• Natural Essex East West Tote
  • Natural Essex East West Tote
  • Natural Essex East West Tote
  • Natural Essex East West Tote
  • Natural Essex East West Tote
  • Natural Essex East West Tote
  • Natural Essex East West Tote
  • Natural Essex East West Tote
  • Natural Essex East West Tote
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Natural Essex East West Tote

The Natural Essex East West Tote is a large leather tote bag handmade in the USA with heirloom-quality craftsmanship and the very best materials. Natural Essex is a soft and squishy vegetable-tanned leather that develops a dramatic patina with wear, produced by the iconic Horween tannery in Chicago. The Natural Essex East West Tote comes standard with Russet handles.
What drop length would you like?
Do you want to customize your tote?
$275.00
$275.00
Free shipping on U.S. orders $50+.
Natural Essex East West Tote
Natural Essex East West Tote
Natural Essex East West Tote
Natural Essex East West Tote
Natural Essex East West Tote
Natural Essex East West Tote
Natural Essex East West Tote
Natural Essex East West Tote
Natural Essex East West Tote

What makes KMM & Co. special?

  • Handmade in the USA

    Leather goods made by skilled hands in our Atlanta, Georgia studio.

  • Heirloom quality

    Full-grain leather and traditional craftsmanship to last a lifetime.

  • Free shipping & returns

    Free shipping on U.S. orders of $50 or more (and free returns, too)!

  • Responsibly sourced

    Full-grain leather that's sourced as a byproduct of the meat industry.

New for Fall! 🍂 Be the first to get an East West tote with a zipper!

Tan Kodiak East West tote
Tan Kodiak East West Tote
$275.00 $300.00
$275.00 $300.00

Things customers love about the KMM & Co. East West tote bag:

1. Gorgeous full-grain leather

Just like KMM & Co.'s classic tote, the East West tote is handmade of full-grain leather. That's the highest quality leather made, and we stock more (and brighter!) colors than just about anyone else.

2. Handles custom-cut for you

There's no single handle length that's right for everybody (or every tote). We make a range of drop lengths so you can get a perfect fit. Each tote handle is cut of belting-weight leather, and has its edges beveled, for decades of comfortable carrying.

3. Indestructible one-piece design

KMM & Co. totes are cut from a single piece of leather, then stitched and riveted the traditional way so they can't come apart. Inferior totes have a seam across the bottom, as well as other shortcuts in design or construction – beware of imitations!

4. Traditional, solid copper rivets

Once the handles go on with traditional copper rivets, they're not budging! We take the extra time to set our rivets smooth side out, so they won't snag even the most delicate cardigan. No shortcuts!

5. Versatile interior organization

The East West tote is thoughtfully designed to keep your essentials close at hand. One side of the tote features an interior pocket, and the other is fitted with a sturdy strap for your sunglasses or keys.

Traditional craftsmanship, modern silhouette: The East West tote combines the very best of time-intensive artisan methods and thoughtful design. The result is a tote that will last a lifetime

Tan Kodiak Tote
$275.00 $300.00
$275.00 $300.00

How the East West tote measures up:

The East West tote is handcrafted with the same heirloom-quality materials and traditional artisan methods as the classic tote, just with a new set of proportions so the bag is wider than it is tall.

• 12 inches in height

• 18 inches in width at the top of the tote

• 16 inches in width at the bottom of the tote

• 5 inches in depth

• Handle drop length: standard 7 inches (our most popular!), or custom 9, 10, or 11 inches

• Optional crossbody strap adjusts between 44 and 51 inches

• 1.5 to 2.5 pounds in weight, depending on leather

"There is no other bag like this one! I cannot express how beautiful and well made this bag is. The color, precision and just perfection of every last detail is amazing. Do yourself a favor and get yourself one. This will last you a lifetime."

– LEAH C., VERIFIED BUYER

Black Kodiak East West Tote
$275.00 $300.00
$275.00 $300.00

English Tan Dublin East West Tote
$275.00 $300.00
$275.00 $300.00

Handmade and made to order

Made to order, just for you

Like every KMM & Co. accessory, the East West tote is handmade and made to order. (No warehouses, no factories, just a small studio in downtown Atlanta!) Each tote takes up to 3 weeks for us to make and ship – but it's worth the wait, we promise!

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.

Easy returns within 30 days

If you aren't happy with your order, you can return or exchange it for free within 30 days of receipt. The only items ineligible for return or exchange are final-sale items and items customized for you. Check out our full returns policy for more details.

How the East West tote gets made

Each bag is handmade in the USA (in our Atlanta studio)! We get started on your tote at the cutting table. That's where we hand-pick the perfect hide of full-grain leather, carefully considering its grain, color, character, markings, and structural integrity.

Next, we stitch the side seams of the bag inside-out, backstitching to lock in and reinforce the seams. We hand-set eight copper rivets inside the tote to form the gusset, and turn it right-side out. Then, we cut your custom handles from belting-weight leather.

Finally, we attach the handles, pocket, and interior strap with more hand-set copper rivets. The handles can't wear out or tear off. Each tote is made to be indestructible, and we'll always repair it in the unlikely event that materials or craftsmanship fail.

Made (and customized) just for you!

Everybody's dream tote looks a little different. We offer a range of custom options so you can the East West tote you've always wanted.

1. Add a brass snap closure

A solid brass snap is the perfect closure for a tote bag: It's built to last through a lifetime of use, it's easy to use one-handed, and it stays out of the way when you don't need it.

2. Choose a crossbody strap

If you like to carry your East West tote as a crossbody, we can make that happen! Add solid brass D-rings and a detachable crossbody strap, or just the D-rings if you already have a strap you love.

3. Pick handle length – and color

Just as you can choose the handle length that's right for you, you can pick your favorite handle color, too! Dream up any color combination, and we'll make it happen.

See more in Natural Essex, a soft and squishy vegetable-tanned leather that develops a dramatic patina with wear, produced by the iconic Horween tannery in Chicago.

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★★★★★
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★★★★★

Ask away! FAQs about the East West tote

How much does a KMM & Co. East West tote hold?

Like our classic tote, the East West tote is a great bag for work, school, the weekend, and beyond. This style can comfortably fit a large laptop, files, multiple books or notebooks, snacks, a water bottle, keys – just about anything you carry everyday.
Which handle length will be most comfortable for me?

The drop length that's best for you depends on personal preference and body type. We recommend measuring the handles on a bag you already own (and messaging us!) if you're unsure. 7-inch handles are the most popular, followed by 10-inch handles.
What does "East West" actually mean?

An "East West" tote is a bag that's wider than it is tall. The opposite would be a "North South" tote," though that term is a lot less popular in discussions of leather tote proportions. (We're not sure why: We don't make the rules, but we do make the totes!)
Which color or leather should I choose?

We love every color in our collection, but after making thousands of totes, we're partial to Kodiak and Cypress leathers. For each color we introduce, we reject hundreds of other colors and tannages: KMM & Co. leathers are truly the best of the best.
What 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.

More questions? Send us a message and we'll get back to you ASAP!

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