Jack on the lesson his father taught him in 1997, and the last ready-made Doolins
Jack on the lesson his father taught him in 1997, and the last ready-made Doolins
In 1997 my father, Tom, stood at the bench and told me what a bag is for. Twenty-nine years later I am going custom-only, and the last ready-made Doolins need somewhere to go.
My father, Tom Reid, in 1997: “make the bag for the road, not the shelf.”
In 1997 I sat at my father's workbench with a leather edge I thought was finished. He made me do it again. Now I am going custom-only, so the ready-made Doolins on my shelf will not be made again. The last ones are £154.95, down from £619.95.
My father, Tom Reid, was not a man for speeches. He ran his thumb along the edge, shook his head and handed the tool back. When I said it looked fine, he told me that looking fine is not the same as being done.
My father at his bench. Every edge went past his thumb before he let it go.
I asked why it mattered on a part nobody would ever see. He said the person carrying it would feel it. Even the bits nobody sees, I asked? Especially those bits.
The seams nobody sees. Especially those.
Then he pointed at the workshop door and said the thing I have repeated to myself ever since: make the bag for the road, not the shelf. A bag has to carry someone's day.
For twenty-nine years I made ready-made bags with that in mind. That is the part that is changing. From now on every piece will be made to order, one bag for one person, still by my own hands.
But some Doolins are already finished, and they are sitting on a shelf. That is the one place my father said a bag should never end up. So I would rather they went out of the door with someone.
1997
Today
The last ready-made Doolins on my bench: khaki, black, army green and grey.
Waxed canvas, chosen on purpose
I chose waxed cotton canvas for the body because it is naturally water-resistant and it changes as it is used. I wanted a bag that looks better after a few years of weekends, not one that only looks right on the day it arrives.
"I was looking for a timeless, handcrafted bag and Jack Reid exceeded my expectations. Its durability, design and craftsmanship make it my go-to bag for both work and travel."
Leather where the hands go
The handles and the base are full-grain crazy horse leather. Those are the places a bag is gripped, dropped and dragged, so that is where I wanted the toughest material I could find.
"The quality of my Jack Reid bag is unparalleled. The leather is incredibly soft and the attention to detail is impressive."
A little longer over a stitch
Some days a handle takes me longer than I planned. I would rather take the extra time at the bench than have a seam give up on someone halfway through a trip.
"Ordered on a Monday and it was on my doorstep in Ennis by Thursday, beautifully wrapped with a handwritten note from Jack. You can tell this was made with care."
Room for a proper weekend
It holds 38 litres in one spacious main compartment, with two zip pockets and two slot pockets inside. Enough for two days away without sitting on the lid to close it.
"Jack Reid bags perfectly combine style and functionality. The design is sleek and the compartments are well thought out; my laptop and notebooks fit with room to spare."
Keys you can find
There is a quick-access pocket on the outside, so the keys and the ticket have one place to live. You should not have to empty the whole bag on a platform to find them.
"What sets my Jack Reid bag apart is its versatility. Whether it's a business meeting in London or a weekend away, it adapts to any occasion effortlessly."
Two ways to carry it
Two leather handles for short distances, and a removable, adjustable padded shoulder strap for the long walk from the car park. Take the strap off when you do not need it.
"I bought this for my husband's birthday and it arrived in Cork beautifully wrapped, with a handwritten note from Jack. The leather is gorgeous and the stitching is perfect."
The Doolin, against the weekend duffle bags you have been buying
Bought to be replaced in two winters
Thin fabric that only looks right when new
Everything in one deep pile
One way to carry it
Waxed cotton canvas that develops a patina
Full-grain crazy horse leather handles and base
Two zip pockets, two slot pockets and a quick-access pocket
Leather handles or a padded shoulder strap
Make the bag for the road, not the shelf.
Why the last ones are priced like this
This is my farewell to ready-made bags. I am not closing; I am changing how I work, to pieces made to order for one person at a time.
The finished Doolins are £154.95, against the usual £619.95. I would rather see them carried than kept, and I have put both figures in front of you rather than hiding one behind clever wording.
Jack Reid bags perfectly combine style and functionality. The design is sleek and the compartments are well thought out; my laptop and notebooks fit with room to spare. A luxury item, but also practical for everyday use.
For the Friday train, the long drive and the weekend that starts at the door.
Packed on a Friday evening. That is what it is for.
My father would not have wanted these on a shelf, and neither do I.
Take your time. Look at the canvas, the leather and the pockets, and check whether one is still in stock. If it is not right for you, you can send it back within 30 days. If it is, I hope it goes on the road with you.
See if a Doolin is still on my shelf
- £154.95, against the usual £619.95
- Handmade waxed cotton canvas and full-grain crazy horse leather
- 30-day returns
A weekend bag that lasts two winters ends up costing more than one that lasts. This one is £154.95 against its usual £619.95.
Check availabilityAbout the writer. Jack founded Jack Reid in the United Kingdom in 1997. He continues to make leather bags by hand.