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My iPad is cooler than I am - Review of the Platforma iPad Messenger Bag from Strotter

Platforma iPad Messenger Bag

I was hanging out at our local sports bar the other day with a few friends, as you do. I'd had a few pints and when a couple of biker enthusiasts came in, shrugging off their leather jackets, my inside voice became my outside voice and I exclaimed "I could totally be a bad ass biker gal!"

All my friends looked at me...they all know a Vespa Scooter is really more my speed.

"You mean like Pinky Tuscadero?"

"No. I was thinking more like .. what's her name? The GoDaddy girl?"

"You mean Danica Patrick? Well, she IS bad ass, but she's a race car driver not a motorcycle rider."

Aaaaand that's why I belong on a Vespa.

I may only be able to dream of being a bad ass…but at least now my iPad can live that dream, thanks to the Platforma iPad Messenger Bag from Strotter. Strotter is a new bag design company and they have got something really special going on for iPads. They sent me over a review copy of two of their cases. First, I checked out the Platforma.

The Platforma is a vertical messenger bag designed specifically for the iPad. You can wear it across the body or, with a little reconfiguring, across the shoulders like a backpack. Its exterior features a mix of sexy black pebbled leather and black nylon, solid seams, high end hardware and a sleek silhouette that can flatter any bad ass's figure. The bag fastens shut with magnets, which makes it fuss-free to get into - handy when you're on the road.

Of course, the truly unique aspect of the Platforma is that with a few quick manoeuvres, it can act like a portable desk, leaving both your hands free to actually type or play games on your iPad. The iPad doesn't just rest precariously on the bag - you put your iPad in the Platforma's special Apple Smart Case compatible case and then snap that onto the back of the bag, where it's held in place by very strong magnets. I think this is ingenious, really - you can use it standing up, sitting down, or leaning against your Harley outside the diner, waiting for Pinky to get off work. In the video below, Serge (the founder of Strotter and designer of the Platforma) demos its very cool functionality.

The Platforma's front flap features two slim zippered areas, for things you want to keep secure and get to quickly. Under the front flap, there are two more slim zippered areas, a good size for notebooks or perhaps a magazine. The bag's red interior section brings a welcome splash of colour, plus makes it easy to see what you're carrying. The interior of the bag is divided into two parts - a slot for your iPad and a wider slot for whatever else you're carrying. I try not to cram my bags too full and the Platforma's sleek design helps out in that area - there's room for your iPad and some essentials (wallet, phone, snacks, etc.) but you're not putting your gym shoes in there. Bikers know how to travel light.

The only thing I didn't find easy about the Platforma was reconfiguring the strap. At one point, I was simply trying to lengthen the strap and somehow managed to remove all the hardware from it instead - I didn't find it quite as intuitive as Serge does in the video. Note: there is a crazy sexy video of the Platforma on Strotter's homepage that you can check out as well - it might explain my Pinky Tuscadero association in addition to showcasing some great closeups of the bag and how the functionality works.

I may never actually hit the open road, wind in my hair, iPad strapped to my back - but now I could if I WANTED TO. The Platforma is compact, smart and stylish as hell - a must have for the bad ass geek in all of us.

Find out more about the Strotter Platforma on their website. The Platforma retails for $169 USD.

Photo Credit: All photos mine except for the lead image - that's sexy Serge  from the Platforma site! Yowza!

Get your city chic on with the AVA urban laptop backpack from Ice Red

Oh, winter. In theory, a beautiful season with a crisp clean blanket of snow, sunny skies, and friendly smiles from pedestrians and drivers alike. The reality, especially in downtown Vancouver, is wet slushy streets, constant drizzle and pre-occupied drivers and pedestrians just trying to get where they are going. Plus, there is only like, what, 8 hours of daylight? This is why cycling in the winter isn't my cup of tea. But then Alan from Ice Red Bags sent over his new laptop backpack, the AVA - designed for urban dwellers like me. And I thought, hmm .. maybe this could improve my commute.

