The London Lounge

Gents,

What are your opinions of Tanner Krolle briefcases and other accessories?
The website is http://www.tannerkrolle.co.uk/

I was looking at the holdall (under the classics tab) and some of the cases?

Thank you.

TK's is really beautiful. My one concern would be the brading and logo placement. Where is it and how big is it? They seem to be getting bigger and bigger on TK's stuff.

Same problem with the logos for Coach and Ghurka.

Have you considered Brigg's Gladstone bag?

Tanner Krolle used to be THE English producer for briddle hide. Their briefcases and luggage were divine. Swaine Adeney made their reputation imitating TK designs. A few years back the company was acquired by Italian interests, and today all their goods are produced in Italy.

They have become far more stylish, but there is no link to their roots left. I believe Pickett in London can get hold off briddle hide items made by the original TK factory, or at least they could a few years back.

The current TK range is nicely designed, but there is little left of the original heritage. I fear this is the case of another great bespoke name being sacrificed on the altar of the supreme label.

Thank you for the responses. What should I compare the Tanner Krolle products to? Swaine Adeney, Picketts? Anything else?

bry2000 wrote:Thank you for the responses. What should I compare the Tanner Krolle products to? Swaine Adeney, Picketts? Anything else?

What do you think about Goyard, The Bridge or Asprey? Goyard is very elegant and exclusive...

Tanner Krolle used to be a UK manufacturer. I am not sure where they are produced now, I suspect Italy. I really do not have much experience with their recent stuff. They have become a fashion lable, really.

Swaine Adeney is a UK manufacturer specialising in briddle hide. Quite good, but they produce a rather wide variety, so there are different quality levels (i.e. hand stitched or machine). Their saddleries also work for other lables who do not manufacturer themselves.

Asprey is purely a retailer. They went through a lot of upheaval since being acquired by Prince Jefri / the Sultan of Brunei in the 1990s (sold to Lawrence Stroll and Silas Chou since). Their style varies enormously depending on where they sourced their goods. Their markups do not vary, though, they are uniformly high.

Pickett again is not a manufacturer, but a retailer. However, one of extremely high standards and excellent expertise. Trevor Pickett knows every good leather craftman in the UK, and will arrange for your bespoke commission to go to the most appropriate person. They are a pleasure to deal with.

I do not own any Goyard, but from what I have seen it is what Louis Vuitton was before they conquered the world: the canvas is still hand printed, the workmanship pleasing. The colours are sometimes a bit too "chic" for my liking. Looks good as a girls' luggage, though.

Gents,

If we started to discuss British luggage makers, what do you think of Chapman? (http://www.chapman-bags.co.uk/)

They are made in England, and their prices are so tempting...

I also suspect that probably a great deal of canvas luggage sold by others also made by Chapman... Or is it?

Andrey

TVD's knowledge is more complete than mine on this topic but:

Tanner Krolle used to be superb, I have their briefcase, sold to me years ago by Asprey, still serviced by Asprey (the lock failed), no logos, etc. My understanding is that there was a family squabble, which ultimatley led to the current owners, branding, high fashion hype, LOGOS prominently displayed, with a greater interest in woman's handbags.

That being said, Pickett seems to sell what is close to or even is, their old line. Swaine used to sell only old Tanner, now I don't know.

Old Tanner has little resemblence to new Tanner. Those really motivated, might contact the Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles, for a reprint of their artcle last year in their magazine on bespoke luggage, which overlaps luggage, briefcases, and related Italian and English hides.

My wife owns several small jewery cases by old and new Tanner Krolle: very nice.

I think what I would look for is UK hiding, with Italian hardware (that's what the old TK did)

(Topped for current discussion).

I have their top frame holdall close to the colour they now call Cognac which is probably 10 years old now, apart from a few scratches it is as good as the day it was bought. Whether made in the UK or Italy I could not tell but it is good quality.