In the age of modern technology, of bleeping reminders, e-mailed memos and electronic musings, it’s all too easy to forget that sometimes, the old fashioned way is simply just a little bit nicer. Whether you’re a list-maker, a scrapbook-constructor, or simply someone who likes to note things down for future reference, abandoning the electronic in favour of a leather notebook or handmade journal can be a welcome return to simplicity.

Mini Leather & Mini Sari Journals £2 and £1.25

Large 120 Page Leather Journal £25

Scaramanga Leather i-Pad Satchel £49.50

Got a netbook, ultrabook, compact laptop, tablet or a i-Pad this Christmas? Then you’ll need somewhere to put it when you are out and about. Of course it’ll need to be stylish and have enough space for some of the other things you can’t do without during a busy day. Scaramanga leather satchels or vintage leather bags make perfect laptop or netbook carriers.

Traditionally netbook and laptop bags have been a ubiquitous corporate style black nylon carrying case with a shoulder strap that dug into your neck as you staggered under its weight. Until recently smaller laptops were simply tossed into larger laptop bags. Today netbook and I-pad leather satchels carriers today are more compact as laptops and tablets take up less space.

At Scaramanga you can buy a handcrafted stylish vintage leather MacBook, netbook / i-pad / tablet carrier from just £42.

13 Inch Leather Netbook Satchel Bag £57.50

We recommend using a neoprene sleeve or a padded protector when using our leather netbook bags, carriers and handbags. Scaramanga offer an leather I-Pad sleeve / cover. A wide selection can also be found at: 7dayshop.com

Here’s a simple guide to which of our wide range of leather satchels, vintage travel bags are for suitable for the most popular netbooks, tablets and I-Pads around at the moment.

Manufacturers are list alphabetically.

Please contact us if your netbook, ultrabook or tablet is not listed.

Vintage Travel Trunk £175

As someone who lives in a flat where square footage is at a minimum, I’m always on the look out for ways to increase storage without decreasing the amount of space I have to move around in.  There’s always one condition though: said storage must look GOOD.  Otherwise there’s simply no point.  Something I’ve had my eye on for quite some time is one of Scaramanga’s beautiful vintage travel trunks.  Gorgeous and practical, these classic chests are the perfect solution for someone who seeks to make their home as unique as they are. Old travel trunks are a great way to bring a nostalgic feel to a room or living area.

Leather Saratoga Trunk

The trunks available on Scaramanga’s website are all one-off authentic vintage pieces, many of which show signs of the exotic life they’ve led since their creation. Some have the initials of their previous owners proudly emblazoned on their front, others still have the labels attached recording details of their travels.  The sheer distance journeyed by these trunks as they’ve accompanied travellers across the globe is evidenced by every nick and graze of the distressed material.  Whether their original owners were soliders, sailors, tourists or schoolboys, you can guarantee that these vintage travel  trunks have seen some sights in their time and have a story or two to sell.

Old Shipping Label

Scaramanga offer a range of sizes, shapes and styles are available in metal, leather and wood, so there’s something to suit everyone’s taste and needs.  However, all of these travel trunks have one thing in common: they’re not the kind of thing you hide away in a cupboard or under a bed.  These pieces of craftsmanship need to be displayed and admired.  One of the most practical applications for trunks is to utilise them as coffee tables in the lounge, with their cavernous interiors providing an ideal home for all that junk you accumulate but can’t bring yourself to throw out (or board games, for those of you who aren’t hoarders like me).

Old Wardrobe Trunk

Elsewhere in the home, all of Scaramanga’s medium and large trunks could be used as  blanket boxes and double up as seats, either tucked away under a window or taking pride of place at the end of the bed.  Or why not get creative?  With its hooks, rails and drawers, a steamer trunk could easily be kept open for daily use - ideal for those who like to plan their outfits the night before but have nowhere stylish to keep them.  If you’re a dab hand with a toolkit, you could take advantage of the beautiful linings of many of Scaramanga’s vintage travel trunks and transform one into a bookcase, or (even better), a bar.

bar

Scaramanga’s prices start at just £70, which isn’t too bad for a unique piece of furniture which also doubles as a handy storage device.  And when you’re bored on a rainy Sunday you can always play ‘Whose trunk was this and where have they been?’ - a fun game for all the family based purely on historical speculation.

Original Vintage Trunk Interior

Vintage Cabin Trunk

Steamer Trunk Bar!

Despite the fact that your university years are the perfect opportunity to really find out who you are and embrace your true self, a lot rides on making a good first impression. Ideally this would involve arriving on a unicorn, but since that’s out of the question you’ll have to get by on your charm and wit. However, it doesn’t hurt to look awesome at the same time, and as everyone knows, a good outfit is nothing without excellent accessories.

