I found a miniature doctors bag in a flea market in Denmark about 20 years ago... It was beautiful and perfect sized (surprisingly roomy) and was probably about 60 years old. The extra thin rusted zipper literally started to dissolve after about 2 months of wear. The internal lining started to come apart and left everything I kept in it get covered in a layer of 60 year old lining dust... I kept the bag as an ornament and thought that one day I would remake it but better (my rule whenever remaking something that already exists....).. So here it is the second generation of the Doctors bag. Rust proof extra thick zip, a natural Italian linen lining, solid bras metal work and the addition of an adjustable shoulder strap, small interior zip pocket and extra side pocket, solid brass feet and a base stiffened in leather not a hard card that also dissolves in time.....

I want this bag to live forever..!

A major difference with this next generation Doc bag is the leather.. I love veg tan leather, it has a life of its own, ages beautifully is hard wearing while maintaining subtle characteristics in its performance but also in its appearance over time.... It is also created using natural ingredients in the tanning process which for obvious reasons is better... But there is always room for improvement so this particular veg tan leather is specific because it is part of a consortium of Italian veg tanneries. This consortium has many ethical standards that they comply with:

-100% by product from the meat industry from farms which comply with EU legislation on animal welfare. A by product from this also addresses the problem of animal waste disposal.

-Metal free The production process of our associated tanneries is metal-free, and it always has been, thanks to the raw materials linked to the centuries-old history of vegetable tanning. Traditional and natural products are used in a production process which respects the precepts of sustainability and circularity.

-Work ethic The Consortium and all the associated tanneries ensure compliance with current regulations in the field of health, safety in the workplace, contracts and wages without discrimination of gender, ethnicity or religious belief.

BUT Most importantly:

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

 

The associated tanneries use centralized consortium treatment plants, controlled by competent bodies that ensure the correct treatment and purification of tanning wastewater. According to the principles of circular economy of recover - recycle - reuse, the waste from the various processing steps is turned into useful raw materials for other supply chains.

Basically these guys use water from the rivers and when they are done with the water it is thoroughly cleaned so as not to decrease the quality of water or the environment it travels through..

If you have read this far then thank you.. I know its just a bag but all these qualities in the process of how an object is made and where it comes from are important. I used to think that these things are a given and should not have to be explained but it seems I am wrong....This consortium (Pelle Conciata Al Vegetale in Toscana) have been working towards this clean water technology for a long time and to be honest this is not a given and should be known about...and maybe one day be the norm !

If you don't say no one will know and the quality that we should expect as normal will get polluted with lesser versions. So this is how a good product should be made and this is what you should expect. It is all these points above that you are paying for as a customer. Other peoples genuine thoughts and efforts towards the product, its environment and the time taken to carry this out.