Introducing the Hill and Hide Waxed Canvas Tote
There is something particularly appealing about materials that become better through use.
That philosophy has always been at the heart of Hill and Hide. It is one of the reasons we work with traditional leather, and it is also what drew us to waxed canvas.
Our latest tote brings the two together: substantial British waxed canvas, Sedgwick English bridle leather and a thoughtfully finished cotton interior, all made into a practical everyday bag here in England.
Why Waxed Canvas?
For this tote, we chose 18oz waxed canvas from Halley Stevensons, a British manufacturer with a history of producing performance fabrics dating back to the nineteenth century.
Waxed canvas has a character that is difficult to replicate with modern synthetic fabrics.
It feels substantial in the hand, offers useful resistance to the elements and, importantly for us, doesn’t need to remain pristine to look good.
Creases and subtle variations gradually appear as the fabric is folded, handled and used. Rather than detracting from the bag, these marks become part of it.
Much like leather, waxed canvas tells the story of where it has been.
British Canvas Meets English Bridle Leather
The handles are made from Australian Nut Sedgwick English bridle leather.
Bridle leather has been at the heart of Hill and Hide from the beginning. Traditionally associated with saddlery and equestrian work, its strength and beautiful finish make it an ideal material for handles that will be used day after day.
The rich brown of Australian Nut also provides a natural contrast against the waxed canvas.
Bringing these materials together allows us to retain the leather craftsmanship that defines Hill and Hide while exploring a different style of bag.
Olive or Navy
The tote is available in two distinctly different colours.
Olive has a traditional outdoor character that feels particularly at home alongside the warm tones of the bridle leather.
Navy offers a darker, understated alternative. Depending on the light, the deep navy canvas can appear almost black, giving the bag a slightly smarter appearance while retaining the texture and character of waxed canvas.
The construction remains the same, but the two colours give the tote noticeably different personalities.
Thoughtfully Finished Inside
The same attention continues inside the bag.
A cotton drill lining gives the interior a softer, more refined finish, while two spacious pockets help organise the smaller things that otherwise disappear to the bottom of a tote.
You’ll also find Hill and Hide leather branding both outside and inside the bag—a small detail, but one that reflects the care taken throughout its construction.
Made for Everyday Use
We wanted this tote to be genuinely useful.
At approximately 45.5cm wide, 35cm high and 19cm deep, there is plenty of room for the things carried through everyday life, whether that’s shopping, work essentials, an extra layer or everything needed for a day out.
The leather handles have a drop of approximately 20cm, allowing the bag to be carried comfortably by hand or over the shoulder.
It isn’t intended to be delicate.
It’s a bag designed to be filled, carried, marked and used.
Materials That Tell Their Own Story
Perhaps the thing we like most about this combination is how it will change.
The waxed canvas will crease and develop character. The English bridle leather handles will soften subtly and develop their own patina. Over time, a bag that began life alongside another identical tote will become unmistakably its owner’s.
We don’t see that ageing as something to prevent.
It’s part of the appeal.
Made in England
Each Hill and Hide Waxed Canvas Tote is made in England in small quantities, with careful attention given to the materials and details that make the finished bag.
It represents a new direction for Hill and Hide, but one that remains firmly connected to where we started.
Quality leather.
Exceptional materials.
Practical designs.
And products intended to be kept for years rather than seasons.
Click to view our bag collection