The Blog
Makers of handmade leather goods. Obsessed with crafting elegant and durable products for folks with a flair for style and quality. We ship worldwide.
Hello Friends,
We know lots of you get curious about what things look like over here. We thought we would start showing random photos from time to time of the products we make, the process, behind the scenes entertainment for you curious folk! So here are a few photos of some of the products we are working on this week. Stay tuned for more soon.
Cheers,
Bas and Lokes
Hi everyone,
Meet our new “Bubbly” handmade leather coasters. They are exactly what you need to keep your surfaces free from stains. Not your average coasters. These have fun design reminiscent of fizzy bubbles found in carbonated beverages. Very fitting, we thought. These are available in three different colours. The natural vegetable tanned leather will develop the most patina and will look even more beautiful as it absorbs condensation and spills (as seen in the photo below). Gorgeous. Set of four coasters. Measures 4″ x 4″.
Thanks for looking. Have a great day.
Bas and Lokes
Hi Everyone,
We’re excited that our newest watch strap collection is being featured this week on The Versatile Gent blog. Thanks so much to James for writing the article and for including us. We’re very honoured.
Enjoy,
Bas and Lokes
Introducing our newest handmade leather watch strap collection. We think it is one of our most beautiful yet. This beautiful hand crafted collection has a vintage flair. Each strap is created to look and feel as if it has an interesting story to tell. Flaunting handsome good looks, rich in character and very comfortable to wear, these guys are sure to look exquisite on your favorite timepiece.
All our straps are made from premium quality American cow leather from some of the best tanneries and using some of the best linen and nylon threads around. Everything is entirely hand crafted by us in beautiful Sydney, Australia.
Hope you love them.
Bas and Lokes
The holiday season is approaching fast. Before you realize it, it will be Thanksgiving. Folks will be darting to do their Black Friday shopping early next morning, and then it’s just a few weeks away until the gift-giving season is here with us. It’s that time…
That said, now is the time to start looking into what you could get that someone who appreciates the finer things in life, even the boss who’s got everything! The thing is, with bespoke leather goods, you can never go wrong. At Bas and Lokes, we’ve tried to simplify the decision of what to get them for you – whether they are watch enthusiasts, frequent travelers, the fashion-conscious or color-matching freaks, we got it all! We’ve even included some of the customer favorites if you would rather go with the unanimous decision.
Starting the list is the gift guide for the city slicker.
Being made of some of the best leather you could lay your paws on, you’ll be glorified for this. Trust us. A true city slicker’s look cannot be complete without this. This luscious leather is guaranteed to add beauty, sophistication and elegance to your individual style. As a result of the super durability, consider this a lifetime investment and treasure that you can even pass down your family line.
When it comes to apparel, your color choice can say a great deal about your personality. Know what dressing in naturals from head to toe says about you? Sophistication baby! That’s what you get with the gift guide for the color coordinated.
This Bas and Lokes gift guide looks every bit unique – key on every detail – right down to the stitching.
The gift guide for the traveler offers you stylish travel essentials taking some of the most common needs into consideration: dopp kit, a wide range of passport wallets, leather watch pouch and a chic pen case to match.
Be it a business trip you’re taking or an overseas sashay, the traveler gift guide will always come in handy when organizing your items. Very ideal!
How about something different from the tired and oh-so-cheap gifts we’ve been giving or receiving throughout the years?
The Bas and Lokes stocking stuffer will no doubt be the most treasured small gift to give – if your mark is someone who loves luxurious items. Oozing class and personality, you could make this the most talked-about surprise of the season!
The watch lover gift guide is the sure stop to get that handmade leather watch strap you’ve been dilly-dallying about for ages. And now would just be the perfect time to cross that off your list, wouldn’t it? Whether it’s for him or her, you’ll be spoilt for choice on what to choose.
The good thing about it though, is whatever decision you make, it will be the right decision. How about that for freedom of choice? Our watch strap vault will make even the traditionally hawk-eyed Russians go ooh and ahhh…
If you aren’t sure what you want to get but need some bespoke leather products this season, check out the tried-and-tested customer favorites gift guide. This is a compilation of the most popular Bas and Lokes handcrafted leather accessories this year. The people are always right, right?
