Writing about a writer when you are not one yourself. Not so obvious. But hopefully we will all read a bit more. With these uncertain Corona times, we sit at home and inside more. And after watching all the Netflix, isn't a good book what everyone can enjoy?
Well, a book is written by a writer. He stows away his stuff in a bag that is fairly typical. Many models resemble each other in style and size. Many brands and many models, though. And just as there are qualities among writers, there are qualities among bags. Practically all of them have one thing in common, they last or will last a lifetime, and it is getting harder and harder for the owner to part with them.
The kind of bag you become one with. The kind of bag that you hope can tell its own stories.... An authentic bag!
An iconic writer's bag is that of the American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. The bag has had a long and hard life, has been repaired several times, and famous manuscripts have originated and been kept in it. A writer's bag is also a very nice thing, all the more so because it is not just any bag, but a bag with a purpose.
"An author ought to write for the youth of his own generation, the critics of the next, and the schoolmaster of ever afterward". - F. Scott Fitzgerald.
We are discussing a French reissue, a contemporary replica as it were, inspired by the old bag of Mr. Scott Fitzgerald. We assume that a good bag contributes to the writing quality of its owner. This craftsmanship is therefore an ode to this famous writer.
"The easiest way to get a reputation is to go outside the fold, shout around for a few years as a violent atheist or a dangerous radical, and then crawl back to the shelter." - F. Scott Fitzgerald
As I appreciate both good writers and traditional craftsmanship, this bag from French company Blue de Chauffe immediately caught my attention. And not just for its stylish looks and nice quality, but especially because there is quite a nice story attached to it. And so the story goes...:
Evan is an American. For the birthday of his girlfriend, who is a writer, he is looking for an original present. He is thinking of a handbag or something similar. While looking online for a while, he suddenly stumbles upon a very unique item; Scott Fitzgerald's personal bag, with his name printed on it, above the address of the former publishing house that printed his books.
Evan, who had been a fan of Blue de Chauffe for years, contacted the company to ask if it would be possible to personalise one of their own bags like the Scott Fitzgerald writer's bag. At the time, however, it was not possible for them to answer that question, but they loved the idea. So they decided to simply reissue this original writer's bag in its entirety, with the option of personalisation: the initials being embossed into the leather, like a timeless engraving".
Made from the strongest French natural tanned leather, they simply named the bag 'Scott', and it has become a real must-have. Quite elegant, very masculine too, and can be worn on the handle or over the shoulder with a strap. The unconventional twist lock is made of solid brass, which makes the whole look stylish. And, admittedly, there is room for a 13-inch laptop, which is certainly not contemporary, but a large tablet will fit in without a problem. The interior is easily accessible. The 'Blue de Chauffe' label, with handwritten production date and signature of the craftsman who made it, is stitched on a felt inner pocket. A detail for some, but I can certainly appreciate it. An eye for detail!
This inner pocket is even removable: Very handy for smaller items, such as keys, fountain pen and the like!
Handmade in France from vegetarian tanned leather. Nowadays, more than 90% of leather worldwide is tanned with chromium and other chemical components. At Bleu de Chauffe, however, they take a different approach. The natural leather-tanning process ensures better quality ('sustainability' is not an empty concept here), is very pleasant to the touch and has the advantage that the leather acquires a really beautiful patina over the years.
The more you use the bag, the more beautiful it will become.
Not a hip, slick designer bag, but a stylish yet sturdy men's bag! A bag for the connoisseur.
And that is a special bag, which after a number of years, has its own story to tell. Like the original bag of Mr. Fitzgerald himself:
- Would that bag know that Francis Scott was a poor student and miserable at spelling?
- That he started writing diligently just before his military service for fear of not having a legacy if he was killed?
- That 'The Great Gatsby', which had been in this bag, would not have its great success until after the author's death?
- That its owner was a close friend of that other famous writer, Ernest Hemingway, who, however, found Scott's wife Zelda to be a hindrance to his writing potential?
- That its owner, although not without wealth, never owned a house and moved every few years?
- That he would be taken between 1920 and 1940 to New York City, Connecticut, Minnesota, Long Island, Paris, the French Riviera, Rome, Los Angeles, Delaware, Switzerland, Baltimore and North Carolina?
If only bags could speak, you would think!
Dimensions: 38 cm x 28.5 cm x 7 cm / suitable for laptop or tablet up to 13-inch. The colour is applied by hand, and therefore varies slightly from bag to bag. Handcrafted!
A piece of craftsmanship to cherish. A bag for life, why not make it an heirloom?
If you don't have the time to read 'The Great Gatsbywatch one of the famous film versions, and in between watch the bag.
You may get a better understanding of F. Scott Fitzgerald from it, and appreciate the craftsmanship of this bag.
More information about the bag and the producer can be found on the website www.bleu-de-chauffe.com. A French company that understands and feels quality, natural materials, and, as a tribute to a great writer, at the request of a customer, creates a bag, with the respect it deserves, for life!
No matter which bag you choose, as an attaché case or as a work bag, an authentic writer's bag shows the world that you are not susceptible to trends and hypes. That you don't allow yourself to be trapped by designers or fashionable. After all, you have nothing to prove. You are who you are, you undoubtedly have a fascinating story, and you go for the real thing.
Raphaël van den Poel, former fashion consultant of Scapa, Reinhard Frans and Atelier NA tailored suits,
writes our weekly blog on gentleman matters. He works for MYX Magazine, a Flemish luxury lifestyle platform.
He also has his own blog which you can read here: http://belgiandandy.blogspot.com
Raphaël van den Poel
The Belgian Dandy
