Leather Briefcases

A leather briefcase keeps a laptop and papers flat, looks right across a meeting table and gets better looking with every commute. Vendrossi briefcases and laptop bags are cut from thick buffalo leather – full-grain, Crazy Horse, vintage-finished or, on the Ravenna messenger, top-grain – with reinforced handles, metal hardware and padded or soft-lined laptop sections.

Eight designs cover laptops from 15 to 18 inches and widths up to the 19-inch Milano executive briefcase, in dark brown, vintage brown, light brown, buffalo cream and black. Every briefcase ships free in the US with 30-day returns and a 2-year warranty.

How to choose a leather briefcase

Match the bag to the laptop

Each product page states the laptop it fits, and where a bag comes in more than one size you choose by screen size. For a 15-inch laptop: the Bergamo, Napoli, Pisa and Ravenna all come in a 15-inch size. For 16 inches: the Lucca, which holds a 16-inch laptop in a padded interior section, or the 16-inch Bergamo. For 17 inches: the Verona, or the 17-inch sizes of the Napoli, Pisa and Ravenna. For the largest machines: the 18-inch Bergamo, the Parma, which takes a laptop up to 18 inches in a padded sleeve, and the Milano, built 19 inches across for a big laptop and thick files.

Zip top or flap-over

Zip-top briefcases open wide and are quick in and out: the Lucca has two zippered main sections with dividers, the Milano closes on YKK metal zippers, the Pisa has two zipped main compartments beside its padded sleeve, and the Parma uses heavy-duty metal zippers with leather pulls. Flap-over briefcases look more traditional and cover the contents: the Verona closes with strap fastenings over a divided main compartment, the Bergamo and Napoli with a buckle strap over pockets that sit under the flap. The Ravenna is the messenger of the group – lighter, with a long outside zip pocket and a dedicated phone pocket.

Travel features

If the bag will ride on a suitcase, look for a trolley strap or sleeve on the back panel. The Lucca, Milano, Parma, Pisa and Ravenna all have one, so the briefcase slides over a rolling suitcase handle for airport days. Every briefcase in the collection has a shoulder strap that adjusts, and on most it detaches when you want to carry by the handles.

Leather and color

The Lucca is full-grain buffalo in a deep dark brown; the Verona full-grain buffalo in vintage brown; the Milano full-grain buffalo with a natural finish; the Bergamo vintage buffalo with a distressed surface that makes each bag slightly different; the Parma waxed Crazy Horse buffalo that shows every scuff and fold as patina; the Pisa buffalo leather in a buffalo cream or a Crazy Horse finish; the Ravenna smooth, flexible top-grain buffalo in light brown; and the Napoli full-grain black leather with a subtle vintage finish. Full-grain and Crazy Horse hides darken and soften with use; the Ravenna's top-grain softens into a gentler patina without losing its polish.

The eight leather briefcases, in brief

Lucca – Full-Grain Buffalo Leather Laptop Briefcase: 16" laptop, two zippered sections with dividers, front zip pocket, trolley strap, antique brass hardware. The daily commuter.
Verona – Full-Grain Buffalo Leather Large Laptop Briefcase: 17" laptop, flap-over with strap fastenings, two buckle pockets on the front, 17 × 12 × 6 inches. For a bag that is never half empty.
Bergamo – Vintage Buffalo Leather Laptop Briefcase: 15", 16" or 18", dedicated laptop compartment, patterned fabric lining, buckle-strap flap. Three sizes, one classic shape.
Milano – Large Full-Grain Buffalo Leather Executive Briefcase: 19 inches wide, YKK metal zippers, trolley sleeve, two front zip pockets, pen holders and card slots. The executive format.
Parma – Crazy Horse Buffalo Leather Briefcase: 18" laptop in a padded sleeve, several main compartments, front organizer panel with pen slots, phone pocket and cable loops, luggage strap. The one with the most character.
Napoli – Full-Grain Black Leather Briefcase: 15" or 17", black, soft protective lining, buckle-strap flap with two pockets beneath, zip pocket on the back. The clean look.
Pisa – Buffalo Leather Laptop Briefcase: 15" or 17", buffalo cream or Crazy Horse finish, padded sleeve plus two zipped compartments, organizer panel, trolley strap. The organized traveler.
Ravenna – Top-Grain Buffalo Leather Laptop Messenger Bag: 15" or 17", light brown, padded laptop section with a protective interlayer, long outside zip pocket, trolley strap. The light messenger.

Caring for a leather briefcase

Wipe dust off 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. Light scratches on full-grain leather usually fade when rubbed with your fingertips; on Crazy Horse leather, scuffs blend into the two-tone finish and become part of the look. An occasional light coat of a conditioner made for full-grain leather keeps the hide supple – test on a hidden spot first. Between uses, store the briefcase in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, lightly stuffed to keep its shape, and never in a sealed plastic bag.

Briefcase questions

Which briefcase fits a 17-inch laptop?

The Verona, plus the 17-inch sizes of the Napoli, Pisa and Ravenna. The Bergamo 18" and the Parma take an 18-inch laptop, and the Milano is built 19 inches wide for larger machines still.