The first thing you notice about the AVA from Ice Red is the bright colour palette. Alan sent me the yellow - and it is BRIGHT. Just the thing for early morning cycling commutes - it wakes you up AND helps you be seen by drivers, pedestrians and fellow cyclists. I also appreciate its slim silhouette. I'm often tempted to take more stuff than I need with me. The AVA encourages me to keep it tight - no lugging around my Game of Thrones novels.

The interior of the AVA has a padded laptop sleeve which holds my MacBook Pro 15". I can also fit my power cord, a notebook, a magazine and some files. The interior side opposite the laptop sleeve has slots for pens and various electronic gadgets. Oh, and there is one of those handy dandy key chain clips, so I don't have to go digging through the back for my office keys.

The AVA is a vertically-oriented bag which I like very much. There are two straps on the back which can be configured in a few different ways: traditional backpack, cross-body plus waist strap or simply cross-body (best when you're walking). The hardware on the straps is high quality and good looking. But here is another reason to not stuff your AVA full - the straps are not padded. So, in the winter, when you're wearing a coat, you don't notice as much - but in summer, if you overload the bag, you will notice the straps pulling a bit.

There are two pockets on the outside of the AVA. On the front, there is a deep non-zippered pocket. It is perfect for my ereader - not so much when I'm cycling but when I'm on transit. I don't have to dig around for my book - it's super easy to get to. My favourite pocket is the one on the back of the AVA - a clever zippered little side pocket where I can stow my mobile phone that I can reach if I need to when I'm on my bike. So handy!!

I think the AVA is a good choice if you are a light-packing commuter (or have a new year's resolution to reduce your bag clutter!) And if you're not into the sunny yellow, the AVA also comes in a royal blue, bright red and chic black. The AVA retails for $70 USD and is available via Ice Red's website.

Recharge with an Eco-Chic Tablet-Sized Bag: The Jen Powered Crossbody from Urban Junket

Urban Junket's new bag for tablets (in indigo)

I haven't had an Urban Junket bag in my hands since I reviewed the Urban Junket Laptop T.O.T.E. three years ago. I LOVED the T.O.T.E. - love the materials it was made from, loved the bold magenta colour and I loved how many organizational options it offered. After my glowing review, I wanted to keep it - but I get a lot of laptop bags and I reluctantly ended up gifting it to a friend. "As least she lives close by," I thought "so maybe the T.O.T.E. and I will still get to visit!" And then she moved to Newfoundland. HA ha! I was bereft.

So when Tracy from Urban Junket asked if I'd like to review the new Jen Powered Crossbody Rechargeable Bag, I jumped at the chance to get another one of these sporty chic bags. This time, I got it in violet. So pretty!

The Jen Powered Crossbody is part of Urban Junket's new PowerTrips Rechargeable Bags line. It's a tablet-sized bag, perfect for your iPad or…whatever other tablets there are. The interior lining of the bag is made from Urban Junket's signature "bottles to bags" material - each Jen bag is made with 36 reclaimed plastic bottles, which makes the bags chic AND eco-friendly. Like the T.O.T.E., the exterior fabric (coated 100% cotton canvas) is water resistant, which makes it less stressful to travel with here in rainy Vancouver.

For smaller bags like this, I prefer the messenger style and the adjustable crossbody strap on the Jen fit my larger frame nicely. The front of the bag has a separate zippered pocket, for things you might need to access quickly - bus pass, smartphone, etc. - and it also has a handy slot for pens or my ever-present lip gloss.

Next is the second exterior zippered pocket which runs the width of the bag. This pocket contains a pouch for your smartphone and also a slit that allows you sneak a cord through and charge whatever's in that front pocket. Plenty of space up front here - enough room for your wallet, e-Reader or paperback for that morning commute.

While we're chatting exterior pockets, there's also a small pocket at the back, which could offer quick access to keys, etc. This back pocket is open, however, so if your bag gets turned upside down (or is stored in an overhead bin), you might lose whatever's in there.



The main compartment of the Jen has another two smartphone sized pouches (one open, one velcroed) and a large removable clutch with a business card holder in front. You can use the clutch as a bag for your gear or, if you don't have a lot of gear, for snacks! Yay snacks! The main compartment always has the velcroed pouch that holds the battery pack.

