Meet Michael Santoro - One of America's Premiere Designers "New on Amazon, this line reflects my commitment to making people’s lives better through good design. The objective is to create products that are original, timeless and of exquisite quality that will deliver superior functionality and protection made from materials you can feel good about. This results in a wonderful relationship with a product you’ll be proud to own for years to come. For over 30 years, I have been creating award-winning designs across a broad range of industries for some of the world’s most demanding customers. You may have owned or driven a car I designed, flown in one of my aircraft interiors or seen one of my race cars win a championship on TV. I created the Apple-specific case market and am the godfather of the automotive Easter Egg. " Mr. Santoro’s work and inspiring story have been featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Detroit Free Press, San Diego's North County Times, AutoWeek, Road & Track, Authority Magazine, Automobile, Car and Driver, Adventure Journal, Motor Trend, Motor Authority and Power Nation. Meet Michael Santoro - One of America's Premiere Designers "New on Amazon, this line reflects my commitment to making people’s lives better through good design. The objective is to create products that are original, timeless and of exquisite quality that will deliver superior functionality and protection made from materials you can feel good about. This results in a wonderful relationship with a product you’ll be proud to own for years to come. For over 30 years, I have been creating award-winning designs across a broad range of industries for some of the world’s most demanding customers. You may have owned or driven a car I designed, flown in one of my aircraft interiors or seen one of my race cars win a championship on TV. I created the Apple-specific case market and am the godfather of the automotive Easter Egg. " Mr. Santoro’s work and inspiring story have been featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Detroit Free Press, San Diego's North County Times, AutoWeek, Road & Track, Authority Magazine, Automobile, Car and Driver, Adventure Journal, Motor Trend, Motor Authority and Power Nation. Design Philosphy Timeless Design for Our Time "One of the guiding principals of my career has been to create timeless designs. Of course, this is easier said than done. So many of my competitors' bags and cases are based on designs from the past. They'd look more at home in the 1820s than the 2020s. I always try to innovate with each new model I create. This can be a unique orientation, new proportions, new use of materials, or unique features. Look for these as you learn more about each model." Personally Engaged “With most designer brands, the designer is just a brand name. The designer doesn’t know or even interact with the people actually designing their products. Not so with me. I still personally design each new model, ensure functionality and take part in testing prototypes. Why don’t I just phone it in like so many others? Because I love this. My passion to create timeless and innovative solutions to make your life better can be felt in each piece." Superior Functionality and Protection "A pretty design is not worth much if it doesn't protect the items you carry." Design is more than how something looks. It's also about how something works. One example of how my products differ from the competition is that they offer what I call "Fully Layered Protection". High-density foam padding is placed between the exterior hides and the interior liner, providing superior protection and peace of mind." Ethically Sourced Leather Since 2007 "When I launched my collection over 15 years ago, I insisted on using ethically sourced leather because it was the right thing to do. Our leather is sourced from ex-dairy cows whose hides only become available when the cows pass naturally. They're not a by-product of the beef or other industries. World Class Quality World Class People "All my designs are made very slowly by hand, one at a time, from ethically sourced hides. But the best hides in the world are worthless without talented, passionate people to bring ideas to life. Our master craftspeople possess world-class skills and are emotionally invested in creating the best products possible. This imbues the products with a presence and provides you with an ongoing experience that someone who cared about their craft made your case or bag." World Class Materials "When I launched my collection, I studied the available options. Every choice I made seemed to be the most expensive. Ethical sourcing and vegetable dying costs more. Full and top grain hides cost (much) more. Unlike many competitors, I'm only interested in putting quality products into the world. Whether it's our unfinished full grain, vintage brown or our classic, pebble grain black, they're as tough as they are beautiful." Attention to Detail "I wanted a definitive visual statement of my commitment to quality. You cannot sew with white thread unless every stitch is perfect. Throughout the line, white thread is used on the curved leather panels. Look for this detail. Sewing on a curved panel is exponentially harder to do. It takes time and extreme skill to execute this consistently. The white thread highlights this beautifully. This visual statement of quality is present in every MSD model." Don't Just Carry A Bag, Make a Statement "So many of the messenger bags available here on amazon would look more at home in the 1820s than the 2020s. They're needlessly complicated, visually noisy and a hassle to get your stuff in and out of. My messenger is a clean sheet of paper design with form and function based on how you live your life today. I believe the bag you carry says just as much about you as the clothes you wear. Don't just carry a bag, make a statement." Magnetic Attraction “Many messenger-style bags use an endless series of buckles, straps, clips, and latches that you have to undo to access the interior. That may have been perfectly acceptable when 95% of the population was riding horses. My messenger bag uses an elegant magnetic closure that provides instant access to the under-flap organizer, pockets and interior space. This is functionality for how you live your life today." Room to Spare "This bag is what is known as "soft-sided". Its side panels are flexible and adjust to the items you are carrying. An innovative feature of this bag is the fold-up interior floor. This maximizes this soft-sided design. It allows the side panels to fold in on themselves, creating a more compact bag when you don't need the space. If you do need more room, you fold the floor down, the side panels expand and you have the space you need." In Constant Production Since 2008 "How many of the bags you've looked have been in constant production for over 15 years? This one has. That says lot about a product. The design works well for a lot of people, in a lot of situations, a lot of the time. Many of the original production pieces made in 2008 are still in the field. I know this because I talk to their owners. It's professional enough for any meeting and versatile enough to use as your weekend getaway bag."