Brookes & Hyde Archives - BestLeather.org

October 2, 2017December 19, 2017

Brookes & Hyde Money Clip Review – $110

Today we’re going to look at another great product from Brookes & Hyde. This Money Clip is made with soft Horween leather and gives those who carry cash a great, minimal option in high-end wallets.

About Brookes & Hyde

It’s been my pleasure to get to know Connor Sambrookes, owner and founder of Brookes & Hyde, over the last year or so and several reviews. Connor started Brookes & Hyde as a senior thesis project. Hoping to design shoes, he began work for a company designing products for some of the biggest names out there. It was at this job the opportunity to apprentice under a highly experienced leather craftsman came about, leading to creating his own products and founding the company. Brookes & Hyde has grown quite a bit since we began working with them. The company continues as a one man show out of Cincinnati, Ohio, recently winning an audience choice award at a local ArtWork’s Big Pitch competition!

Leather & Construction

This money clip is made with Horween Plush. This is a very soft leather that feels great in your hand. The largest main pocket is lined with the same. Edges are carefully painted and stitching is uniform. On the back, the money clip utilizes a nice and strong magnet stitched into the leather.

Brookes & Hyde has always impressed me with the caliber of their construction, and this money clip is no exception. As you hold this wallet in your hand it’s hard to deny the luxury feel.

Function

This is definitely a minimalist wallet. The leather is very thin, resulting in a forget-it’s-there thin profile. I’d place card capacity at about five, three in the main compartment and one in each front pocket. Any more cards and it gets difficult to get them in and out, since they’re so tightly held together. The leather is also soft, however, and could be stretched to fit more. So stretchy, in fact, that it’s wise to face your credit card in the outermost pocket in, lest the card numbers become visible through the leather on the outside!

The money clip is definitely the trait that should make the decision on this wallet. The magnet is nice and strong. I experimented to find roughly what the capacity of the clip is. Ten bills, laid flat, aren’t going anywhere. If I fold those same ten bills once for twenty layers, it took some pretty serious turbulence to make them slip. Folded into thirds, for thirty layers, the bills held in rest, but easily fell out when disturbed. American bills push right up against the edges of the wallet size-wise when folded in half.

If you only need a small handful of cards but like to carry a decent amount of cash, this should be a good choice for you.

Aesthetic

The Horween Plush leather is both soft and beautiful. The texture is smooth, having just the right amount of sheen. At the same time, from a distance, this is a very conservative and simple wallet. I’m a fan of these sorts of understated products, the ones that are truly appreciated only upon careful inspection.

Conclusion

Pros: Minimal profile, soft and gorgeous leather, understated look, strong/high capacity money clip magnet, quality construction.

Cons: Low effective card capacity, not ideal for rugged use.

In conclusion, the Brookes & Hyde Money Clip Wallet is a luxurious and minimal wallet favoring the cash holders out there. Assembly is expertly done with details in mind and the Horween Plush looks and feels fantastic. While you’ll pay somewhat of a premium for these features, the price does roughly match up with what we’d expect from these levels of materials and craftsmanship. If you like to carry plenty of bills yet want a minimal wallet with a gorgeous understated design, this offering from Brookes & Hyde is for you.

June 16, 2017December 19, 2017

Brookes & Hyde Brown Ale Dress Belt Review – $160

We’ve enjoyed reviewing a good handful of belts recently, but this is our first dress belt of the year. In fact, it’s somewhat rare for quality leather product companies to make them! Which makes our look at the Brookes & Hyde Brown Ale Dress Belt all the more exciting. This belt is well made and looks fantastic with a suit.

About Brookes & Hyde

It’s been my pleasure to get to know Connor Sambrookes, owner and founder of Brookes & Hyde, over the last year or so. Connor started Brookes & Hyde as a senior thesis project. Hoping to design shoes, he began work for a company designing products for some of the biggest names out there. It was at this job the opportunity to apprentice under a highly experienced leather craftsman came about, leading to creating his own products and founding the company. Brookes & Hyde has grown quite a bit since we began working with them. The company continues as a one man show out of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Leather & Construction

Brookes & Hyde’s Dress Belt is made with Horween leather, Essex on the outer and filled with Snuffed Suede. Essex leather uses the same tanning extracts as the famous Horween Shell Cordovan, and is perfect for a dress belt. It’s strong, has a great feel to it, and will age beautifully.

