Black Leather Bags

Black leather for work: the Napoli briefcase

The Napoli is a flap-over briefcase in full-grain black leather. Choose the 15-inch size for a compact laptop or the 17-inch for larger machines and extra documents. A soft protective lining guards the laptop, documents and valuables against scratches, with compartments to keep them apart. Under the buckle-strap flap sit two buckle-and-snap pockets for phone, charger, notebook or passport; there is a zip pocket on the back and a side pocket at each end. A structured top handle is there for grab-and-go, the shoulder strap adjusts and detaches, and the metal hardware and reinforced stitching are built for years at the office, on campus or on the road.

Black leather for travel: the Torino duffel

The Torino is the duffel for people who like a place for everything. The 20-inch is the carry-on, the 24-inch the weekender and the 28-inch the bag for longer trips. Inside, a spacious main compartment is paired with interior pockets for the small and valuable, so laptop, clothes, shoes, passport and chargers each have a home. Two buckle straps cross the front, a zip pocket sits on the end panel, a heavy-duty zipper closes the top, and a strong inner lining with reinforced seams keeps the bag in shape. Leather handles plus a padded, adjustable, removable shoulder strap make a full bag comfortable to carry. The hide is 100% full-grain leather, naturally water-resistant, and it ages into a vintage patina.

Why black full-grain leather

Full-grain is the outermost layer of the hide with the natural grain untouched – the strongest, most durable leather, and the one that ages best. In black, that aging shows as a gentle sheen and a softening of the surface rather than the two-tone marks of a waxed brown hide, which is why black suits anyone who wants a bag that stays understated. Because the leather is natural, grain and small marks vary from piece to piece; no two bags are exactly alike.

Caring for black leather

Dust shows less on black, but the care is the same. Wipe the bag with a soft, dry cloth; for marks, use a cloth lightly dampened with water and let the leather dry naturally away from heat. Avoid soaps, household cleaners and alcohol wipes, which strip the natural oils. An occasional light coat of a conditioner made for full-grain leather keeps it supple – test on a hidden spot first. If the bag gets wet, wipe it dry and let it air-dry at room temperature, never next to a heater. Store it out of direct sunlight, lightly stuffed, and never sealed in plastic.

Pairing them

The Napoli and the Torino are the two bags in the range that match: a black briefcase for the week and a black duffel for the weekend, from the same thick full-grain hide. If you want a black briefcase with a trolley strap for your suitcase, the Napoli does not have one; the Lucca (dark brown) and Pisa (buffalo cream or Crazy Horse) do, in our leather briefcases collection. For brown duffels, see the leather duffel bags; for the waxed, distressed look, see Crazy Horse leather bags; or browse all leather bags.