By “lesser-known”, it doesn’t mean these brands are not popular – you’d be surprised by their huge offline fanbase around the world. These brands are probably not something most Instagram fashion influencers would post about. However, they are popular among professionals working in the menswear industry and style aficionados who appreciate understated luxury outside of offerings by the big brands.
If you’re not the “backpack” type of guy and you actually need to carry a lot of stuff everyday (e.g. me), a durable tote would be your best bet as an everyday workhorse. Here are 5 quality men’s tote bags that we’d recommend:
Acate Borsa Ostro Handle Bag
$1,833.00
Made of 100% calf leather in Italy, Ostro bag by Acate Borsa is a great example of beautiful, luxurious, top quality leather bag without being branded. Ostro is a classy bag perfect as an everyday office bag and it’s roomy enough to fit everything for an overnight trip. Ostro in available in a few colours and a smaller M size.
The brand Acate Borsa has a very special origin – it’s an Italian-based Japanese brand. All products are made in Italy.
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Adventure Troubadour Tote
$295.00
What sets Troubadour brand apart from most luxury bag makers is their vision to incorporate performance into luxury. Let’s be honest: many luxury bags need babying and they aren’t always light-weight, waterproof and built with functionality in mind.
The minimalist Adventure Troubadour Tote is the embodiment of performance x luxury. Classy enough for work yet casual enough for gym and weekend trip, Adventure Troubadour Tote is a versatile bag that will last for years. Made of waterproof fabric and leather (yes, the brand has developed a fully waterproof vegetable-tanned leather) with minimal seams and pieces, the bag is relatively lightweight and and less bulky than others.
Available in Black, Navy, Khaki and Burgundy.
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Serapian “Leisure 14” East/West Tote Bag in Mosaico & Cachemire Leather
$2,200.00
Handcrafted with the brand’s signature “Mosaico” weave created in 1947, the luxurous Serapian “Leisure 14” East/West Tote Bag is a fine bag worth collecting even if you’re not planning to use it heavily. Spacious, elegant and also suitable for more casual look (hence the name), Leisure 14 is a versatile bag made of the house’s exclusive butter-solf Cahemire leather, suede inner lining and accented with silver-tone hardware. It has been one of the best sellers of the brand since inception.
Found in 1945, the family-run Milanese luxury leather company is known for their soft leather travel cases.
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WANT Les Essentiels Dresden Structured Leather Tote
$725.00
You’re probably no stranger to WANT Les Essentiels if you’re a fan of handsome, minimalist and classy bag. The Canadian brand built their reputation on refined leather bags and accessories.
Dresden Structured Leather Tote is from the premium leather collection of the brand, and it is the dressier cousin of the popular Shopper Tote. (If you prefer a more casual bag, check out instead.)
Made of premium Italian leather with a structured body, the unisex Dresden Structured Leather Tote‘s sleek silhouette makes it a great work bag to hold 13″ laptop and documents. The handles are long enough that you can tuck the bag under your arm. The four bottom studs are a thoughtful design to protect the bag.
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Frank Clegg Commuter Tote
$1,200.00
Frank Clegg Commuter Tote is made for you if you’re looking for a high quality, full-leather tote with beautiful shoulder straps that matches the bag. As its name implies, Commuter Tote is perfect for commuters – it has the perfect size, thoughtful interior compartments and hidden exterior slip pockets – great for those who travel with multiple small items and wish to keep everything organised inside the bag. The bag is made of natural tumbled grain leather with durable “Sunbrella“ lined interior. The bag is available in 7 colours but our favourite is the beautiful Cognac.
The American brand Frank Clegg has been around since 1970 and it has been a brand that strikes the right balance of price vs quality. If you’re up for other types of leather bags, we recommend checking out the brand’s duffle bags and briefcases as well.
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