The Alston — Navy & Chocolate Waxed Canvas Crossbody Purse

The Alston is a small, squared crossbody purse in waxed canvas, framed in full grain leather, with a zip top and a long adjustable leather strap.

Deep navy canvas with chocolate leather trim: the smartest of the five, and the least likely to show marks.

It is about 10 inches wide, big enough for a phone, a full wallet, keys and sunglasses, and light enough that you forget it is there.

Inside there is a slip pocket for a phone and a zip pocket for cards, and the zip runs the full width so you can see everything at a glance.

Choose the Alston if you want an everyday purse that copes with drizzle and gets better looking for it. Browse all our waxed canvas bags, or our crossbody bags for women.

The canvas

We use 18 oz waxed cotton canvas, the same cloth as our Ellis totes. The wax makes it water-resistant: rain beads and runs off, and a shower will not soak through. It sheds weather rather than sealing it out, and it is not meant to look new forever: fold lines and darker hand marks build up into a finish of its own. Every edge that takes wear, the handles, straps, corners and base, is full grain leather.

How it is made

Made to order in our own workshop. Every piece is cut by hand, the seams are stitched with waxed thread, the edges are sanded and burnished rather than painted, and the hardware is solid brass. Three initials are pressed free on the leather patch, in gold foil, silver foil or a blind press.

Care

Brush off dry dirt and sponge marks with cold water. When water stops beading, usually once a year, rub in a little fabric wax and warm it with a hair dryer. Never use detergent or a washing machine, and condition the leather trim twice a year.