One of the downsides of leaving home to further your education is that space is often limited, both in the carrying capacity of your mode of transportation on the way there and in your new home once you arrive. This means that regardless of how extensive your collection of bags may be, you’re only going to be able to take a selection. But fear not! You don’t have to choose between practicality and affordability and looking good! Bags do exist which offer the perfect combination of the two, like Scaramanga’s entire range of beautiful vintage leather satchels and leather messenger bags.

Scaramanga's Medium Leather Overlander £97.50

Leather Satchel 16 Inch £75

And don’t forget, Scaramanga also offer an extensive range of leather journals, pencil cases and purses, so you needn’t spend hours trawling shops in order to kit yourself out for the new year. Especially when you should be spending those hours doing important pre-term reading (not really, everyone knows the only courses which matter in first year are Having Fun and Meeting Excellent New People).

Large Vintage Flight Bag £77.50

So whether you’re heading into the home stretch of your university years, or you’re about to embark on your very first foray into higher education, make sure you pay Scaramanga a visit first or give us a call and we’ll happily discuss the options with you.

15 Inch Leather Satchel By Scaramanga £77

I remember when I was a child, harassing my long-suffering mother every August for a new bag in which to carry my schoolbooks (and, for several months in year 8, a squashed banana). It was the done thing to change your bag on an annual basis, so the nylon backpacks I carted around every day rarely stood the test of time. If only Scaramanga had existed back then, I could have been the proud owner of one of their vintage leather satchels, which would have lasted me years and saved poor mother many pounds. The classic design of bags such as their 13 Inch leather satchel means they won’t date, and the sturdy leather will only get more attractive with age. Leather satchels have long been an ever-present feature in the school bag market, and for good reason – they’re practical and handsome in equal measure.

Best of all is the massive selection on offer. A quick browse around the Scaramanga shop will reveal a wide range of satchels, overlanders and messenger bags in all shapes and sizes, and with the largest being 18” by 14”, there’s definitely enough room for even the heaviest of textbooks. Fortunately, all the bags have a broad leather strap to ensure that they’re as comfortable as possible (and there’s no danger of it snapping when they’re running for the bus). With prices ranging from £35 to just over £100, these bags won’t break the bank – even the most expensive will last for so long you’ll definitely get your money’s worth. Their top selling leather school bag is their 15 inch school satchel large enough for a 15 inch laptop / Mac Book A4 files or books and much more.

And instead of running around several retailers, why not make Scaramanga your one stop shop for kitting out your kids? As well as their fantastic selection of bags, they also offer pencil cases, purses and journals, and soon they’ll be adding laptop covers to that list. The journals come in three ranges: leather, silky sari and fabric, all of which are available in a multitude of sizes and colours, and many of the larger leather journals come with a free leather notebook.

Brown Leather Journal £6

The range of purses and pencil cases is also extensive, so you’ll be able to kit out the whole family without any arguments. Far from looking like they’ve tried too hard to match everything, the distressed vintage leather of a Scaramanga product makes each one individual and unique (just like your little ones).

Delivery is quick and affordable, so if you order a bag now you’ll be sure to receive it before term begins – meaning no last minute panic! And with the amount you’ll save in years to come by not having to endure the annual shopping trip for yet another nylon backpack, you could even treat yourself to your very own Scaramanga bag.

Vintage Leather Pencil Case £5

Scaramanga Large Wide Leather Satchel

Ladies: imagine you’re about to leave the house, having carefully packed your bag so everything fits in perfectly, and your boyfriend or husband says to you “Oh, can I just put my wallet, keys, phone and jumper in there?” - sound familiar? But what if your bag gets stolen/breaks under the weight of the additional load? You know full well the blame will be laid firmly at your feet when you’re unable to get back into your house having lost both sets of keys. This is just one of many reasons why it’s high time men need to take on their fair share of the carrying responsibility by getting their own bags.

Sadly, many men feel like there’s a certain stigma when it comes to the ‘ leather man bag’, and because of this the market has been lacking in stylish options for gentlemen. Beyond the corporate style briefcase - which is hardly ideal for a gig or afternoon spent shopping for manly things - discerning men have often been forced into the realm of backpacks (which can bring back unwelcome memories of  being a student), cheap-looking nylon messenger bags, or bags which look like they might actually be for ladies. And nobody wants to look like Joey from Friends in The One With Joey’s [Man] Bag.

