Stitch Briefcase
The Madison Stitch Briefcase: A beast born of American soil, tanned in the fires of tradition by Hermann Oak — this isn’t just a briefcase. It’s a testament. This vegetable-tanned pull-up leather beast is custom-cut, rugged, and rough-hewn, ready to face anything this world throws at it. Distressed from the get-go, it’s a piece that only gets better with age, like a fine bourbon or the best war stories.
Inside, an iron-willed divider separates your weapons of choice — laptop, manifesto, or survival stash — while two external pockets wait, eager to keep your essentials within a fast-draw’s reach. Solid brass hardware, forged and cast right here in the USA, holds this whole piece together, no nonsense, no half-measures.
Carry it like you mean it with a grab handle sturdy enough to drag it through hell and back, or sling it crossbody with a 55" adjustable strap and feel the weight of something real. This is 16" long, 12" tall, and 5" wide of pure function — a portable stronghold for a man or woman who knows that life on the road requires resilience, a touch of madness, and an organized chaos.
Features:
Custom vegetable-tanned pull-up leather from the legendary Hermann Oak
A raw, beautifully distressed finish
Interior divider to keep life (or at least your belongings) sorted
Two rugged external pockets
Solid brass hardware, American-made
Heavy-duty grab handle
Adjustable 55" crossbody strap
Dimensions: 16" L x 12" H x 5" W
Benefits:
Durable and water-resistant for wherever the road may take you
Built like the bones of this country — to last and endure
Handcrafted in the USA with pride and grit
A timeless style that screams “I’ve lived”
Guarantee: We stand by this case like a gunslinger at dawn. If anything on this briefcase ever falters, we’ll repair it or replace it — satisfaction guaranteed.
The Madison Stitch Briefcase: A beast born of American soil, tanned in the fires of tradition by Hermann Oak — this isn’t just a briefcase. It’s a testament. This vegetable-tanned pull-up leather beast is custom-cut, rugged, and rough-hewn, ready to face anything this world throws at it. Distressed from the get-go, it’s a piece that only gets better with age, like a fine bourbon or the best war stories.
Inside, an iron-willed divider separates your weapons of choice — laptop, manifesto, or survival stash — while two external pockets wait, eager to keep your essentials within a fast-draw’s reach. Solid brass hardware, forged and cast right here in the USA, holds this whole piece together, no nonsense, no half-measures.
Carry it like you mean it with a grab handle sturdy enough to drag it through hell and back, or sling it crossbody with a 55" adjustable strap and feel the weight of something real. This is 16" long, 12" tall, and 5" wide of pure function — a portable stronghold for a man or woman who knows that life on the road requires resilience, a touch of madness, and an organized chaos.
Features:
Custom vegetable-tanned pull-up leather from the legendary Hermann Oak
A raw, beautifully distressed finish
Interior divider to keep life (or at least your belongings) sorted
Two rugged external pockets
Solid brass hardware, American-made
Heavy-duty grab handle
Adjustable 55" crossbody strap
Dimensions: 16" L x 12" H x 5" W
Benefits:
Durable and water-resistant for wherever the road may take you
Built like the bones of this country — to last and endure
Handcrafted in the USA with pride and grit
A timeless style that screams “I’ve lived”
Guarantee: We stand by this case like a gunslinger at dawn. If anything on this briefcase ever falters, we’ll repair it or replace it — satisfaction guaranteed.
The Madison Stitch Briefcase: A beast born of American soil, tanned in the fires of tradition by Hermann Oak — this isn’t just a briefcase. It’s a testament. This vegetable-tanned pull-up leather beast is custom-cut, rugged, and rough-hewn, ready to face anything this world throws at it. Distressed from the get-go, it’s a piece that only gets better with age, like a fine bourbon or the best war stories.
Inside, an iron-willed divider separates your weapons of choice — laptop, manifesto, or survival stash — while two external pockets wait, eager to keep your essentials within a fast-draw’s reach. Solid brass hardware, forged and cast right here in the USA, holds this whole piece together, no nonsense, no half-measures.
Carry it like you mean it with a grab handle sturdy enough to drag it through hell and back, or sling it crossbody with a 55" adjustable strap and feel the weight of something real. This is 16" long, 12" tall, and 5" wide of pure function — a portable stronghold for a man or woman who knows that life on the road requires resilience, a touch of madness, and an organized chaos.
Features:
Custom vegetable-tanned pull-up leather from the legendary Hermann Oak
A raw, beautifully distressed finish
Interior divider to keep life (or at least your belongings) sorted
Two rugged external pockets
Solid brass hardware, American-made
Heavy-duty grab handle
Adjustable 55" crossbody strap
Dimensions: 16" L x 12" H x 5" W
Benefits:
Durable and water-resistant for wherever the road may take you
Built like the bones of this country — to last and endure
Handcrafted in the USA with pride and grit
A timeless style that screams “I’ve lived”
Guarantee: We stand by this case like a gunslinger at dawn. If anything on this briefcase ever falters, we’ll repair it or replace it — satisfaction guaranteed.
