FIONA - The British Tan Leather Vintage Suitcase-Style Shoulder Bag

‘Beara Beara’ creates bags for those who we have not yet met. But we sit and imagine who you may be. What secrets you have, what makes you smile, what makes you sigh. We sit at our messy desks and rummage through materials and shapes and patterns. We play. We play with our ideas. What will make your life a little brighter? We ignore the chaos in the street, the technology, the worries of life. We create something new. Every month we go home with our wages to give to our landlords and government and banks but still feel quite content. We like making strangers smile. **Supply** In our minds we are Julio and Maria and Cesar and Natalia who also sit at their desks in Bolivia and twist and shape pieces of leather into something that has never been seen before. Our connection with our suppliers is one of the most special aspects about Beara Beara. A collaboration, which exists on mutual admiration, respect, understanding and general positivity. Improve people’s lives through trade and not aid, is one of the principles on which the business is built, yet none of us imagined it would become so much fun. **Quality** As a young business we have been quite hideous to work with; a spoilt child wanting everything and wanting it right now. Over demanding in production schedules, uncompromising in material quality, relentless in the pursuit of our exact designs, pedantic in finding faults. Hats off to our suppliers for putting up with us in our infancy but now that we are a tad more mature we have been justified by the fact that our customers appreciate our continued pursuit of quality and perfection. Naturally dyed hand-picked hides. One-of-a-kind cloths displaying history in a modern style. Soft linings and strong hardware. Our aim is always to create a quality product that will reward our customer’s trust in us. **Overview** The Fiona is destined to be unique, born from the collaboration of two creative minds: Fiona, a stylist and fashion blogger from China, and the designer of this very handbag; and Jake Bullough, the founder of Beara Beara. This joint collection embodies their design philosophies, drawing inspiration from vintage luggage, capturing the adventurous spirit of a traveler while retaining a chic, fashionable edge. Crafted from thick, hard natural cowhide, the Fiona features a lining made from distinctive Scottish tartan. It can be styled with either a vintage brass-toned metal chain or a leather shoulder strap. As a special collaboration piece, all purchases of the FIONA will include a leather luggage tag hot-stamped with 'Great Things Take Time'. Should you wish to personalize it with your own characters instead, please select the hot-stamping option at purchase and enter your desired text. You can choose between a chain strap or a leather strap; please inform us in the order notes if you would like to switch to a leather strap. **If no specific choice is mentioned, it will come with a metal chain strap by default.** **Detail** Material: Cowhide Lining: 100% Cotton Dimensions (cm): Length 24 x Height 19.8 x Width 8 Chain (cm): 105 Strap (cm): 90-120 Weight (g): 860 **FAQ** _Is the bag made from natural leather?_ Yes, Beara Beara only uses natural leather. Beara Beara bags are made from unprocessed cowhide, which will have natural variations in texture and color depth. This is a hallmark of handcrafted leather goods. __Does the leather soften over time?__ Yes, after a few weeks of use, the leather will gradually soften and develop a richer character. However, to maintain the bag's shape and ensure its longevity, we advise against carrying excessively heavy items. __Is the leather waterproof?__ Natural leather is not waterproof. However, both leather and suede can be protected with a waterproofing spray. As sprays may affect the leather's sheen, please use them sparingly. __Will the bag be damaged if it gets wet?__ Exposure to small amounts of moisture will not damage the leather. If a small amount of water is splashed on it, simply hang the bag to air dry naturally. __Will the suede fade?__ Under normal use, it will not fade, especially when protected with a waterproofing spray. However, severe saturation with water may alter the color of the suede. __Are the materials organic?__ Yes, we use natural wool and natural leather sourced from Bolivia. __Is Beara Beara part of the Fair Trade organization?__ Since our establishment in 2012, our philosophy and core mission have been to assist residents in developing countries by creating employment opportunities and providing economic support to improve their living standards. We have chosen not to sign with a Fair Trade organization as we believe external accreditation is unnecessary, given that our brand has consistently operated in this manner. Origin/Manufacturing Method Bolivia