Young Talent Fire Up Brooks England Factory
Students have pushed historic leather workers Brooks England to produce the first all-new range from its factory in almost 150 years.
The firm, famous for its leather bicycle saddles, worked alongside talent from the Royal College of Art to create a line of moulded leather bicycle bags.
Following a lengthy design process, headed up by RCA Graduate Amos Field Reid, the bags went into production at Brooks’ West Midlands factory, using the same machinery and techniques utilised for well over a century.
Much like its saddles, the leather used for the bags is moulded, meaning there is no need for stitching. The detachable strap allows the bags to be carried over the shoulder or attached to the saddle, frame or handlebar of a bike.
The concept of employing the traditional moulding technique came about in 2011, when a project hatched by RCA attendees theorised the products based on the ideals and vision of founder John Boultbee Brooks.
Brooks started the company in 1866, producing motorcycle bags, car trunks, suitcases and shoes.
The new bag comes in three separate styles: B1, B2 and B3. Dimensions have been set against Brooks’ most iconic B17 saddle for the B1 and B2, scaling up to twice the size and width for the larger B3.
Other ideas put forward by students included a dual-function bike cover, which could be worn by the cyclist as a rain cape.
All three styles are on sale now at Brooks’ flagship store, located in Seven Dials, available in black, honey and brown vegetable tanned leather colourways. Prices start from around £70.
For more information visit BrooksEngland.com.
This article was contributed to by Scott Jeffery.
Brooks England Leather Cycle Bags
