Leon Flam : urban explorer bags

We first met Leon Flam at the Who’s Next trade show winter 2012, in last January, where the were introducing their first collection. This young/aged French brand specialized in accessories has a workshop located in Paris since 1924, where their grand father (who is the original creator) was handcrafting leather and canvas luggage. At that time, his customers were essentially aviators and travellers. In 2011, the two creators, hooked on aviation, inspired from such a background to relaunch the brand.

We can really feel such an inspiration seeing their products. The whole collection is designed in France and manufactured in Portugal, where they also source all the required materials for their products. A clean, local production for some top notch quality products. In some way, unique with a “Flight Number” embossed on each.

Besides Leon Flam’s quality, we particularly like the approach of making this old workshop revive, bringing us right back to the interwar period. Their creations have an unusual design mixing different materials such as waxed cotton and smooth leather, and using contrasting tan handles “breaks” with a certain monochromatic look. Actually, this really make us thinking about an Indiana Jones bag (see nothing related to aviation here, that’s just a vague thought). The bag range is composed by various sizes: a “Croix du Sud” weekender bag, the “Aviso” document holder, and a big tote called “Compte de la Vaux”. All three are highly marked with the brand identity, sporting similar details and design.

Since the beginning in last winter the brand has widely expanded its range to accessories. Firstly came the belts along with suspenders, leather made, both manufactured in France and available in two colors (black and tan). Then were released ties, bow ties and small leather accessories also proposed in many colors.

More recently, for autumn-winter 2012, the brand launched a notebook with a leather cover, then released a nice pair of leather gloves teaming up with Maison Fabre, one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) glover artisan in the world from Millau, France.

All that huge stuff is available from brand’s website. Know that if you wish to see Leon Flam’s products (while visiting Paris) they are available at the Galeries Lafayette boulevard Haussman.