A flagship structured travel weekender handcrafted from documented Cape buffalo leather in deep Espresso No. 01. Sculpted protea-inspired lines converge at the 30 mm, 24-karat gold-plated MBALI Nugget, with approximately 27 litres of practical capacity.
Khaya is MBALI's flagship structured travel weekender — a contemporary expression of African provenance, sculptural craftsmanship and purposeful luxury. Its body is cut from authentic Cape buffalo hide (Syncerus caffer), chosen for its pronounced grain, strength and unmistakable character; never Asian water-buffalo leather, buffalo-effect embossed cowhide or imitation. Espresso No. 01 is a deep, dark brown that leaves the grain, tonal movement and individual markings visible rather than corrected away. Sculpted leather lines drawn from the geometry of the protea sweep across the signature side panel and converge at the Nugget, which is physically recessed and mechanically secured — never printed or glued on. Inside, a full-length two-way zip opens onto roughly 27 litres lined in protea-burgundy cotton-viscose twill with a restrained golden-leaf print, organised pockets, a discreet MBALI monogram and a 25 mm provenance seal. Each Khaya is made individually under the responsibility of one master artisan, who oversees hide allocation, grain placement, colour matching, skiving, reinforcement, edge preparation, stitching, hardware installation, assembly and final inspection. Reinforced internal panels hold the architectural form while preserving the natural movement of the leather; reinforced handle anchors, stress points and protective base feet carry the piece when fully packed. Where a suitable hide is already approved and allocated, production runs approximately 12–16 weeks; if a new hide must be lawfully sourced, documented, pit-tanned and individually colour-finished, approximately 24–32 weeks. The schedule is confirmed before the piece enters the workshop.
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 — 30 mm MBALI Nugget, die-cast specialist alloy plated in genuine 24-karat gold; buckles, rings and fittings in a matching 24-karat gold-plated finish
- 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
- 50 × 30 × 22 cm; overall height with handles 44 cm; handle drop 14 cm
- Practical usable capacity approximately 27 litres (external geometric volume approximately 33 litres)
- Approximate weight 2.70 kg (±0.15 kg production tolerance)
- Detachable, adjustable shoulder strap, 102–146 cm, 4 cm wide
- Lining — protea-burgundy cotton-viscose twill with restrained golden-leaf print; internal 25 mm provenance seal
- Closure — full-length two-way zip; hand or shoulder carry
- Product code KHY-WKN-500-ESP-24K · recommended journey two to three nights
- Designed around common premium cabin-luggage proportions; confirm individual airline size and weight restrictions before travel
- Care — store in the supplied MBALI dust bag, away from prolonged moisture, direct heat and strong sunlight; no alcohol-based cleaners, household chemicals or commercial leather products without consulting MBALI; clean the gold-plated hardware with a dry, non-abrasive cloth only
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 — 4 available
- Tobacco
- Dark Brown
- Black
- Midnight Blue
- 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
- Authentic full-grain Cape buffalo, MBALI Espresso No. 01
- Hardware
- 30 mm MBALI Nugget, die-cast specialist alloy plated in genuine 24-karat gold; buckles, rings and fittings in a matching 24-karat gold-plated finish
- Price
- €7,950
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.
Choose your tone, monogram, any engraving and the name the piece is registered to on the next step — no account needed. You sign in only at checkout to settle.