Every single Bas and Lokes product is a timeless icon in the ever changing fashion world. And with each handmade leather accessory guaranteed to last a lifetime, this will not just serve as a mark of class this holiday season. Noo… Rather, it’s a collection of personal possessions that will share all the moments of your life with you – the highs and lows. You can always rely on our goods.
Happy shopping folks!
Many a women folk need a modest suitcase to carry their toiletries in – others somewhat large – but a traveling man only requires a couple of essentials and he’ll be good to go. All the same, the man also needs a place to pack these items. Enter the dopp kit! It has been around for some time now. Know how they came to be? Let’s take a brief travel back in time, shall we?
It was in the early 1900s, 1919 to be exact, that dopp kits came into existence, courtesy of one German leather goods craftsman who immigrated to Chicago: Government name, Charles Doppelt. It is from his name that the ‘Dopp’ cognomen was coined, in honor of gifting the world this handy toiletry pouch. Doppelt was to later land a lucrative contract with the US Army during WWII, after being tasked with provision of the kits to millions of American GIs.
The bags became quite a hit and a darling of many, especially given that Doppelt’s were crafted from pure leather that could withstand the harsh conditions of the times, let alone during the war. The demand for the cases soared after American men went back home following the war, and just like that, a trend was born.
Bas and Lokes James black handmade leather dopp kit toiletry bag
Dopp pouches are readily available. In fact, you can find them in stores for less than $10. And sure, get the job done they will. But if it’s class you want, class you’ll only find in leather baby. You’ll fork out more that’s for sure, but what lasts forever, ages gracefully and something you can be proud of owning and carrying around that isn’t? That’s what good leather gets you. Sure, diamonds too…Something you can pass down through generations, and share the tales of all the places you’ve been to with it.
Our very own Bas and Lokes “James” handmade toiletry bag design guarantees you longevity, quality, style and class all stowed in one sturdy but lightweight, luxurious case. Just like any dopp kit, you can pack an array of essentials in it at once: deodorant/anti-perspirant/cologne, shampoo/conditioner, bar of soap, toothpaste/toothbrush, shaving supplies (cream, razor, brush), lip balm, safety pins you name it. But unlike any other case, this, this right here will be a fashionable travel yokefellow that will be handed down even to your grandson, all the while achieving a lovely patina as the years wear on.
Bas and Lokes James natural handmade leather dopp kit/toiletry bag
Initially, we offered the toiletry bag only in black, but with many requests coming in for natural, the best we could have done was bring it to fruition . We are proud to present the “James” Natural Handmade Leather Dopp Kit: the definition of beauty, seduction, and the mark of a true, meticulous man. It’s difficult to resist, no? Well, for those who still prefer the darker tastes in life, the classic “James” Black Handmade Leather Toiletry Bag will cut.
Howdy all,
We’ve decided to throw in some customer life experiences, as promised in an earlier post, that we think are worth sharing with you. We reached out to one of Bas and Lokes’ loyal customers to learn more about his story, his name is Grant (right up there doing the dirt jump). Hails from Perth, Australia, but he’s been on a wild ride across the continents.
And to kick things off, this is his story. We haven’t edited anything, as was shared. Nothing that can evoke the reaction of the government though :), I believe… Read more ›
Hello everyone,
We just launched some new refined accessories in the form of the “Nathan” Long Wallet and “Keryn” Passport Wallet. Initially, we only had them in one colour but due to public demand to make them in more shades, we are happy to announce that we have fulfilled that desire, the fruit of some meticulous labor and hours put in to give you another object of desire! They are now available in a variety of hues, lively or subdued, and as always, stylish.
Each model is designed to match with a variety of accessories – from top to bottom – and most importantly they’re all handcrafted leather wallets that can withstand the test of time as you embark on crazy adventures wherever you go.
The “Keryn” Passport Wallet: Talk about Versatility
Mention the words ‘travel wallet’ and one of the first things that probably springs to mind is ‘versatility’. Our new “Keryn” passport wallets are the embodiment of just that. See, travel wallets should be the one place you tuck all your vital travel documents when on a long haul journey – business or mere jaunt.
It could be anything from passports to cash to receipts to every day carry essentials. In such a case, what you need is space and “Keryn” sure got lots of it without compromising on style. It boasts two front slots that can hold up to six cards, with the inner compartment great for holding your passport, cash or receipts effortlessly. Meaning that this elegant passport wallet with lustrous, finished edges can be used for everyday carry stuff, not just for brandishing whenever calls of duty arise.