The buckle is nickel plated cast zinc and looks fantastic. While a buckle attached with rivets or chicago screws would be stronger, I think stitching works better for this belt. Firstly, stitching fits much better aesthetically for a dress belt. In addition, a dress belt likely won’t take too much abuse, and this quality stitching will hold up well.

Stitching is done by machine with bonded nylon thread, and follows the entire edge of the belt to hold in fill and reduce stretch. It’s very uniform and strong. Impressively, all edges of the belt are burnished and painted–even the buckle pin holes! This is a level of attention to detail we don’t see too often.

Overall construction is immaculate. Some aspects are done with class in mind rather than pure strength, but that fits the bill for a dress belt.

Function

I’ve said it before and will say it again: a belt is functionally very simple. This belt, like many others before it, holds up your pants. Brookes & Hyde’s Dress Belt is made very well, and is a pleasure to use. The careful burnishing and painting of the edges and overall uniform construction make it easy to slip this belt through your belt loops and tighten.

My belt size has the bad habit of being right between standard sizes, but this does give me the opportunity to note if it’s best to size up or down with belts. I ended up getting a belt a size down. This worked out, as the belt felt a bit small at first, but a little use proved to stretch the size just a tad to make it just right. Brookes & Hyde will help you find the right size for you.

Aesthetic

It’s critical for a dress belt to look great, and Brookes & Hyde doesn’t disappoint! The Horween Essex has a beautiful color and grain. The nickel plated buckle has a chrome-shine finish. The clean stitching and painted edges bring the materials together in a classy, high-fashion way.

I typically pair my Brown Ale colored belt with a grey suit, matched with my shoes. I think it would go equally well with a navy suit. This belt is a real stunner and will shine amongst all the standard belts most men pair with their suits.

Conclusion

The Brookes & Hyde Brown Ale Dress Belt strikes a great balance of sturdy construction while not forgetting the importance of a classy, great looking dress belt. The materials are high quality and carefully put together. Attention to detail enhances the formality of the look and makes the belt a pleasure to use. This isn’t a cheap belt, but you’re not likely to see this level of attention to detail at a much cheaper price point. I highly recommend this belt for anyone hoping to enhance their dress look with a belt made of high-end leathers.

April 4, 2017December 19, 2017

Brookes & Hyde Chocolate Porter Dopp Kit – $200

The dopp kit (sometimes known more simply as a toiletry bag) is a simple but crucial accessory for any traveler. The Brookes & Hyde Chocolate Porter Dopp Kitt maintains this simple functionality, but enhances use with high end materials and a refined look.

About Brookes & Hyde

While Brookes & Hyde has grown since we reviewed their sunglasses case, the company continues as a one man show out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Connor Sambrookes started Brookes & Hyde as a senior thesis project. Hoping to design shoes, he began work for a company designing products for some of the biggest names out there. It was at this job the opportunity to apprentice under a highly experienced leather craftsman came about, leading to creating his own products and founding the company.

Construction

This dopp kit is assembled very well. Leather is cut and stitched by machine for precision. Most seams are turned inward or double stitched, enhancing durability. You may not think a dopp kit would need to be especially sturdy, but it goes through quite a bit: tossed into and pulled out of bags often during travel, opened and closed frequently, and usually in danger of getting wet. Brookes & Hyde’s dopp is made to endure these abuses.

The leather selection for the dopp is spot on: Horween Plush. This is a chrome tanned leather (read: water resistance) that has been fully vegetable re-tanned. You’re getting the best of both worlds. The leather is milled with waxes, which makes it more water resistant and adds sheen and softness. The main compartment is lined with black canvas.

While it may not take the kind of abuse we need an EDC bag to endure, the kit is built well and suited to its use. Plush leather is great to feel, use, and look at, and has endured well so far.

Function

As I mentioned, a dopp kit isn’t a complex product. This one features a large main compartment, a small external pocket (this might be used for letting your toothbrush air out while on the counter during a trip), and a handle on the end for carrying from bag to bathroom. The RiRi zipper is very smooth. There is a thin rigid material between the canvas and leather on the base, giving a bit of structure, but the kit is otherwise soft and easily flattened. Water initially rolls off the leather, though will absorb if left sitting.

The kit is large enough to hold all of my admittedly simple toiletries with plenty of room to spare. I do enjoy the external pocket, but do wish there was small internal pockets for organizing especially small toiletries.

