In the office, on a stroll through town, during evening leisure activities: the eye-catching feature of this handbag with the potential of an all-rounder is the royal blue elastic band that keeps the front flap closed. However, we don't put our trust in (good) things because of their striking design, but because the sensory impressions are accompanied by rational reasons that underpin this trust.

The vegetable-tanned saddle leather of this handbag is one of these trustworthy things: It is so strong and dense that it will stand the test of time for generations. Open-pored and open-edged in a single piece, the cowhide leather reveals its natural surface structure and over the years it will develop an unmistakable patina as an eloquent narrative of your life. Before you go out into the world to tell your life story, you can adjust the solidly crafted shoulder strap to your preferred length. Meanwhile, the suede side of the undivided, unlined interior holds your essentials, while two slip pockets on the back wall keep the smallest of small items close at hand. And to give you another reason for confidence: If one day it does go the way of all wear and tear, the elastic band can be replaced.

Fine leather craftsmanship is in the blood of the Schmelz family. They are behind the Harold’s brand and have been producing leather bags since 1936, now in its third generation. In the 1950s, the manufactory began cooperating with foreign partners, initially in Italy and later also in Colombia and India. This not only led to the relocation of parts of the production facilities abroad, but also to the brand name Harold’s, under which production was henceforth carried out. The designs are all created at the company's German headquarters near the Hessian metropolis of Frankfurt. The top priorities are well thought-out shapes and functionality, timeless design and, above all, first-class craftsmanship and natural, durable leather. This is the only way to achieve the declared aim of producing "bags for a lifetime". Production takes place primarily in Colombia and India - always taking local conditions into account - and since 2010 also in Obertshausen.

The successful cooperation with a small factory in Colombia has existed since 1985 and involves more than the usual: it is based on statutory employment contracts that offer the workers stable working conditions with security such as health, accident and pension insurance. The majority of employees have therefore been working in the company for more than 20 years and have the relevant specialist knowledge and many years of experience in leather processing. This is not a matter of course in South America's leather goods industry, which is characterized by migrant labor. Equally unusual are the extensive safety regulations, thanks to which the working environment comes close to European standards, for example in terms of acoustics, distances and cleanliness. The majority of the machines used for production also come from Europe. Most of the leather comes from cattle from Colombia, which are kept outdoors all year round, as is customary in South America; for the German site, it comes from Germany. After tanning, the leather surface still shows the natural grain with the traces of an animal's life, such as mosquito bites or small tears, and soon forms the patina typical of leather. Fabrics and metal parts are also produced in close proximity to the Colombian and German sites.

The black bag may rub off on light-coloured clothing and materials.