Every bag is a distinctive accessory: this is not solely due to the intricate hand-weaving that makes every piece by Allan K so unique. The label’s designers skillfully play with the leather, the pattern of the weave, and the cut of the handbag. And so, upon closer inspection, this leather handbag reveals: The strips of supple buffalo leather not only provide a grippy two-millimeter thickness but also bring subtle color nuances. This gives the leather weave a vibrant, shimmering surface whose texture seems to shift gently depending on the light: Allan K calls this fascinating effect “Two Tones of Colour and Curves.”

But the weave remains sturdy and durable even without the play of light. Lined with a tightly woven cotton twill, the leather handbag holds your essentials with stylish elegance and keeps them safe with reliable strength, whether you’re heading out for a stroll through town, to the office, or to dance at a club. The base, which is about eleven centimeters deep, allows you to set the bag down while you retrieve your USB drive or compact powder. The interior is divided in the middle by a zippered compartment that can certainly serve as a wallet. Two slip pockets on the front inner wall hold additional small items, while a zippered compartment on the back inner wall securely stores keys and cards. By the way, the flat-woven shoulder strap can be doubled up by simply pulling it under the flap secured by two magnetic closures: This way, you can carry the bag not only crossbody or long over the shoulder, but also hold it close to your shoulder like a clutch.

Belgian label Allan K is considered a specialist in bags and shoes made of hand-braided leather. Founder Alain Kadic sums up the passion for his company and the products in one sentence: "Braided leather is in my DNA." No wonder, since the company's genesis dates back to the 1960s, when his father Ivan Kadic, an engineer with an inventive spirit, developed a spiral cutter capable of cutting a narrow strip hundreds of feet long from a leather hide. Many of his inventions, including an automatic leather weaving machine, soon find their way around the world.

In the 1980s, Alain Kadic, now an engineer himself, followed in his father's footsteps and traced the machines to India. Here, the craft of leather weaving has a long tradition. After working with various leather weaving companies for several years, he finally founded the Allan K brand in 2012 and from then on had his designs manufactured in Madras. The timeless-classic shoes and bags made of woven and braided leather are handmade there, which can take up to five days depending on the model. The leather for them is still cut on the machines that his father developed at the time.

Staining of light-coloured clothing, furniture and other objects is possible.