Joey with his 'Man Bag'

Fortunately for these men (and Joey), salvation has arrived in the form of Scaramanga’s range of stylish leather man bags! There’s something for everyone, from schoolboy to seasoned gent. Scaramanga’s offering of  British leather satchels, messenger bags and leather travel bags means there’s plenty of choice when it comes to shape and size. Smart enough for work yet casual enough for a relaxed evening at the pub, there’s enough room in all of Scaramanga’s traditional British leather bags for a change of clothes if required, and the long broad sturdy straps mean they can be filled to the brim with all the equipment a modern man needs without any danger of breakage. No longer will men have to sit on public transport thinking ‘I wish I had something handsome in which to carry that interesting book I was reading/my iPad, then I wouldn’t be so massively bored as I sit here whilst they take hours to clear that breakdown up ahead’. However, this also means the stylish gents also have room for that extra bit of work their boss has hinted they should probably take home (but let’s not dwell on that).

Even the appearance of Scaramanga’s vintage men’s leather satchels is perfect for the modern bloke - the worn look of the leather means they won’t look like they’re trying too hard. After all, the more rugged man may balk at the idea of a pristine and obviously new bag, which could become a source of amusement for their crueller friends and workmates.  These vintage men’s satchels are both effortlessly cool and masculine all at once, and are therefore perfect for members of the sex infamous for spending minimal time on their appearance.

The Man Bag Revolution is well and truly here, and Scaramanga’s satchels are at the spearhead. Proper leather bags for men! And now, ladies, the only thing you’ll have to worry about now is your man friend looking better than you - good thing they’ve got a fantastic selection of leather bags for girls too!

Scaramanga Leather Satchels Essential Festival Accessories

It is a truth universally acknowledged that the larger the bag, the more it will carry. However, the problems with the majority of large bags are twofold.

1) They are usually just one massive cavity in which you will spend approximately 50% of your time rooting around to find the one thing you need (which is always the last thing your grasping hand will find, having previously groped every other neighbouring item. Twice).
2) They are mostly very ugly.

The modern day festival-goer has some steep competition when it comes to looking good.  Around a month before festival season begins, high street brands in league with glossy magazines will begin their assault on the purses of innocents, leaving many people bewildered, confused, and unsure where to turn. One of the biggest problems which the average festival-goer will encounter is that of the day bag. Backpack or bum-bag? Shopper or sporran? Fretting over such an issue may exhaust you long before you’ve even thought about tent assembly. But don’t worry; all problems have a solution, and the answer in this case lies in the leather satchel. Or more specifically, Scaramanga’s range of vintage men’s and womenr’s leather satchels. Their satchels have been seen at festivals around the world over the last five years.

If you’ve ever seen a bag and thought ‘It would be perfect, if only it were a bit bigger/smaller/better quality/less likely to bankrupt me’, then your luck is well and truly in. For Scaramanga specialise in British designed antique leather satchels, and they’re available in all shapes and sizes for girls and guys alike.

Large Wide Leather Satchel £75

From the micro leather satchel (£37.50) to the large Overlander leather bag (£107.50), there’s a wide range for every budget and capacity requirement. Want a little pocket on the front so you can easily access your phone/the key to the padlock you’ve used to lock your tent? No problem!  Fancy a little handle on top in case you feel like your shoulders are doing too much carrying and you want to give your hands a go? Of course! Need a dozen different pockets and compartments to keep your sun cream separate from your galoshes? You’ve got it!

The distressed leather look makes each bag as individual as you are, and the high quality workmanship which has gone into the design process is evident in the strong stitching and attention to detail. Each Scaramanga satchel has a wide leather strap so you can easily wear it all day long - ideal when you’re lugging stuff from car to campsite and your back is occupied by the largest rucksack you’ve ever seen, or for later when you need both hands free for holding onto your friends and your beverage at the same time as you make your way to the front of the crowds to see your favourite band.

And the best part? Unlike the practical-yet-not-aesthetically-pleasing backpack, these satchels will look just as good on the streets of everyday life as they do in a muddy field, so you’ll be guaranteed to get plenty of use out of one long after the final overpriced beer has been consumed and the last tent peg pulled from the ground.

Girl's Leather Satchel £55 By Scaramanga

Men's Leather Satchel £62

Scaramanga's Largest Travel Bag - Large Overlander

Some Scaramanga customers may not be aware that we’ve been designing and making leather satchels and travel bags for several years now. In fact we were one of a very small number of stores selling their own handmade leather satchels almost five years ago.

We’ve used this knowledge, valuable customer feedback and years of experience to bring a wider variety of quality classically styled leather satchels, messenger bags and vintage inspired travel bags, so if you like classic British design and traditional craftsmanship then you’ll love Scaramanga’s leather satchels, messenger bags and travel bags.

