The 36-hour Monday bag in practice: elegant and functional

Men's UP TV Live

Launched in 2014 by Vincent Roussel, a former employee of Oxbow and the Havas agency, the Monday brand has set itself a mission: to re-invent the business bag. The concept is interesting: bring together in the same bag what you need to work on a daily basis and what you need to travel for 2 days and 1 night. The double compartment offers a separation between office business and the dressing room.

At first glance, this bag seduces both with its minimalist approach and its elegant proportions. Full-grain and vegetable-tanned leather, this 36-hour bag is superb in this blue skillfully embellished with handles and small brown finishes (reference Bellecourt Marine). Its shape allows it to keep its outfit, even empty or sparsely filled: nothing to say this bag knows how to hold! Each of the two parts of the bag opens by activating a double zip: practical, if not at the level of the curvatures which sometimes require insisting a little to "pass the bends". Nothing too bad, especially since the “desk” part has a bellows: there is therefore no risk of dropping your precious equipment.

Loaded, the bag remains balanced when carried with the strap: no worries to take it in all circumstances … even on a motorcycle!

On the office side: nothing was left to chance

Launch the slideshowSac Monday 36 hours+19Credit Photo – Men's UP

The bag offers the traditional pocket to accommodate a 13-inch laptop, but Monday has gone much further in optimizing space. The compartments are not lacking: business cards, pen, tablet (rare but very practical) but also two neoprene pockets in which you can slip emergency batteries for the phone.

Your laptop charger has not been forgotten: neatly stored in its pocket, its cable will be wisely organized thanks to a small leather tab that holds the cable. Smart.

Nothing to say, for an organized person, it's a real pleasure: everything is in its place, easy to access and effectively protected. We imagine that the designers of this bag sought to provide a complete response to arrange all the equipment that is now necessary for us to work, particularly on the move.

Also note the zipped pocket on the outside, on the front of the bag, dedicated to the passport: this avoids having to open the bag when you are in transit at the airport.

Cloakroom side: the necessary for one night

Launch the slideshowSac Monday 36 hours+19Credit Photo – Men's UP

In the dressing compartment, we find the traditional "double strap", essential for holding clothes, like in a suitcase. A zipped pocket in the flap completes this part. The size of the bag makes it easy to store a shirt, underwear and a toiletry bag. Of course, don't expect to fit a pair of shoes in it, that's not the purpose of this bag. But the essentials for spending a night outside will find their place there, summer and winter alike.

Dimensions: Length 41 cm / Height 29 cm / Thickness 12 cm. Price: between 490 and 690 euros.

Discover the range on the brand's website on Monday

3 questions to Vincent Roussel, founder of the brand on Monday.

What is the origin and specificity of the Monday brand?

"Lundi was born from the desire to offer elegant and functional products. Beautiful materials and a nice volume are not enough for us to create a collection of bags. The functionality and service provided by the product are at the heart of the construction of our designs.A minimalist approach, where every detail counts to offer timeless and durable pieces.

Our collections are thus built around the needs of our customers: a trip of a few days, a business trip of 48 hours or simply going to his office... we scrutinize and analyze the expectations of all men to offer them bags and accessories adapted and capable of simplifying his life."

How do you select your raw materials?

"Our materials must above all be durable, and therefore resistant. And their properties (thickness, flexibility, resistance to water and abrasions, etc.) must meet the specifications of our products. We favor naturally tanned leathers. The use of vegetable tannins gives us leathers with a lower impact on the environment. When possible, we also use recycled materials, like our felt made from recycled polyester."

What is your approach to manufacturing?

"Produce less and produce better. We start from the principle that the most ecological bag and the one that we keep for a long time. So we are committed to making resistant and repairable products. We produce in limited quantities. We are not afraid out of stock (and this often happens to us!) because, in our view, this is the best response to over-consumption. Our products are therefore never on sale and the prices we offer are calculated as accurately as possible."

to summarize

Sleek, functional, elegant and quality finishes: these are in a few words what characterizes this bag called "36 hours" from the young French leather goods brand Monday. We tested it for several days in real conditions.

EditorStéphan HuyvenaarPhoto Albums