Insiders1

Insiders1 is one of my favorite discoveries I have made thus far with American Station.  Based in Brooklyn, NY, Insiders1 has New York images (and other great cities around the world) on its selection of leather hand-woven bags.  I own an Insiders1 Tote du Jour with the “Imagine” image from the John Lennon Memorial in Central Park.  I’m not exactly sure what an arrival pouch is, but I know I want one.  This clever bag includes an image taken from “Love,” a one-way street in Brooklyn Heights that is supposed to bring good luck in matters of the heart.  Who couldn’t use a little luck in that category?  This sexy pouch can carry all you need to hit the town.  The handy wrist strap makes it easier to handle and hang on to than a traditional clutch bag. You are going to have to think fast to get this one before I do!

Arrival Pouch w/ Strap – Red, Love Image

Port Canvas

You may have a lot of bags, but trust me, you don’t have one like this.  The durable fabric, hand sewn in Maine, will take you back to duffle bags of yesteryear.  Picture a soldier boarding a train and kissing his sweetheart farewell with this duffle bag slung over his shoulder.  Don’t buy it for nostalgia sake alone, though.  Buy it because it will be the best bag you have ever owned.  All Port Canvas bags can be monogrammed with your initials, name, or slogans in a variety of colors and styles.

Sailor Duffel Bag

Tom Bihn

Tom Bihn has done it.  The Checkpoint Flyer Briefcase is a laptop bag that passes checkpoint screening while the laptop is still inside of the laptop bag.  Previously, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) required that all passengers traveling with a laptop computer remove their laptop from their bag and place it in a bin for screening. The design by Tom Bihn meets new TSA guidelines that offer a clear and unobstructed image of the laptop in the bag when undergoing X-ray screening, yet are still protective.  Tom Bihn has met the TSA’s design challenge.  Even better, this bag is made in the Tom Bihn factory in Seattle, Washington.  I don’t have one of these bags yet, but I can hardly wait to travel without unpacking and reloading my laptop at airline security checkpoints.  Woohoo!

Checkpoint Flyer

Ditch your Mary Poppins-style oversized bag for this very cool Large Cafe Bag by Tom Bihn.  The Café Bag is a shoulder bag designed for those who want a smart-looking bag to organize and carry their essentials.  The large is my favorite, but it comes in a small and medium version and many color combination options.

The main, open-top compartment and front zippered pocket of the Large Café Bag are covered by an asymmetrical flap that closes with the distinctive Tom Bihn buckle and label.

Large Café Bag

Colonel Littleton

This is not your ordinary shave kit by any stretch.  Colonel Littleton’s No. 2 Shave Kit combination of leather and canvas produce a shave kit pleasing to the eye and durable enough to withstand the rigors of travel for many years to come. Even when this one is road-tested and battle-scarred, it will still have a look of quality and character.  Even if this item is priced outside your budget, the video of Colonel Littleton demonstrating the shave kit is free, and you will not want to miss it.

No. 2 Leather Shave Kit (Video link here)

Cydwoq

It is hard to pick just one special item from the distinctive Cydwoq collection of handbags.  Handmade by artisans who are passionate about their craft, Cydwoq bags will bring you closer to art.  The Circle is a sample of the unique designs and quality that characterize Cydwoq.

Circle

Equinox

My reaction to this lunch bag was….adorable!  It is also made with eco-friendly organic cotton, and the price is affordable.  These are so cute, you will want one in every color.  Grown and sewn in the USA, your colleagues will notice your stylin’ sack lunch, which opens the door for you to tell them how to buy American on American Station and help Mother Earth, too.  Good looking AND a conversation starter!

ECO Organic Cotton Lunch Bag

J.W. Hulme Co.

J.W. Hulme was inspired by a classic style from the 1940s for this light-weight and roomy bag. This bag comes in three sizes and a variety of soft leathers plus two nautical canvases. These beautiful bags would be perfectly paired with an excursion out west by train. Experienced travelers say the California Zephyr is one of the most beautiful train trips in all of North America. As you climb through the heart of the Rockies, and further west through the snow-capped Sierra Nevadas, you will probably find it hard to disagree. The Zephyr runs daily between Chicago and San Francisco. Grab your new J.W. Hulme bags and book your trip here.

Sea Bag Collection

I love a cross body bag. It is functional, stylish, and comfortable. No more toting around heavy bags that slip off your shoulder. Strap it on, and you will look ten years younger. You’re also 100 percent less likely to lose your purse or have it snatched from your shoulder. With a nod to the saddle bag, the J.W. Hulme Mini-Legacy Shoulder Bag shoulder bag is carefully hand-buffed and antiqued. I got this wonderful piece for Christmas with a complimentary embossed monogram. I absolutely treasure this handbag, and I know you will, too.

Mini Legacy Shoulder Bag

Trager, Seattle USA

Are you tired of backpacks that shred after only a couple of months use? My kids were going through almost two backpacks each per year. The Trager Study Hauler, made of sturdy material with a leather bottom, is designed to withstand everyday use and is only priced slightly higher than your typical school backpacks offered by the big box retailers. The Study Hauler will last throughout your educational pursuits and beyond for other uses like day hikes or short overnight trips. To my knowledge, the Trager Study Hauler is the only traditional school-style backpack still made in the USA.  Yet another reason to purchase it.

Study Hauler

Club Glove

Of course American Station has to feature a bag called Train Reaction!  Made by Club Glove, the number one travel bag for the PGA, the Train Reaction connects three bags in one easy pull. The set works with a number of different bags, so “choo-choose” your fancy. This set is a must for the traveling golfer.

Train Reaction™ System 3-Piece Luggage Ensembles

Liz Brister
American Station Co-Founder