“The look of the leather is what makes this bag so popular. It's meant to sort of get beaten up, so it's not super luxurious. It's just a really good-looking bag that you can really wear in, like a good pair of boots that are meant to take a kicking, you know?”
This from Jon Thiessen, co-owner of U.N. Luggage in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District. He has helped countless shoppers find just the right graduation gift, and with another grad season fast approaching, he can help you too.
He says that when most people think about a really great gift for a new graduate, they want to give them something that will set them up for success in their new career – and they come into the store asking to see black briefcases.
But times have changed.
“The most popular brands have gone away from black almost entirely,” reveals Thiessen. “Like leather boots or belts, people are now leaning more towards tan or brown. It just looks a little more natural, and the leather wears in a little better than a black bag would.”
He takes a bag off the shelf and explains:
“This one's maybe one of our most popular of all time. It’s made by a German brand called Aunts & Uncles, and this style is called the Finn. It’s a little thinner, has a bit of a lower profile. A lot of guys really like this bag because of its wide shoulder strap.”
But it’s the leather that makes the bag so popular, and valuable.
“It's the appeal of a really heavy leather you can beat up on,” says Thiessen. “It’s meant to soften up, and it's okay if you get a small coffee stain on it – you can sort of work it in. And then, seasonally, if you condition these bags, they last a very long time.
“And then if you look at the front panel on their leather bags, you’ll see they don't seam it. Typically leather gets cheaper, the more pieces it's in. So if you have one full piece of leather like this, it should be a more expensive bag than something with three strips stitched together.”
He adds that some of the bag’s linings really pop with bright, unique patterns, which many people are drawn to.
So when you’re gift shopping for the grad in your life, Thiessen reminds us, “Colour is important. Size of the laptop is important. And then just the style.”
When helping customers who are shopping for grad gifts, he usually shows people messenger-style briefcases first, because they have the flap-over access and styling that grads tend to prefer.
“It's got a little more flavour, with an adjustable shoulder strap so the bag can be worn crossbody,” he explains. “So a messenger-style briefcase can be worn at your hip.”
Another feature are what Thiessen calls “speedy buckles” that allow you to open the bag quickly, take out what you need, and snap it shut – giving you the aesthetic of the buckle, with a full-flap case.
“If it's a gift, you're always kind of taking a risk,” notes Thiessen. “But you can bring it back in exchange. Just bring your laptop along to make sure it fits. We want to make sure you can fit everything you're packing in day-to-day.”
Find Aunts & Uncles messenger-style briefcases and many other grad gift ideas at U.N. Luggage, 75 McDermot Avenue in Winnipeg. Or shop online at www.unluggage.com.