Drive By :: Linjer Soft Briefcase

The first time I met Roman Khan, co-founder of Linjer, his energy and passion for leather goods became instantly apparent. You can see with his sense of style and the precision by which he speaks that he is not a man to cut corners, which is why Linjer’s Soft Briefcase is as good as it is. We’ll get to that in a minute though, I promise. But first some context to understand who they are and where they came from.

Fine leather goods without the luxury markup from Roman Khan on Vimeo.

Like all good stories, Linjer came from a personal need. Roman and his co-founder Jenn were working for a large corporation – think tailored suits and nice shoes, the whole nine. What was missing was a beautiful leather bag to complement their style. The more they looked into it the more they found top of the line bags going for more than $1,000 and anything less was either poor construction or quality material, or both. And thus, Linjer was born.

Who it Suits

The person who needs to dress for success and make a great impression without having to break the bank to do it.

Who it Doesn’t

Someone who is more interested in a brand name than the quality of their product.

The Good

The instant you see the bag, you “get it.” The impression is immediate. It’s elegant, beautiful and instantly adds sophistication to your style. In just a few short weeks of using this briefcase, day in and day out, I lost track of the number of comments from friends who were taken aback by this new, more professional me (nothing changed except my Linjer briefcase, mind you).  

If I had to boil the Linjer Soft Briefcase down to one word, it would have to be quality. Everything about this bag was built from the best materials and designed to last a lifetime. The YKK Excella zippers are incredibly smooth and perfectly complement the full-grain vegetable tanned leather. The hardware is all antique silver and the lining is a beautifully soft charcoal grey twill. When it comes to craftsmanship, this bag is made in the same factories as the luxury brands that charge three-times what Linjer does.

For me, one of the best features of the briefcase is the leather. As I mentioned before, it’s a full-grain vegetable tanned leather from Turkey. Available in Mocha,  Navy, Black or Cognac, this leather will age and wear like a pair of denim jeans, developing a patina as varied as your experience. Part of what I love about this case is that it’ll tell its own unique story over time.  

Getting more into the finer details, the interior of the case is laid out for quick and easy access to your essentials. There’s a dedicated padded laptop sleeve to provide that extra protection when you’re on the go. Opposite that is a compartment for your cables and cords so they aren’t buried at the bottom of the bag.

The Linjer badge happens to double as a business card holder, nestled between a smartphone pouch (tested with iPhone 5 and Samsung S5) and two penholders.

 (my daily carry when I tested the bag)

Given that you spend more time toting the bag around than you do opening it up and using it, the handles and shoulder strap need to be comfortable over long periods of time. Given my issue with previous shoulder straps, I was pleasantly surprised by the no-frills approach Linjer paid to make a comfortable strap that doesn’t wear on your shoulder. The structure of the handles provide extra rigidity, helping them nestle perfectly into your hands. There’s even a handy small passport (or smartphone pocket) on the exterior for quick access on-the-go.

The Not so Good

I’m a little bit old school. As much as I love the Kindle, it’s hard for me to give up the wonderful tactile experience of reading a book. I am currently reading Cooked by Michael Pollan in hardback which is not a thin book by any stretch of the imagination. I loaded up the briefcase with my Macbook in the padded laptop section, power adapter in the internal pouch and the book was simply too thick to fit. It was the first time I came face-to-face with the power of the Kindle. It wasn’t that big a deal, however. I simply went to my bookshelf and picked up an old classic I’ve been meaning to read for a while, The Giver by Lois Lowry.

Others to Consider

Looking for that luxury brand name equivalent, look no further than Burberry’s beautiful full-grain (but not vegetable tanned) briefcase. At a similar price point as Linjer’s Soft Briefcase, you will find Coach’s Bleecker slim briefcase  and Will Leather Goods’ Hank Satchel. 

Conclusion

In the short time I’ve put the Linjer briefcase through its paces, I have become very attached to it. It’s effortless style gives anyone who uses it a more professional, polished look. The minimalist approach is evident throughout, from the no-frill shoulder strap to subtle Linjer branding only on the inside. It will be hard to go back to any of my other bags when it comes to my 9-5. For the price point, quality of product and impression it makes, the Linjer Soft Briefcase is truly hard to beat.