This dopp kit will keep your items completely private, but this does mean some added effort at the TSA terminals.

Aesthetic

This might be my favorite part of this product: it looks incredible sitting on your counter. As with many high end items, you’re buying both a product and an experience. I’m used to using a simple translucent plastic toiletry bag, so this was a huge upgrade. The Plush leather looks soft and begs you to handle it, but also has a nice shine. The grain is visible in a subtle way. The zipper is a solid contrasting silver. It’s the type of product that makes you smile when you know you get to use it.

My dopp kit here is the “Chocolate Porter” color, which typically looks a very true brown. However, as you can see in the photos, the lighting can change this a bit–you might say it ranges from milk to dark chocolate!

Conclusion

The Brookes & Hyde Chocolate Porter Dopp Kitt is an excellent, high end toiletry bag that is made well for its intended purpose. It’s a pleasure to use. The price point is on the high end, but both the leather and zipper are high end materials and construction leaves little to be desired. I recommend this product for those who want to enhance their travel experience with a dopp kitt that is both homey and luxurious.

June 25, 2016December 19, 2017

Brookes & Hyde Burnt Amber Sunglass Case Review – $70

We’ve reviewed a lot of great and varied leather products here at BestLeather, but, somewhat surprisingly, this is the first sunglass case we’ve ever seen! Brookes and Hyde’s Burnt Amber Sunglass Case is a great first entry into this category, made with a gorgeous Horween Bandit pull up leather and utilizing a unique wrap-around closure design.

ABOUT

Connor Sambrookes started Brookes & Hyde as a senior thesis project. Hoping to design shoes, he began work for a company designing products for some of the biggest names out there. It was at this job the opportunity to apprentice under a highly experienced leather craftsman came about, leading to creating his own products and founding the company.

Today Brookes and Hyde continues as a one man show with big aspirations. Each product is handmade and has a personal touch reflective of its artisan: colors are named for favorite craft beers, and “Cincinnati, Ohio” is stamped on each item in homage to its origin. By sticking to the principles and passions that built the foundation, Brookes & Hyde intends to become a well known name in the industry.

CONSTRUCTION

The entire case is made with reasonably thick but very soft Horween Bandit leather, with brass closure studs (leather and studs are offered in various colors). Edges are machine sewn with bonded nylon thread, and are given a high-gloss, painted finish.

The inner leather is unfinished, with a soft suede-like feel. No rigid structure is used, but the pocket is folded and sewn such that a space is created for sunglasses.

Construction is overall top-notch, with no noticeable irregularities. This case should last a lifetime.

FUNCTION

This sunglass case is both a pleasure to use and a great way to add some protection to your favorite pair of sunglasses.

I’m a huge fan of the wraparound closure design. I’ve never been a big fan of snap closures on most sunglass cases (mostly because they often end up tearing the cheap faux leather the case is made with), so the stud closure is a refreshing new take. Pulling the case open and even closing it is done easily with one hand with no strain on the leather.

The obvious tradeoff with this case is that there isn’t a rigid structure inside, so there’s somewhat minimal crush protection. The upside is that the case remains soft to the touch and pliable, fitting in smaller spaces, and provides all the scratch and drop protection you could need.

This sunglass case should fit most styles of sunglasses easily. It’s a bit roomy for my Wayfarers, but I’ve never worried they’ll fall out. Also, while certainly unintended, I’ve even found this sunglass case to be a great protection for my iPhone 6s, in a pinch!

AESTHETIC

Brookes & Hyde’s Sunglass Case definitely travels in style. The Bandit leather has some absolutely stunning distressing right from the start, and since it’s a pull up leather, you can quite literally customize the look to your liking. I gently crinkled my case in my hand when I got it to create some killer distress lines around the edges. If you don’t like the changed colors, create a bit of friction by rubbing the leather with your thumb, and the original brown color returns.

The overall aesthetic has a rugged feel, with the distressing adding an asymmetric and irregular beauty.

CONCLUSION

My sunglasses have enjoyed the protection of the Brookes & Hyde Burnt Amber Sunglass Case, and I’ve enjoyed using it. The pull-up leather is beautiful, and the wraparound design is refreshingly unique and easier to use than standard snap designs. I highly recommend this case as a Buy It For Life product.

Be sure to swing by Brooke’s & Hyde’s shop and check out the Burnt Amber Sunglass Case and their other great leather goods.