From the same material and in the same processing as the laptop bag Croots has made the matching toilet bag, which with its compact size of 23 × 14 × 9 cm is ideal for weekend or business trips and easily still fits into hand luggage. The sturdy 24-oz cotton canvas is waxed, so it's quite durable and water-resistant to a degree. And what the zipper tape suggests (and hopes) when the bag is closed, actually finds its fulfillment inside, as the lining glows at you in the most beautiful, warm siganal red. Croots makes it especially for us from cotton (instead of plastic). The main compartment is not further divided, but on the sides two pockets across the width provide some order. The strap is worked as a loop of 3 mm thick saddle leather.

The British label Croots is among the leather goods manufacturers that have, in a short time, virtually earned the reputation of a traditional company. So it doesn’t always take centuries of experience—what matters most is, first and foremost, an understanding of one’s craft and the use of the right materials. John and Margaret Smith embodied this philosophy when, in 1978, they began producing their first bags and cases for hunting and fishing under the “Field Sports Products” label: crafted in the traditional manner and made from sturdy materials such as strong saddle leather and durable cotton canvas. Later, they added travel bags and small leather goods to their lineup. When their daughter Jackie and son-in-law Allistair Croot took over the business in 2004, they kept everything the same—except for the name. Since then, “Croots” has become a global byword for British craftsmanship and sturdy bags; even the royal family owns a few Croots bags.

The bags are designed and manufactured at the company’s facility in Malton, North Yorkshire. The materials also come from the UK: The fabric is woven in Keighley, West Yorkshire; Croots sources its waxed cotton canvas from the traditional Scottish manufacturer Halley Stevensons; and the hardware comes from foundries in Walsall, West Midlands, or Sheffield. Only the zippers are sourced from Riri in Switzerland. Finally, with a few exceptions, the leather is vegetable-tanned and processed in the classic saddlery style. Most of it is so-called English bridle leather, which is primarily used for saddles, bridles, and belts because, thanks to a special tanning process, it hardly stretches at all.