The Bas and Lokes “Keryn” passport wallet now comes in shades of black, brown and natural bespoke leather – all premium cow leather that will give you the urban chic and sophistication, whether in executive, casual or party wear, a look you can obtain for just $95.
Available now for shopping!
“Nathan” Long Wallet: An Elegant Accessory to Match your Bag
Its name speaks for itself. The “Nathan” Long Wallet is what you would call accommodating. This, too, was available only in black but we’ve diversified the line to now include brown and vegetable tanned leather.
See, this is not just another long leather wallet that can accommodate your stuff. The “Nathan” long wallet is an intelligently designed piece of accessory. It has dedicated compartments on the front that can hold up to one…two…three…six cards! It boasts three slots each of which is capable of stacking two cards – you know, just to be sure…Lokes even managed to stuff three in each 🙂
The “Nathan” range is designed to coordinate with a variety of bags, so you have more choice now. You can call it a model of efficiency given that the pockets offer the most in practicality. The middle compartment leaves adequate room for receipts and other important stuff you don’t want crumpled. Even the cash: you can stash it lengthwise if that’s how you like it. It’s as simple as it gets.
This all-in-one handmade leather wallet line, each with its own matching waxed linen thread, is handcrafted from premium cow leather and you can no doubt bet on it to last you a lifetime – but what product of ours cant you? No, really…It’s a perfect companion to carry with your bag – for both boys and girls. And of course, beautifully finished with the custom signature you’ve all grown accustomed to whenever you think leather – Bas and Lokes.
They’re yours to choose!
Enjoying life is often deemed to be a mindset, the result of action, gratitude and reflection. But with the hustle and bustle of modern day life, we find ourselves limited to the things we can do: not enough time to escape to some mountaintop sanctuary to follow our bliss. But what’s the best way to be happy? Do we wait out for a more ideal time to enjoy life?
Well, making practical, everyday changes could be key, yes? Everyone of us has a tale to tell, through the journey they’ve traveled in life. We’ve made choices – some good, some ugly. But it is these decisions that culminate in our journey through life, to the point that we are at. Decisions that have impacted on your life. Story of My Life.
Some of you may be wondering what has prompted this post. You should be relieved to know it’s not some motivational article or anything like that. Neither a review of that smash single by One Direction :). Rather, it’s the experiences of our customers we would love to share – their life experiences, as often as at least once a month.
We’ve been fortunate enough to have customers from far and wide – some corners of the world you didn’t remember existed until it was mentioned to you (it’s not a stab people, just my plain ignorance). You can only but guess that each of them (you right there!) has an interesting story you would love to share.
After hearing and reading about the experiences some of you have had in their lives across the globe, the idea came from Bas – ‘Why not share some of these life stories of you with our clients?’ Came out of the blue she said…
I mean, you have all been wonderful Bas and Lokes customers and your stories are amazing. You’ve been loyal clients, and looking down the years, something that really stands out is the shared bond and love for leather goods. Honestly, I didn’t think there would be this many of you! Birds of a feather you could say…
We appreciate you very much and always try to reciprocate in kind – by giving you the best handmade leather goods you could come across – leather watch straps, leather wallets, belts, pen cases watch cases and pouches, leather gift cards, you name it. You’ve journeyed the earth donning our products and these are some of the stories we would like to share with the world. C’mon, what good is it if you don’t flaunt it, eh?
Starting soon, we will be sharing a short post every now and then about our customers – what would you like to share with us? Anything you think is worth sharing – your hobbies, stuff you’re into, places you’ve been to or plan to visit, possessions that remain dear to you, the watch you wear, the last meal you would go for if you had a few hours to live, favorite drink, your feedback, photos, just about anything you would be interested in sharing – just let us know and we’ll post them on our website!
Many people find themselves stuck with watch straps they don’t need. Watch straps that don’t suit their particular taste, or style, preference. We may have probably received the watch as a gift, or thought it was cool when we were buying it, or may be thought the watch itself was awesome but no strap to match. Or the strap doesn’t fit the wrist perfectly; perhaps succumbed to wear and tear. The reasons could be vast. It’s something that happens to everyone and I’m not saying this just because we deal in watch straps. So not the point here, let’s be honest with ourselves. Read more ›
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