Artifact Bag Co. Campus Tote

Made of 14-ounce cotton duck canvas, the Campus Tote by Artifact Bag Co. makes an excellent companion in the park, at the grocery store, on the beach, and—as its name suggests—on campus. In addition to the main compartment, the company’s best-selling bag features two side pockets for water bottles and a front pocket for a tablet or notebook. Made of natural vegetable-tanned leather from Hermann Oak Leather in Missouri, the handles are secured with eight steel rivets. Long enough to be slung over the shoulder, they can also be carried in hand. The bag is finished with mil-spec nylon thread for added durability—a durability that Artifact Bag Co. backs with a lifetime warranty.

It all began in a basement in Omaha: one man and the vintage sewing machine he found on Craigslist. Now, 6 years later, a bona fide leathersmith has emerged, filling orders—and earning media attention—across the globe. The man: Chris Hughes. His company: Artifact Bag Co. Hughes has hired a few extra hands to help out around the workshop, but everything is still made in-house, by hand, from materials he’s deemed worthy of the lifetime warranty that comes with every product.