Croots made a small batch of bags right away from a sturdy, dark blue 18-ounce cotton canvas, including this washbag to match. Inside, it's lined with the typical twill in bold signal red (made especially for us from cotton), so it's easy to find everything you need. The two large pockets on the long sides keep everything tidy. As with the bags, the carrying strap is also made of vegetable-tanned, darkbraunem saddle leather. So one fits to the other, but the toilet bag also makes solo more than a good figure.

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.