As any fule no…I follow various US based blogs about clothes and accessories several of which have among their links US based manufacturers of sports bags. It occurred to me that some of the best known makers were in fact UK based – Brady, Hardy and Cordings are famous names the world over – but my favourite maker is the Carlisle based John Chapman.

Chapman may well be the maker of all the other brands, I can’t confirm and he’s not letting on but certainly he’s produced bags for UK fashion houses in the recent past.

Most of his bags feature sturdy construction in multi-layered cotton canvas of the highest quality and purity, fabrics made by bonding two layers of pure cotton drill with a natural rubber core. All have brass and heavy saddle leather fittings and double sewn zips. Straps are in military grade cotton webbing.
Website here http://www.chapmanbags.com/ChapmanBagsSite/pages/home/default.asp