The Brooks Hampstead Holdall
Now and then, even a man with a prodigious sock collection runs out of a clean pair
Bread and Butter isn’t just a great accompaniment to a plate of fish and chips. It also happens to be the name of one of the world’s premier trade fairs for the fashion business.
These days it takes place biannually (I will admit I had to double check; biennially is once every two years) in the wonderful city of Berlin, Germany, with one show in the winter, and one in the summer.
We started showing at Bread and Butter last year, and found it to be a very suitable complement to the more cycling-specific trade fairs which we visit over the course of a year. After all, for a century and a half our wares have enjoyed a reputation for being not just excellently built and extremely durable, but also pleasing to the eye, a fact not lost on the droves of new converts to the idea of a bike as primary means of transport in the city.
The halls now used by Bread and Butter for their shows comprised, in a previous incarnation, the storied former Tempelhof Airport in the centre of the city. Famous as the centre for a massive airlift operation during the Blockade of the 1950′s, upon its closure it more recently played host to the 2009 European Cycle Messenger Championships, an event of which Brooks was a delighted, hands-on and enthusiastic sponsor.
At any rate, next week, the assembled might of Brooks England will be descending on the German capital for a few days to exhibit some of the new items in our portfolio.
Near the top of the list of Things We’re Extremely Excited About Showing To Our Guests will, of course, be the new Criterion jacket, which we unveiled to readers here just before Christmas.
But among other things, we have also been working on some beautiful new bags. For those who won’t be able to make it to Berlin between the 19th and 21st to view them in the flesh, we wish to give a foretaste of what they’ll find on our stockists’ premises a little later in the year.
Take a look for starters at this…
Cyclists are spoiled for choice when it comes to bags, yet the draw to improve and invent upon this vital cycling accoutrement shows no sign of diminishing. Entering the fray among the wide selection of new bags we will be displaying at Bread and Butter in Berlin next week, we present the Hampstead Holdall, quite possibly one of the world’s largest bags for cycling.
The Hampstead is a versatile bag for everyday use. It is large enough to hold virtually anything you can carry, but can be attached to a standard rear rack or be worn as a rucksack.
The Hampstead expands to mammoth proportions which are allowed by the adjustable straps which secure the bag at any size. The water-resistant treated cotton and foldable top ensure that your contents remain safe from the elements.
Brendon demonstrates gravity enhancements of the Hampstead
We look forward to sharing the other new bags from this years’ collection over the next days. But first, one more look at the Hampstead, this time showing the drawstring internal lining.
Posted 10:21 pm
11 Jan 2011
gravity enhancement… sweet!
Posted 10:39 pm
11 Jan 2011
only water resistant? not water-proof? also would be interested to see if those clamps, when its worn as a rucksack, don’t jam into your sides. there may be info somewhere else but what are dimensions? you claim its the biggest…. lets see some dimensions!
-capt. jake
Posted 10:51 pm
11 Jan 2011
We claimed that the Hampstead is “one of the largest” bags for cycling, so no need to call the people over at Guinness, although I’m sure we have a claim somewhere or other in their great book.
The clips rest on the sides of the bag, it would really not be possible for them to jam into your sides, no worries, Captain!
Posted 12:52 am
13 Jan 2011
[...] Brooks England breaks the record with its brand new Hampstead Holdall bag, the world’s largest cycling bag! Well that’s what they say, nevertheless the bag shows some inventive versatility, gravity enhancement and good looking. More to read here. [...]
Posted 12:53 am
13 Jan 2011
BR-ENDO!
Posted 8:56 am
13 Jan 2011
[...] aniticipation of the upcoming Bread & Butter Berlin tradeshow, English saddlemakers Brooks unveil their new large sized bag dubbed the Hamstead Holdall. The bag features a robust design [...]
Posted 9:09 am
13 Jan 2011
[...] aniticipation of the upcoming Bread & Butter Berlin tradeshow, English saddlemakers Brooks unveil their new large sized bag dubbed the Hamstead Holdall. The bag features a robust design [...]
Posted 11:16 am
13 Jan 2011
[...] la semaine prochaine au Bread & Butter de Berlin, le spécialiste Anglais de la selle en cuir Brooks vient de faire transpirer l’information sur la toile du lancement son sac Hampstead [...]
Posted 12:20 pm
13 Jan 2011
[...] aniticipation of the upcoming Bread & Butter Berlin tradeshow, English saddlemakers Brooks unveil their new large sized bag dubbed the Hamstead Holdall. The bag features a robust design [...]
Posted 12:56 pm
13 Jan 2011
There is no P in Hamstead. It is 4 miles from Brooks factory…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamstead,_West_Midlands
Posted 1:00 pm
13 Jan 2011
[...] aniticipation of the upcoming Bread & Butter Berlin tradeshow, English saddlemakers Brooks unveil their new large sized bag dubbed the Hamstead Holdall. The bag features a robust design [...]
Posted 6:28 pm
13 Jan 2011
All of the bag names refer to London, smartypants
Posted 6:30 pm
13 Jan 2011
One of the world’s largest…
Posted 6:32 pm
13 Jan 2011
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampstead
Posted 4:28 pm
14 Jan 2011
[...] Islington has been put together with similar materials to those used for the Hampstead Holdall, which we had a look at earlier in the week. It’s a bona fide big rucksack in terms of volume, [...]
Posted 11:28 am
15 Jan 2011
One of the classiest bags I’ve seen. Well done Brooks! This is going straight onto the wish list.
Posted 3:52 pm
16 Jan 2011
[...] Uploaded with ImageShack.us 'Brendon demonstrates gravity enhancements of the Hampstead' http://blog.brooksengland.com/wps/sa…dal/#more-1648 [...]
Posted 10:43 pm
17 Jan 2011
Why on earth would all the bags refer to London places? Soho is near Brooks Factory (Soho House), Islington rucksack is named after Islington Row in Edgbaston. Saddles are named from Birmingham postcodes e.g. B17 Edgbaston, B66 & B67 Smethwick, B68 Oldbury, B72 Sutton Coldfield etc. Nice try London, hands off Birmingham Brooks!
Posted 6:52 pm
20 Jan 2011
What came first, the B17 or post codes?
Posted 7:00 pm
20 Jan 2011
According to Wiki, postcodes introduced 1959 to 1974, the B17 saddle in the mid 1890′s.
It would be nice to hear from Brooks the story about names and B numbers.
Posted 10:08 pm
20 Jan 2011
Postcodes have been around for centuries in Birmingham, when did London start using them? (joke)
Posted 12:56 am
22 Jan 2011
We will be posting soon about this.. thanks for all the feedback!
Posted 5:34 pm
7 Feb 2011
Great!
… the sunglasses too! (thx Brendon!)
Posted 6:31 pm
7 Feb 2011
How do I buy the Hampstead Holdall in the USA.
Thank you.
David Evans
Posted 8:55 am
8 Feb 2011
You may order the Hampstead from our online shop.