Our Favorite Leather Backpack for Fall … or anytime really!

It might surprise some that we picked the venerable backpack design as this year’s fav fashion bag for Fall. After all, most people regard this style of bag as something that is used to “hold a lot” or “take when I travel” or even “just use for hiking.” Looked at another way, as Embrazio designer Stephanie Boyles did when she sat down to create something totally new in this category, the backpack can be an everyday bag that’s as fashionable as it is versatile!

First Comes Backpack Functionality

OMG, how many zippers, snaps, yards of Velcro, D rings, and doodads can you put on a backpack? When standing in the boarding line to get on a recent flight, one could view at least a dozen people with nylon-based backpacks looking more like hermit crabs moving all their earthly possessions than folks leaving for a trip.

Consider what you really want to take along with you on daily errands or while sitting onboard a plane or in a car on a road trip. First and foremost is likely your electronics; phone, computer/ipad, cords, ear buds. Perhaps a small wallet, notepad, passport, and sunglasses come next followed by small cosmetics and maybe a jacket, bottle of water and/or a snack. That’s about it.

Then Comes Form

From a structural standpoint, most want a backpack that will stay on the shoulder when slung with just one strap, can be worn in the traditional two shoulder hands free method, or can be carried by hand like a purse or briefcase. Here’s where a little extra attention to detail comes in. What do you want to get to and return quickly without having to go into the larger main compartment? How about a couple of sleeves to carry your phone, tickets, or sunglasses outside on the back of the backpack? Ah, that’d be nice.

It’s also good to have your little things like chargers, earbuds, mints, keys, lipstick, etc. in a secure zippered pocket that is easily accessible and separate from the main compartment. If one is thoughtful about the design, a backpack can be created that has all of this functionality and is securely carried over one shoulder with each sleeve and compartment blocked by an arm and inaccessible to thieves and snatchers. 

Finally Comes Fashion and Feel

Now that we have the what to create in our design, we can turn to the how or, more accurately, the how to create it beautifully. Remember, beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder but also the touch and sometimes the smell of the beholder as well. Going back to Stephanie, she approached this stage by sorting through a ton of different leathers to find just the right texture, thickness, fragrance, and feel for her Embrazio Backpack design.

Embrazio sources all its leathers in Leon, Mexico, the capital of leather working in the western hemisphere. That means lots of choices are available regarding material and price. Stephanie had been working with tanneries in Leon for over a decade and knew well which ones could compete for her business for the base material used in her unique backpack design.

A Handmade Leather Backpack … still not complete!

Having come from the high-tech innovation field, Stephanie knew her backpack design wasn’t done until real paying customers said it was done. So, she packed up some final prototypes and put them in the market for feedback. Ironically, she wasn’t looking for pure confirmation of what she had created. She was digging for that final input as to what she had forgotten or had gotten wrong. That’s a difference in perspective not shared by most creatives with experience only in the fashion industry.

What she heard back was that she was indeed very close to being finished. The one item of constructive criticism she got from several target customers was that the ring used in the back to connect the shoulder straps should be larger so it could also serve as a handle to carry the bag by hand.

Easy enough change to make and one that would make a big difference. With that final detail completed, Embrazio went into production with its new Revival handmade leather backpack in 4 different colors. Based on the very positive results with the initial launch, Embrazio has added another 4 colors for a total of 8, even including gold and sliver metallic and leopard and zebra colors/patterns for those who really want to make a statement!

They have also gone on to create a larger version of their handmade leather backpack to carry laptops up to 12” x 15.” With the extra space available in the upsized backpack, Embrazio added an interior zippered compartment and a larger exterior front zippered compartment. They even added a solid brass closure actually sourced from a horses bridle to add a little eye-catching detail. All in all, the same well thought through form and function with a bit more fashion to boot! You can see both of these amazing bags and all the color options here. For more info on Stephanie and our brand background, check out our about page.

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About the author: The above article was written by Scott Schaefer, co-founder – Embrazio. Embrazio is a leather and jewelry accessories company based in Boulder, CO. Scott and his wife, Stephanie Boyles, started Embrazio in 2012 and the line is now carried by over 300 retail boutiques primarily in the US.