And now for the main event of this bag - the battery pack that allows you to recharge your devices on the go. I like the idea of having a way to recharge my phone, iPad or e-Reader while I'm out and about - it would be great for travel, or for keeping your phone charged during a power outages (like the ones we've been seeing lately in these crazy fall storms). Apparently, the battery pack is also TSA friendly and doesn't need to be removed from the bag when you're going through security.

The battery pack is actually really easy to use. It comes with an accompanying micro USB to USB cord, which is a must for those of us whose devices don't use a micro USB to charge (like my iPhone). You plug the micro USB in to the battery pack to charge it - it was very quick to get fully charged. You don't have to take the battery pack out of the bag to charge if you don't want to.



Once the battery pack was charged, I had a dilemma - what to charge first? I could have charged my iPhone (the "out" on the battery pack is a standard USB) but I decided to try recharging my e-Reader instead, to see how long it would take. My e-Reader was fully out of battery and generally takes a very long time to recharge. I plugged it in to the battery pack at 10:00 a.m. and an hour and forty five minutes later, it was fully charged. Not bad for the Kobo! The battery also full recharged my half-charge iPhone very quickly and looks to still have some juice left. Pretty cool.

As with all Urban Junket bags, the Jen also features super sturdy construction and great hardware. It's pretty lightweight, even with the battery pack - and the battery pack can be removed if you prefer. Fantastic, functional design, eco-friendly materials, rich, bright colours and a great way to keep your electronics charged on the go - the Jen Powered Crossbody is pretty rad.

I learned my lesson with the first Urban Junket bag - this one will not be leaving my house unless it's with me. You can get your own Urban Junket PowerTrip bag at urbanjunket.com - the Jen retails for $228 USD.

The Dallas iPad Easel Case - High Fashion Meets Function

"Treat Yo Self" with the Dallas iPad Case

I love my iPad. And I'm pretty sure everyone who has one loves theirs too. So here's what I don't get: why, when Apple designed the "smart cover" did they just make it for the front? I want to protect the back of my iPad too! Especially if my iPad is engraved. So that's why I'm a big fan of any case that protects the back and front of my precious tablet. And if it can do it in blinged-out faux glittery snakeskin? Bonus points.

Enter the Dallas iPad Easel case. The good folks at Kolobags sent over the Dallas as an example of the cases they carry. It is quite fancy on the outside (I wasn't kidding about the glittery faux snakeskin); the Dallas case comes in other high end faux materials: leopard, snow leopard (I'm sensing Apple fan boys), metallic tiger and, well, plain black leather (for the Audrey Hepburn in you).

One of my fav things about the Dallas is that it is small and streamlined - like the iPad itself. I've used some other cases that are much bigger than an iPad, adding bulk ostensibly for protection. But I say if you can't protect the iPad while maintaining its slim physique then what's the point? I don't want my iPad to look like it is wearing a parka!

The Dallas case opens like a book and the iPad slips into place on the right side - held in place by four subtle elastic corner bands. The interior of the Dallas is a very soft black felt - it feels very nice to the touch. I'm confident it will keep my iPad scratch-free.

The Dallas fits all generations of iPad. And there is a hole in the back of the case so you can take pictures if you have the gen 2 or later iPad. The case is held closed with a small magnetic flap closure.

The Dallas also has its hidden charms. A number of cases provide easel functionality by bending the cover. Not so with the Dallas. It turns out there is a clever interior easel panel that you fold out and anchor into grooves on the interior of the cover.

And while this design is subtle and smart there are two challenges. The first is in regards to the angles the easel provides. I was able to set up the Dallas comfortably for movie viewing and magazine/book reading. However, the third angle that is supposed to be for typing activities (email, etc) is too high to be comfortable or practical.

My second concern is one that may actually be solved over time. When I set the easel up for movie viewing, the closure flap naturally falls down onto the iPad. So you're watching your movie with this flap in the way. However, I was able to bend it backwards to keep it off the iPad. I think this will ultimately solve itself as the case gets more use, the flap will become more supple and will fall back naturally.

