Dunhill, the men’s luxury brand founded in 1887, operates a factory in Walthamstow, London where its wallets and bags are still made by hand
Bourdon House, a gentleman’s hideaway just north of Berkeley Square in London, is often described as the spiritual home of the British leather goods company, Alfred Dunhill. But you can make a case for the brand’s Walthamstow workshop at 32 St Andrews St, a 30-minute drive north, where custom- built briefcases, handbags and wallets have been assembled since 1936.
Alfred Dunhill began his career in 1887 as an apprentice in his family’s London business. He then became obsessed with car racing and started making highquality accessories for the age of the automobile. Not much has changed, although now it is US$1,090 ($1,487) Cadogan briefcases, US$1,650 Boston backpacks and US$5,400 Duke holdalls. It takes, on average, 30 hours to complete one piece.