Here’s a short interview with one of our first leather bag customers, Rev. Andy Pakula - A Scaramanga pioneer!

Carl Morenikeji: You may not know it, but you were one of our first leather bag customers back in 2006!

Andy Pakula: I’m proud of my early adopter status!

CM: We are really keen to hear from our older customers with older Scaramanga bags - how is your bag getting on?

AP: Well I’m sure you don’t mean “older customers”! (Although getting older is a fair description…) My bag is weathering the years quite well!  The bag is quite solid and sound. In fact, I think it looks better now than when it was new!

CM: What do you use your bag for?

AP: The advent of iPads has actually made my leather bag much more useful. When I tended to carry a laptop around, I needed a big rucksack. Now, I carry my iPad in my bag and take it just about everywhere. It also always includes papers I am (or should be!) working on, keys, business cards, my backup battery, pencils and pens, etc.

CM: Since buying the bag what has your experience of dealing with Scaramanga been?

AP:You have always been quick to respond to emails and generous in rapid replacement of worn parts

CM: Yes, we know that the small magnetic fasteners that hold the flap to the bag have come off (we have sent Andy a new set of stronger fasteners, whch can be fitted in less than 30 seconds), have you had any other problems with the bag?

AP: No other problems whatsoever except with the magnetic closures - which you have always been quick to replace at no cost.

CM: We think you are a bit of a leather manbag pioneer - there weren’t too many men carrying leather bags around 5 years ago! Any words of advice or tips for guys hesitating about being seen with a shoulder bag?

AP: I didn’t think myself terribly pioneering, but there you go…  Carrying a leather satchel or messenger bag is now extremely well-accepted. I never ever got any grief for it. In fact, I regularly got compliments and was happy to say what a great deal I got from you guys!

CM: We’re hoping to get a photo of Andy’s bag. It would be great to show customers what their bag may look like after five years!

AP: I’ll try to send something soon. I would simply say though that it looks as good or better than the day I received it.  It’s got wet in the rain many times. It seems to shrug it off and get better for the challenge!  (and therein lies a possible sermon!)

An art deco vintage cupboard - used here as a linen cupboard

If you’re anything like me, an extra cupboard in your house would never go amiss, and even better a vintage cupboard so that it brings style as well as space. The vintage look is in, and whether you have an entirely vintage styled home or you have a more modern style and are just looking to add something a bit different to your home interior, a classic vintage cabinet can provide the look as well as providing a versatile space to store almost anything.

In my case, it’s the clothes: they’re everywhere, and I keep buying more - it’s a bit of a problem of mine. A cupboard will not usually have space to hang clothes, but a good-sized one will have spacious shelves, which are great for storing clothes and shoes, making a nice alternative to a chest of drawers.

Of course, not everyone has such an abundance of clothes as me, and you are not limited to clothes. For example, an old cupboard can also be known as a linen press, which is ideal for storing, well… linen. Placed in your bathroom, a smaller sized vintage cupboard can provide space for bed linen and towels, whilst adding a nice touch to your bathroom: a room which is perhaps not always so easy to introduce a vintage look to.

Out with the bathroom, the vintage cupboard provides endless storage solutions in the living room and bedrooms: books, CDs, DVDs or toys. Many of our old vintage Indian cupboards are often brightly coloured, making an attractive toy cupboard for young children. The paint has usually been partially stripped or has worn over the years, giving that authentic shabby chic look whilst adding a splash of colour and life to any room.

'Shabby Chic' Large Blue Vintage Indian Cupboard

Such a coloured cabinet can also look particularly good in the kitchen and is an imaginative alternative to standard kitchen cupboards - a look tested and tried by Scaramanga owner, Carl Morenikeji, who last year bravely decided to remove his entire fitted kitchen and replace it with old mismatched Indian cabinets and vintage sideboards, with fantastic results (pictures and more information to come about this in a later blog post)!

Large, small, with bright colours or classically beautiful teak; with wire mesh panels, glass panels or art-deco style wooden inlays… the variety of vintage wooden cupboards really is endless, and as a storage solution the limit is your imagination.

Scaramanga’s selection mirrors this variety, and we have several vintage cupboards available in different shapes and sizes - please see our website, facebook page or contact us for more information.

www.scaramangashop.co.uk

sales@scaramangadirect.co.uk

An antique vintage cupboard with glass pannelling - good for a display cabinet

A more classic, traditional vintage wooden cupboard

A Scaramanga Antique Cupboard with mesh panels

Another of Scaramanga's Old Vintage Cupboards