All in all, I found the Dallas to be a fine iPad case. It has slim sleek lines, doesn't add a lot if bulk, makes your iPad look even hotter than when it's naked and will fit into most purses. I also think the interior easel design is very clever. And if you mainly use your iPad as a hand held or movie-viewing device, you're golden. But if you do a lot of typing and need your case to support that activity, the Dallas may not be the best choice.

Thanks again to the folks at Kolobags who sent the Dallas over for review. You can find the Dallas iPad Easel Case on their site in a variety of materials where it retails for $98 USD.

Review of Altego's Messenger Bag from their Coated Canvas Cyan series

Geek Chic Triumps in Altego's Messenger

Try saying “Coated Canvas Cyan series” three times fast. Did you start saying “Cylon series,” too? No? Hmm, maybe that’s just me. Is it possible to have a Battlestar Galactica speech impediment? Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a sci-fi geek like me in order to adore this messenger bag, part of the Coated Canvas Cyan series from Altego. Though it IS really out of this world (ha ha .. see what I did there?!).

The Coated Canvas Cyan series is made specifically for MacBooks, and the series includes a laptop sleeve, slipcase, messenger bag, and a backpack. All of these are constructed from black canvas with cyan accents. (In case you need reminding, cyan is blue with a hint of green.) The canvas’s natural texture is subdued with the water-resistant coating. It has a nice feel.

The front of the bag has a covering flap, which features a pocket with a cyan-colored zippered closure. It’s a great place to store my transit pass and some moolah for my cafe latté. The flap fastens down with twist buckles--that’s right, twist buckles. Easy to use, the twisty part goes through the buckle and twists to secure. Twist it the other way to release. I bet Starbuck never had buckles as nifty as these.

What’s under the flap? A large open storage area for books, my lunch tote and my MacBook adapters. There are netted pocketed areas to one side making it easy to scan and grab my gear. The other side of the compartment has a pocket just for my iPad. It’s soft and padded. There’s also a large, flat zippered pocket at the rear of the compartment where I stow away documents and notebooks.

The compartment housing my MacBook is accessed from the outside of the bag. A double zippered closure seals away my MacBook Pro and makes it easy access my laptop in a pinch. The back of the messenger back has a rad padded grid, which echos in the interior of the Macbook compartment. The grid cushions my MacBook, and it also makes it comfortable when I’m walking around with messenger bag. (A friend thought the grid looked “cybergoth,” but I don’t know what that means.)

The adjustable shoulder strap and streamlined, non-slip shoulder pad are *extremely* comfortable. The strap measures approximately 52” at its maximum extension. There’s also a handle to carry the messenger bag like you would a briefcase. The handle is sturdy and utilitarian, but not as comfy as the shoulder strap. Besides when you’re battling Cylons, you need your hands free.

The Coated Canvas Cyan messenger bag fits both 13” and 15” MacBooks and retails for $69.99. The bag and the rest of the series are available from Altego.

A bag for your laptop AND your shoes

Ibnia knows that a modern lady loves her laptop AND her shoes. And they created a fun bag that takes care of both. Presenting, the Joyheel Laptop Backpack from Ibnia.

From my review ...

I admit it.  I judge. For example, I'm on the morning train into downtown, and I see women in their twenties clinging to the railings, teetering in ridiculously high heels.  Why on Earth do they commute in those shoes?  Teetering is not sexy. But then I think, why do a lot of us wear the same shoes all day?  Whatever happened to bringing a change of footwear?

The designers at Ibnia have answered this question. Their Joyheel backpack is specially designed to stow a change of shoes and securely carry your laptop. Huzzah!

Designed in the Netherlands and produced in Korea, the Joyheel's international fusion can be seen in the modular and minimalist design aesthetic.  The soft-shell backpack maintains its cool, curvy shape, and I love the candy apple red. I feel compelled to get a matching Dutch cruiser!  Riding around town, I'll stow my espadrilles in the Joyheel backpack's unique shoe compartment.

Read the full review of Ibnia's Joyheel Laptop Backpack over at Squidoo.

