, we asked Philipp Bree to design such a simple shopper for us. Just at this time, he came across an old coal bag in his stash that was very similar to our shopping bag, the kind that used to be used in old buildings with tiled stoves, for example, to take coal out of the cellar: Its footprint corresponds exactly to four briquettes. Philipp Bree has created a kind of synthesis of both models, and we think the result is so beautiful that we would even use the shopper as a handbag. This is mainly due to the unusual material used by Philipp Bree for a "simple" shopper: strong, open-edged cowhide in a matt, shimmering, warm dark brown that will take on a beautiful patina over time. Due to the elaborate aniline dyeing, it has a deep, rich color and its natural surface, the grain, which is not further processed apart from the dyeing. The finish with contrasting saddle stitching does the rest - for appearance and durability. The double-layered and therefore extremely sturdy carrying handles sit comfortably in the hand and are long enough for the bag to be carried just as comfortably over the shoulder. The reinforced base ensures stability. The inside of the shopper is not further subdivided and - also to save weight - is not lined.

As a scion of the well-known bag manufacturer Bree, Philipp Bree grew up in a world of leather, bags and other beautiful and functional things (mostly, though not always, made of leather). He internalised his father’s basic idea of bringing the best materials into a reduced but meaningful form like no other. So it’s not surprising that he joined his father’s business. And although things couldn’t be better, Philipp broke away from the family business, founded his own brand in 2012 and started from scratch. In a kind of liberation, he wanted to be able to concentrate on what he considers most important: the materials. Because they fulfil his high functional and aesthetic demands in equal measure, the materials of his choice are vegetable-tanned leather, pure linen and solid brass. Bags and accessories made of these materials have a certain potential: to become long-lasting companions. Philipp Bree sees to it that the pieces of his collection can live up to their full potential because this is Philipp Bree’s actual demand, not only of bags but of most things surrounding us. They should function for a long time and, in his words, become “beloved objects”. They should turn into objects that belong to you. Items you like to have around. Things that live and change with you. Philipp Bree does not expect his bags and accessories to become “beloved objects” for everyone but that they have the potential to establish an emotional relationship. They will become more and more beautiful with time and use and show off signs of a distinct history: Signs of wear and weathering tell a story and distinguish the items unmistakably as belongings of their owner. Such results can only be achieved with the right material. This is why in Philipp Bree’s case, materials and production come first, followed by the form. Besides, he concentrates in his designs on the essentials, so clearly and straightforwardly that you hardly notice how downright well-thought-out they are.

Vegetable-tanned natural leather, linen from European long-fibre flax and brass fittings are the materials of choice. The details of origin and the list of manufacturers read like a walk through Europe: The fine calf suede for the lining and pockets is made by a Polish tannery. The sturdy cowhide comes from a Belgian tannery that has specialised in vegetable tanning since 1873. And the rawhides are sourced from Scandinavia. A Tuscan company produces the metal parts (all of which made of solid brass), and a Tuscan mill weaves the linen. Manufacturers with decades of experience, based in the Czech Republic and Poland, take care of the finishing process. They do not sew with just any thread but with a particularly tear-proof and abrasion-resistant yarn from an old spinning mill in the Breisgau region. Plus, the zips are also made in Germany. Philipp Bree brought designers from Munich, Berlin and London on board, giving them clear guidelines: A selection of identical materials had to be the basis of the designs. The collection’s design had to follow an overall colour concept. Consequently, all models’ visual and haptic compatibility should be a given.