An architectural north-south tote that stands unaided. Carried by rolled handles by day, or on a heavy gold curb chain when the day turns into something else.
Ayanda is the working piece of the house — the one that goes to the meeting and then to dinner. Its panels are cut so the hide's grain runs vertically, uninterrupted, which is why it holds a straight edge without a frame inside it. The chain is not decoration: it is a second bag, clipped on in four seconds.
All MBALI metal components — chains, rings, buckles, sliders and feet — are brass with a 24-carat gold-plated finish.
Vegetable-tanned in small batches by a specialist tannery selected for this particular hide. The process develops tonal depth and strength while preserving the natural grain and markings of the animal.
Specification
- Exterior — Full-grain African game hide, vegetable-tanned with bark-derived tannins, including African acacia and mimosa/wattle extracts
- Hardware — Gold-plated solid-brass curb chain strap, feet and rings
- Making — One lead artisan is responsible throughout — hide assessment, cutting, shaping, principal seams saddle-stitched, edges built and burnished, hardware set
- Record — Piece serial struck on the reverse of the seal and linked to its Hide Origin ID
- Measured dimensions, weight and capacity are confirmed in writing before your order is placed.
Making & delivery
Ten to sixteen weeks from confirmation, then insured express delivery worldwide.
Prices exclude import duties and local taxes. Some countries restrict the import of game leather; we confirm this before taking your order.
Why the time matters
Every MBALI piece is made to order. The estimated ten-to-sixteen-week period allows the selected hide to be conditioned and mapped to the pattern, its tone to be completed, and each panel to be cut, shaped, saddle-stitched, fitted and finished under the responsibility of one lead artisan.
The finished piece is then inspected, individually numbered and entered into the MBALI Origin Register before insured delivery.
We confirm the expected completion date when your hide and allocation are approved. We do not shorten the process by substituting an anonymous hide or a pre-made body.
Origin Commission
The requested hide is not presently held in the MBALI register. You may request an Origin Commission, through which a suitable hide is identified through an approved wildlife-management programme, documented, tanned and reserved specifically for your piece. The schedule is confirmed before the commission is accepted.
Returns & care
Cancel in full any time before cutting begins. Unpersonalised pieces may be returned within 14 days; personalised pieces cannot be returned unless faulty.
We restore any piece we have made, quoted in writing beforehand.
Authentication & resale
The serial struck on the reverse of the seal is linked to the Hide Origin ID of the material this piece was cut from. Send us the serial and we will confirm the hide origin, the tannery, the maker and the date it left the bench.
Ownership can be transferred in the register free of charge, so a resold piece keeps its provenance. MBALI does not deal in the resale market and does not appraise resale values.
Tones — 5 available
- Espresso
- Bushveld Tan
- Oxblood
- Black
- Deep Green
- Availability
- Made to Order
- Next step
- Begin Configuration
- Lead time
- Ten to sixteen weeks from confirmation
- Made in
- Made in Cape Town, South Africa
- Hide
- Greater Kudu in espresso, full-grain, bark tanned
- Hardware
- Gold-plated solid-brass curb chain strap, feet and rings
- Price
- €3,850(private consultation)
Made to order · Estimated completion 10–16 weeks
Your hide is conditioned and mapped to the pattern, the tone completed, and every panel cut, shaped, saddle-stitched and finished under one lead artisan before the piece is numbered and registered. See why the time matters above.
This silhouette is offered by private consultation only. The house confirms hide availability, finish and price in writing before any commitment.