A lovely touch of pink in the Tuscany Leather Laptop Bag

The Stylish Pink Tuscany Laptop Tote

Everywhere I look, spring seems to be here early. I swear there were cherry blossoms the first week of February. This is definitely a sign that spring fashion should come early, too. And thanks to Steve from Rainebrooke Bags, I have a gorgeous bag to start the season off with flair: the Tuscany laptop tote by Nunzia Design.

 

A black leather tote with a touch of pink happiness, the Tuscany tote is exactly what I need when I find myself wearing too much black. The tote gives me something less austere as the weather begins to warm: something professional that offers a bit of bloom.

The Tuscany tote is punctuated with clean, pink lines at the exterior seams and soft, light pink suede at the top, zippered opening. And inside? Light pink lining!

Here are the deets:

The Tuscany tote has several pockets to keep me organized. The exterior has an easy access pocket for slipping in my lipgloss and my glasses. It's just big enough for everything to be at my fingertips.

The interior of the Tuscany tote has several pockets. One side has two large pockets. Ahem, pockets large enough to handle my overstuffed wallet. The other side has spots for business cards, pockets for my iPhone, keys, tissues, and a long, zippered mesh pocket for whatever technical gadgetry I desire.

Unlike other bags on the market, Tuscany's padded laptop sleeve is an insert and completely removable from the tote. The sleeve fits a laptop with up to 15.4" screen and is made of light pink quilted fabric. My MacBook Pro easily slides inside and is secured with a velcro & elastic closure. A thicker PC would definitely fit, too. I then tucked it away into the large primary storage area of the bag with room to spare. But wait! There's more!

The Tuscany tote comes with a quilted make-up bag, which I plan on using for my AC adapter and cords. The kidney-shaped bag is large enough to hold even the bulkiest power adapter. See detailed photos of the Tuscany over on my Flickr account.

If you've read my other reviews, then you know that I like to test a bag for comfort. The Tuscany's straps allow the bag to rest partially on my hip, helping to distribute the weight of my laptop so that it's not just my shoulder carrying the load. Fantastic. The handles, which are well-secured to the bag, are rounded and are also comfortable to carry in my hand or on my shoulder.

It doesn't have little feet on the bottom, but when I set the tote on the floor, the wide oval bottom allows the tote to sit up straight. (Dear people, never put a great bag like this on the floor. Have you seen those TV news shows where they test the floor for bacteria? Gross.)

In sum, the Tuscany tote can carry and organize all I need for a day of meetings and lets me flirt with colour. If the pink accent isn't your cup of tea, the sleek Tuscany also comes in black with three other accent colours: olive, red and tan.

The Tuscany laptop tote by Nunzia Design will put spring in your step and is available for $119 at Rainebrooke.com.

The Akiko Laptop Bag for Men - Another Hit from Mamtak

Mamtak Bags already holds a special place in my heart with their lovely Aya laptop bag. Well they've done it again - this time with a bag for the gents. Behold, the Akiko Laptop Bag for Men.

Like the Aya, the Akiko bag's style immediately conjures thoughts of Amsterdam. The bag's familiar pannier shape references cycling in the Netherlands: delightful jaunts past tulips, windmills and those special Dutch cafés where you can get more than just a coffee.

Even with its roots in Amsterdam, the Akiko's style and edge easily fit into any North American metropolis, well, any metropolis really: Vancouver, New York, Tokyo, Paris, or Berlin. (Hmm, maybe I should test the bag on a world tour? That's reasonable, right?). It has a sophisticated yet casual look, something that I would expect from a unisex bag; however the design remains unexpected and simply modern.

The Akiko's pannier shape means it holds my laptop vertically. It's also tapered, wider at the bottom than the top, letting me carry a lot while it remains rather slim overall. There are two options for carrying the Akiko: you can use the sturdy, well padded hand grips or the generous detachable shoulder strap.

Akiko is Japanese: aki, "sparkle" and ko, "bright". The review bag I received is the Blue Zodiac version. Its exterior is a rich, bright blue tone. And while the bag may not sparkle, the water-resistant canvas does have a nice sheen, giving it a cool waxy appearance. The interior lining keeps it simple with a subtle charcoal and black pattern. The Akiko also comes in Umber and Ochre - both with the same cool sheen.

