What makes KMM & Co. special?
Things to love about the KMM & Co. Backpack:
1. Gorgeous full-grain leather
Our backpack, like every bag in the KMM & Co. collection, is handmade in the USA of full-grain leather. That's the highest quality leather made, and we stock more (and brighter!) colors than just about anyone else. The backpack is also available in some of our favorite leathers from Horween, a beloved family-owned tannery in Chicago.
2. Custom canvas and leather options
To make the work bag you've always wanted, we designed the backpack as a special-order bag that you can customize just the way you like. You can pick your favorite color of canvas or select a leather from our Kodiak or Cypress tannages or our collection of leathers produced by the Horween tannery in Chicago. Then, you can pick the leather you want for the bag's adjustable and detachable shoulder strap and its pad, plus the bag's trim — details like the strap that buckles the bag closed and the keepers at the top corners of the bag. You can either have these pieces made with two layers of the same leather as the body of the bag (so they're soft and cushioned) or out of one of our beloved belt-weight leathers. If you choose belt-weight leather, you can pick from more than a dozen options to find a color that suits you best: one to match, coordinate, or contrast with the body of the bag.
3. Vintage-inspired style, modern utility
During the long and painstaking process of designing and field-testing our backpack, we kept the focus on comfort and function. We updated the familiar backpack silhouette with an exterior pocket and very adjustable straps so that everybody can find their perfect fit.
4. Traditional, solid copper rivets
A beautiful but functional detail on the backpack is its traditional copper rivets. Once these rivets are set, they aren't going anywhere! We take the extra time to set our rivets smooth side out, so they won't snag even the most delicate sweater. No shortcuts!
5. Versatile interior (and exterior) organization
The KMM & Co. backpack is thoughtfully designed to accommodate whatever you need to carry every day. The full leather version features two pockets on the front of the bag. One with a sturdy brass zipper, and one hidden.
How the backpack measures up:
It's not the perfect bag without gorgeous full-grain leather, traditional made-in-America craftsmanship, and a design with the perfect size and proportions. Fortunately, the KMM & Co. backpack has all of those things going for it:
• 10.5 inches in height
• 13 inches in width at the top of the bag
• 4 inches in depth
• Adjustable shoulder straps
• 1.5 to 2.5 pounds in weight, depending on leather
Handmade and made to order
Made to order, just for you
Like every KMM & Co. accessory, the backpack is handmade and made to order right here in the USA. (No warehouses, no factories, just a small studio in downtown Atlanta!) Each backpack takes up to 4 weeks for us to make and ship – but it's worth the wait, we promise!
A truly custom, one-of-a-kind bag
Using the custom options above, you can build the amazing backpack you've always wanted. This is a special order bag that we'll make just for you, and we'll get to work on cutting and assembling yours right away. Please note that because they're fully custom, backpacks are final sale and ineligible for return or exchange.
Free shipping on U.S. orders $50+
All orders totaling $50 or more ship free within the United States! We also ship overseas, and to APO/ FPO addresses, too. All packages ship via USPS and go to our local Atlanta post office within 24 hours of your shipping confirmation email.
How the backpack gets made
Each bag is handmade in the USA (at the KMM & Co studio in Atlanta)! It all starts at the cutting table, where we cut each of the many pieces of your bag by hand. We hand-pick the perfect hide of leather, considering its color, grain, character, markings, and structure.
Next the bag goes to one of our sewing stations, where we complete the topstitching of the bag, using thread that's matched to the color of the leather or canvas, to create beautiful details like the hemmed top and the exterior pocket. We then assemble the bag and stitch it, inside-out.
Next, we attach the flap of the backpack using coordinating stitching and a handful — quite literally — of traditional copper rivets. Every rivet is set by hand, just like it's always been done. And we set our rivets with the smooth side out for a clean look and snag-free carrying.
Finally, we add the shoulder straps. For the straps, we either assemble each piece using two layers of the same leather as the body of the bag (plus matching thread) to perfectly coordinate with the other pieces of the bag, or we meticulously make these pieces from the coordinating or contrasting belt-weight leather of your choice.
Each backpack is made to be indestructible, and for the entire life of the bag, we'll gladly repair it in the unlikely event that something goes wrong with the materials or craftsmanship.
Completely custom-made, just for you!
Everybody's ideal backpack looks a little different. We made ours a special-order bag so you can design yours just the way you want it. Here's how the process works.
1. Choose your favorite canvas color or leather
Whether you prefer our Cypress or Kodiak tannages, or a leather from our Horween collection, you can order the KMM & Co. backpack in a wide range of leathers that fit your lifestyle — and colors that make your heart skip a beat. You can't go wrong with our heavyweight canvas colors, either!
2. Pick your trim leather
We offer two strap and trim options for the backpack. One is our classic belt-weight leather, which feels sturdy and robust (but gets softer with wear!). The other is a two-ply stitched option that matches the body of the bag and feels luxurious and extra comfortable. We love them both and didn't want to choose between them — so the choice is up to you!
3. Sit back and wait for the best mail day ever
Once you've made your choices and placed your order, you can put your feet up and relax while we get to work making your new favorite bag. It'll be handmade and made to order just for you — and then shipped from our Atlanta studio to your door.
Want to see more special order bags? Right this way!
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Leather BackpackLeather Backpack
- Regular price
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$450.00 $600.00 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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$450.00 $600.00
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Canvas and Leather BackpackCanvas and Leather Backpack
- Regular price
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$350.00 $500.00 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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$350.00 $500.00
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Custom Canvas East West Panel ToteCustom Canvas East West Panel Tote
- Regular price
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$250.00 $350.00 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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$250.00 $350.00
Ask away! FAQs about the leather backpack
How much does a KMM & Co. backpack hold?
The backpack is an incredible bag for work, school, the weekend, and beyond. It can comfortably fit a 13-inch MacBook Pro, a tablet, files, books, a notebook, snacks, a water bottle, more snacks — just about anything you carry everyday. Even if that's a lot of stuff.
Should I choose Cypress, Kodiak, or a Horween leather?
While we love every leather in the KMM & Co. collection, Cypress and Kodiak are two of our favorite tannages, and Horween is one of our most beloved tanneries! Kodiak is an oil-tanned leather that's a great choice if you prefer a leather with pull-up (the tendency to lighten in areas of wear of stress). Cypress has a slouchier temper and a more pronounced pebbled grain than Kodiak. Both are soft and comfortable to carry, and they wear in beautifully with age and use. Horween's Dublin, Chromexcel, and Essex are all iconic leathers that we rotate in and out of stock, as inventory allows. They're more structured than either Kodiak or Cypress, and they're the perfect choice if you want a bag that's 100% made in the USA, since Horween is a family-owned tannery in Chicago.
What kind of markings should I expect with full-grain leather?
Full-grain leather retains all of its original grain and character, including any imperfections. You might see range marks, grain variations, small spots or scratches, folds, or color variation. They're all a beautiful part of the leather's natural character.
How is a KMM & Co. bag different from other made-in-the-USA options?
At KMM & Co., we put thoughtful design and heirloom-quality craftsmanship first. Each design undergoes months of field-testing and fine-tuning. We spend years working with tanneries to bring you the very best of full-grain leather. And we train our staff in slow, traditional methods of craftsmanship. Too many bags are made by people who don't really carry one regularly. Ours are made by people who carry backpacks and totes everyday — and want yours to last a lifetime.