Every heritage brand has an archive. The challenge is making it feel fresh. For Dunhill’s Alfred 40, the answer wasn’t to re-create a single design from the past but to reinterpret more than 130 years of the British house’s history. Named for founder Alfred Dunhill, whose company earned its reputation creating accessories for motorists, the briefcase weaves together inspiration from automotive luggage, Art Deco metalwork, and document carriers. As creative director Simon Holloway explains, “The ambition was never to create something nostalgic. It was to make a bag that feels completely relevant today, while quietly carrying the character and intelligence of Dunhill’s past.” The details that make the Alfred sing are often the ones you don’t immediately notice. Rather than relying on traditional English bridle leather, Holloway partnered with an Italian tannery to develop a custom patinated calfskin with a rich depth of color and the suppleness needed to achieve the..