Under the Akiko's top flap, there is a zippered main compartment for my laptop and other storage. My MacBook Pro (15.4") slid into the interior sleeve and is secured with a velcro strap. There is definitely room for a thicker PC. The other section of the main compartment has a pocket that fit my cords and AC adapter, and there's plenty of room, too, for books and documents.

The front of the bag has an exterior pocket, which has a covering flap secured with snaps. Now, this part's brilliant: The front pocket snaps are on little loops so I can EASILY snap them! When I first saw the loops, I thought, sure, they look cool, but then I put my shiz in the front pocket and tried to snap it. It was then I realized what those little loops do: using the loop, you can snap the pocket shut between your finger and thumb. Smart!

The back of the Akiko features a slim zippered pocket, designed specifically for personal items: my wallet, keys, and Eurorail pass.

From the adjustable shoulder strap - with swivel hooks! - to the magnetic clasps and sturdy zippers, the metal hardware is simple, handsome, and high quality. After using the Akiko, you really can't help but admire Mamtak's attention to detail. A lot of thought has gone into this bag's function. The folks at Mamtak describe their bags as beautifully designed, but emphasize they're also made for "intensive daily use". From what I've seen, their products hold up to their promise, and demonstrate that style need not be sacrificed for function.

The Akiko Laptop Bag is available from the Mamtak Online Store for 89.85 Euros or around 120 USD. For more news and their latest designs, find Mamtak on Facebook or Twitter.

And ladies, lest you think this bag isn't for you, fret not. Even if it doesn't suit your personal style, take a gander at the model they used in their recent photoshoot.

Photo Credit: Mamtak Bags - from their Facebook Page

The Alesya Laptop Bag - a Sure-fire Southern Charmer

The Lovely Alesya in Eggplant

When I think of the contemporary Southern Belle, I think of a sophisticated woman with grace and style. I think of a woman who's crafty -- in all senses of the word. I think of Julia Sugarbaker from Designing Women. I grew up watching Julia simultaneously shatter, embody and ameliorate all Southern Belle stereotypes: smart, fashionable, clever, outspoken, polite, enigmatic.

I adored Julia.

When Alesya Opelt from Aleysa Bags sent me her new bag for review, I knew I had found a bag that Julia would embrace. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Aleysa Bags embody the style and charm of modern Southern culture.

Plus, there's definitely more than meets the eye with this laptop bag.

First, Alesya's Southern charm actually starts BEFORE I even get to the bag. The packaging is delightful. The bag is cosseted in its own bag which came with Alesya's standard card as well as a personal card and note to me. And the whole kit-and-caboodle was packed in a sturdy, stylish box.

Below is a pic of the card as well as the initial impression upon opening the box; you can see a full slideshow of the unboxing on my Flickr.

When I first examined the Alesya bag I thought, "Wow - a gorgeous shoulder bag. Wait... it's a laptop bag?"

Yes, it is.

A shoulder bag, in supple leather with well-appointed hardware and careful stitching, is designer Alesya's disguise for toting around a laptop. The laptop sleeve is hidden under the bag's front zippered flap, at the widest part of the bag. Fully secured under an adjustable velcro strap, my 15" MacBook Pro is fully protected and concealed. Out for sushi with friends after work? No one will ever know I'm toting a laptop.

Clever, right? Really smart design. Now, the hidden sleeve is a tight fit; my Macbook Pro 15 cinched her girdle (ahh, the price for fashion) as I slid her in. An Air or a smaller Macbook would be perfect. If you have another laptop model, you're going to want to measure it and check w/ Alesya to make sure it will fit. And I was super-careful when I zipped up the bag to make sure it wouldn't scratch my Macbook - the zippers are very close to the corners and edges of the laptop when you're closing it. This is necessary to make the design work and keep the bag a reasonable size. I think this will get a little less dicey once I use the bag a bit and break in the leather and the zippers. (If you want to see this in action, there is a great video on the Alesya Bags site.)

The front flap of the bag provides storage with its own zippered compartment. Inside are pockets made specifically for pens and my iPhone. These are easily accessed, even while wearing the bag on my shoulder. The bag's back zippered compartment provides access to a large storage space. Books, work documents, notebooks, all easily stow away for me to take home.

