Wilde About Tusting

Tusting and Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde once said that "fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months." He also said that "quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit", which is handy - you might see The Tweed Pig peppered with more quotations than ever from now on.

Why do we bring up the subject of fashion and Oscar Wilde? Well, as you know we're not really interested in trends here at Tweed Towers, we're interested in the classics - creations that stand the test of time. Something like the beautiful Gladstone Tourer bag (above), produced by Tusting of Olney, England, the English leather goods manufacturer. It's based on the original Gladstone bag, forerunner of the modern suitcase, which was designed in the 19th century and named after the British Prime Minister William Gladstone.

A Gladstone Bag?

And the Oscar Wilde theme continues. Tusting developed their version of the Gladstone bag for a film version of Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. The 2002 one with Rupert Everett and Colin Firth, I believe (I'm not checking). It was intended as a one-off piece for the film, but the bag proved so popular that it's been in production ever since.

About Tusting - Made in England

Wonderfully, Tusting is still owned and run by the Tusting family after 140 years. The company started as leather tanners and traders and moved into high quality leather goods manufacturing. A genuine British manufacturer that employs traditional craftsmen who use skills derived from the local Northamptonshire shoemaking industry to work on exceptional leathers.

Tusting goods are most popular in Japan and the USA, where its English leather goods enjoy high renown. They are pushing to increase the domestic market and emerging markets eager for that Made in England label.

The Aston Martin Connection

Yes, that's a vintage Aston Martin next to Tusting's Black Atlantic Gladstone above. Loaned by neighbouring business Desmond Smail in Olney, Buckinghamshire, who restore and sell vintage Aston Martins.

Don't they look well together. And so they might, as Tusting actually makes luggage for Aston Martin. Aston Martin customers can choose from various standard luggage lines, or can have entire sets made in the same leather used in their car. A wonderful connection between British manufacturers. Tusting also collaborates with Range Rover and Jaguar on similar customer requests.

Tweedy's thought: I wonder if Tusting are thinking of producing any cycle accessories? Something to look well on my Pashley.