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Our briefcase was designed by Summer Glenn, our intern from Kansas State’s industrial design program. You can read more about her story here:
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Handcrafted in the USA from full-grain, vegetable-tanned steer leather sourced from our local tannery, Hermann Oak. Each bag is cut, edge-finished, and constructed by hand in our downtown Kansas City studio.
To create the rugged, distressed look in the leather, the tannery dips their English Bridle leather into a vat of hot oil and tallow overnight. Once removed, the leather changes to a darker color and develops a “pull-up” effect, where the leather lightens in color when pulled or stretched. Wrinkles, stretch marks, and ripples in the leather are highlighted, creating the rugged aesthetic we find so appealing.
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We are so confident in the quality of our leather bags that we offer a lifetime guarantee. If your bag ever breaks or needs repair, we will fix it for free.
What is covered?
Our lifetime guarantee covers all defects in materials and workmanship. This means that we will repair or replace your bag if it is damaged due to a defect in the leather, stitching, or hardware.
What is not covered?
Our lifetime guarantee does not cover damage caused by:
-Accidental or intentional damage (for example, your five-year old decided to take a butcher knife to your nice leather bag).
-Improper care or maintenance (for example, you left your bag outside in the sun for several days and now it’s super dry. We will help bring it back to life, but we won’t be able to accept exchanges).
-Normal wear and tear (normal wear and tear is a good thing!)
How to contact us
If your bag needs repair or replacement, please contact us at service@madisonstitch.com. We will need to see your order number or last name under which the order was placed. Please provide a description of the damage and a photo or two. We will then send you a return shipping label and instructions on how to send us your bag.
We are committed to providing our customers with the best possible products and service. Even if you feel like your situation may not qualify for an exchange or free repair, please still reach out to us; we can help bring your bag back to life. If you have any questions about our lifetime guarantee, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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We offer FREE EXPRESS SHIPPING to any domestic location in the USA. For international deliveries, please contact us — we are able to ship outside the USA, but shipping charges vary.
Our studio is open on Monday to Friday 10-5pm if you prefer to pick up in Kansas City. Most of our orders are now shipped within 1-3 days. When your order leaves our studio we will send you an email together with your tracking number.
Read more about shipping & delivery policies.
Questions? Contact us at service@madisonstitch.com.
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—Made in our downtown studio in Kansas City, Missouri.
—Made from full grain, vegetable-tanned leather custom made for us by Hermann Oak tannery. With minimal care, the leather will last generations. Just polish 1-2 times per year with leather lotion.
—Constructed with solid brass hardware sourced from metal suppliers in the USA.
—Dimensions: 16” x 12” x 6” deep.
—54” long adjustable, cross-body strap with strap pad.
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With minimal maintenance, the leather from Hermann Oak will last generations.
Keep it clean: The best way to prevent damage to your leather is to keep it clean. Wipe it down with a damp cloth regularly to remove dirt and dust. If your leather gets dirty, you can use a mild soap and water solution to clean it. Be sure to dry the leather thoroughly after cleaning it by blotting it with a cloth (do not wipe)
Condition it regularly: Vegetable tanned leather needs to be conditioned once or twice a year to keep it soft and supple. You can use a commercial leather conditioner or make your own by mixing equal parts of neatsfoot oil and beeswax. Apply the conditioner to the leather with a soft cloth and let it soak in for a few minutes. Then, buff the leather with a clean cloth. If your leather gets wet, dry it as soon as possible. Do not leave wet leather in the sun or near a heat source. Dry by blotting a thick rag over the wet spot; do not wipe.
Avoid extreme temperatures: Extreme temperatures can damage leather. Avoid exposing your leather to direct sunlight or extreme heat or cold.
Be careful with chemicals: Chemicals can also damage leather. Avoid getting your leather wet with harsh chemicals, such as bleach, a harsh cleanser, or gasoline. Avoid using polishes or creams that contain silicone. Silicone can coat the leather and prevent it from breathing, which can lead to cracking and drying.
Store it properly: When you are not using your leather, store it in a cool, dry place. You can also put a cloth between the layers of leather to prevent them from sticking together.
Oils: The leather is hot-stuffed with oil, tallow, and wax. While we pre-treat the surface of the leather to remove any of the oils from the surface, initially you may see some bleed-off of the oils and waxes in the leather on to your clothing. This is normal, and will not permanently stain your clothes. After several uses, the leather will stabilize and no more bleed-off will occur.
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Products in their original conditions and including the original packaging can be returned or exchanged within 14 days from receipt. You can read more about our return policies here.