Our Story
Authenticity is the greatest luxury
About Duffle&Co
Here to carry you from work to weekend, we create handcrafted bags & accessories that don't compromise your values. By implementing age-old artisanship techniques and working with groups of talented craftsmen and women, each of our bags is meticulously made. Each Duffle&Co piece is hand signed by the person that made it, and each purchase plants 5 mangrove trees. The positive social and environmental impact of the way that we work is felt all over the world, but it’s how we started with a hands on approach in New Zealand that is synonymous to the way we still work today.
Duffle&Co is founded
Kiwi Ingenuity
In 2015 our co-founder Danny found himself meeting craftsmen and their families during his travels through India, Nepal and Indonesia. They all had the same story. They had lost their jobs due to the tradeshift to China, and found themselves unemployed and unable to make ends meet. Determined to give these talented craftsmen a fighting chance to support themselves, Danny knew he could connect them with people that would love their bags. With their savings, founders Danny & Kai bought 100 leather Duffle bags and sent them back home to New Zealand. With some good old fashion Kiwi ingenuity and a few phone calls to friends, shipping began from under their beds and a website was built. Duffle&Co was born.
Certification
B Corporation
In November 2017 we achieved a big milestone. Becoming a certified B Corporation symbolised the responsibility we have as a business to be a catalyst for positive social and environmental change. Everything we did then (and still do now), from sourcing our materials to the lightbulbs we use in our offices is measured. This certification shows you that we have met the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.
Exploration
Innovative materials
The team realised there was a need to bring innovative materials to the New Zealand & Australian markets. In December 2017 we released our first ever Piñatex (pineapple leather) product. From this, along with the help of our family run workshop in Bali, (who are still part of the Duffle&Co team today) creating designs from Piñatex (pineapple leather), organic cotton canvas, Desserto (cactus leather), end-of-roll leather and recycled canvas became a crucial part of how we operate.
Read more about our materials here
Empowering more artisans
Expansion
When the world slowed down, we knew we had to expand and partner with more skilled artisans. As well as bringing in more craftsmen and women to our workshop in Bali, we now have workshops in Erode (Southern India), Standerton (South Africa), and as of 2023 in Mount Maunganui (New Zealand). Each workshop was chosen because they not only meet a high standard of ethical practises, but because they utilise traditional craft techniques that would otherwise be forgotten. This means that we are able to bring you more exciting next generation materials, and bring a wide variety of bespoke corporate projects to life.
For yourself and for your business!
Duffle&Co today
Today our core values remain the same as when we started: For Nature, For Communities, For Transparency and For Craftsmanship. Still an independent New Zealand family run business, our focus is to bring you bespoke luxury corporate gifts that are made to last, using natural responsibly crafted materials like recycled canvas, Mirum, leather and Piñatex. You can still buy a Duffle&Co for yourself too!
Explore our range here
Long Loved Favourites
Duffle&Co are certified by
Reviews from our clients and customers
"Everything looks great and we're excited to be passing these onto our guests. Can't thank you enough for all of your help".
Hotel Britomart. Auckland, New Zealand.
I bought this as a birthday present to me! To stop stuffing my cards in the back of my phone and having coffee cards floating around in my bag. It's the perfect size!
The Cooke Pouch - Becs Newton
Have loved Duffle&Co’s products and philosophy since its inception and had seen McCarty Tote in black, loving its shape and quality - but it wasn’t “my tan”! And then one cold wet September morning, scrolling online: “voila”! Since it arrived, I’ve worn and used my Vintage Tan McCarty Tote with its quality lining and practical interior pockets every day. Thanks Duffle&Co - it's perfect!
The McCarty Tote - Judith
Every online purchase plants 5 trees
Landscape Reforestation
We work alongside our partners Eden Reforestation Projects to ensure that each purchase you make plants 5 trees. Landscape Restoration is a standards-based approach that generates environmental, socioeconomic, and biodiversity benefits in critical landscapes around the world. It is a more holistic and longer-term method of restoration and conservation, delivering more comprehensive benefits to communities and the ecosystem services we all depend on. Eden uses avoided conversion, high-quality indigenous species, and prioritises biodiversity.