The Selby — Chocolate Slouchy Leather Shoulder Bag

The Selby is our softest bag, cut from a milled, pebbled hide that folds and drapes rather than holding a box shape. It is unlined, which keeps it light and lets the leather move.

Chocolate is our darkest brown, close to espresso indoors and clearly brown in sunlight. It hides marks well, which makes it the brown to pick if the bag gets thrown on café floors and car seats.

It measures 16.25″ (41 cm) across and 11″ (28 cm) tall with a 10.75″ (27 cm) drop, so it sits on the shoulder over a coat. A magnetic snap hidden in the mouth keeps it closed without hardware showing.

There is one slip pocket cut from the same leather on the inside wall. Most owners add a small pouch for keys and cards, since an unlined bag has no inner compartments.

Choose the Selby if weight and softness matter more to you than pockets and structure. If you want the same relaxed feel with a zip top and a lining, the Hollis hobo is the closer match. Or browse more slouchy leather shoulder bags.

The leather

We use full-grain cowhide from our own regular supply and keep the natural surface. Nothing is sprayed over it to hide marks, so it softens and darkens with use instead of cracking.

How it is made

Load-bearing seams are saddle stitched by hand, two needles through each hole, so a cut thread does not run. Edges are sanded and burnished rather than painted, and the hardware is solid brass, unplated.

Care

Let it dry slowly if it gets caught in rain, stuff it lightly with paper when stored, and condition it twice a year.