My fav smart feature of this bag is the zippered top pocket - Alesya explicitly designed it to avoid "the black hole syndrome." Oh, yes! No more rummaging around in the depths of your bag! While at first glance, the bag's top compartment might appear to be the main pocket, it's actually a clever shallow space for storing keys and lipstick. It fits my small wallet, too.

The strap on the Alesya has an 8" drop, and the width of the strap (1.5") means the strap doesn't dig into my shoulder when I weigh my bag down with stuff. I packed the Alesya bag full, and it sat comfortably under my arm. There are some great pics of the Alesya stuffed full on her site.

Other great things ... The colours: my bag is purple - called Exquisite Eggplant; it also comes in Equestrian Tan and Kelly Green Girl - year-round colours for a year-round bag. The feet: there are little feet on the bottom of the Alesya (you know how I love little feet!). I had trouble standing it up with how I had packed it, but, at the same time, I'd never put this baby on the floor. It's a bag that needs to be shown off.

And shown off, it is. I've taken my Alesya to meetings, workshops and dinner dates over the last few weeks and got all kinds of compliments. Like a Southern Belle, the Alesya has style and sass, and as a newcomers to the laptop bag scene, offers some is stiff competition.

You can purchase your very own online at Alesya Bags for $265 USD (remember, it's leather!). You can also find Alesya Bags on Facebook; and you can follow the designer on Twitter or check out her personal blog.

Fresh laptop bag design from Mamtak Bags - the Aya Laptop Tote

Every once in a while, a laptop bag comes along that makes you shout "Yes! YES!" Most recently, the Aya from Mamtak Bags did that for me.

Maybe it's Mamtak's design roots (Amsterdam and Tokyo - it doesn't get cooler than that)? Or that these folks know how to use the colour green on a laptop bag (both inside and out!)? What ever it is, the Aya has that je ne sais quois that made me fall in love at first sight. And then even after I put her to the test, I still love her.

The Aya is, quite simply, a beautifully designed laptop bag - it would be at home at a café in Paris, in a conference room in Brussels or on a runway in Milan (or even here in North America). The very best of European design is embodied in this one bag. Sleek and modern, stylish and functional, it makes me want to give my laptop a cool European name like Alessandro. Made of leather with a soft cloth interior, the Aya comes in four colour combinations - I have the Green & White combo, which has a fresh, flirty feel.

The front and back of the Aya are identical - each side sports a zippered document pocket, ideal for storing your travel documents, work papers or the latest copy of Wallpaper* magazine. The zipper pulls are covered with leather, which is a nice touch - makes it easier to grip and open any of the zippers on the bag. I always appreciate outer pockets on a bag for easy access - but I also appreciate that these pockets are zippered to keep my valuables from spilling out, in case my Aya gets knocked over on the train to Zurich.

Inside, the Aya keeps it simple. The interior is lined with a soft celery green fabric - makes it very easy to see what's in the bottom of your bag. There's a zippered slot for storing your valuables or smaller items (lipgloss, keys, card wallet, etc.) The middle of the Aya has a nice open area for files or reading material. There are two separate open pouches perfect for power cords or other big gadgets, or even a slim notebook. Finally there's the laptop sleeve, which fastens with a soft, thick tab of cloth with velcro. My 15.4" MacBook Pro fit nicely. The laptop sleeve isn't super padded but the bag itself is very structured and durable, so I'd say it's relatively safe to stash it in the overhead compartment.

The Aya's two handles are perfect for carrying over your shoulder. They're a good length and the slightly padded leather doesn't cut into your shoulder, even with a full bag - no Hunchback of Notre Dame here! And the bottom of the Aya has five silver feet to keep it up off the floor while you're enjoying your café au lait and croissant near Montmartre.

Whether you and your laptop are jet-setters on a European tour or you just want a durable, stylish, eye-catching laptop bag for your every day business, definitely consider the Aya. Allessandro will certainly thank you.

The Aya Laptop Bag is available from the Mamtak online store. It retails for 139.95 Euros (approximately 200 USD). You can also connect with the fine folks at Mamtak on their Facebook and Twitter pages.