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Aviation Bags

The feature designs made by Garvan de Bruir have been travelling for 15+ years.

Timeless Craftsmanship, Born from the Spirit of Aviation

Leather has always accompanied the pioneers of the skies. The fleece lined RAF leather jackets are particularly iconic in air flight.

Our aviation-inspired collection fuses heritage, function, and craftsmanship. Designed for those who appreciate timeless style and the spirit of adventure.

Leather for the long haul

Laptop bag from the original collection of Garvan de Bruir. Featuring a fleece lined interior to protect the laptop. The main body is in a thick bridle leather.

Natural Materials

The collection grew from an appreciation of leather and sheepskin as original industrial materials.

Sheepskin as padding to protect laptops and iPads was a feature of the early work.

Satchel bag in  beige leather sits on the tail fin of a vintage aircraft. The Satchel Bag is from the early collections of Artisan Garvan de Bruir.

Leather for Life

Leather has earned a reputation for resilience. Especially when it is tanned in thicknesses from 2mm up to 5mm.

From the belts that drove early machinery, to the door straps and seat bindings in early aircraft, this material that is robust yet malleable has featured within so many innovations throughout time.

The Parachuter Bag is the most novel design by Garvan de Bruir. A contemporary piece with a vintage ethos.

Crafted to Endure.

Our earliest backpack design is still available from the workshop today. The 'Parachuter Bag' has a novel approach to both construction and carrying style. Always built in the most robust leather, it's ready to accompany its owner on journey after journey.

'High Flying Fashion"

The Irish Times

Discover Our Aviation Bags

Aviation Bags.com

The Origins

The Aviation collection was the early work of Garvan de Bruir. Using tools from his furniture-making workshop, he crafted bags for his own use in travelling.

Confidence in Leather

At the bench of his furniture making workshop, Garvan de Bruir created the plywood templates for his travel bags ideas. Combining his woodworking and upholstery skills in creating the bags.

Detail of a leather bag with 'Avirex' branding that was handmade by Garvan de Bruir.

Pursuing Flight Bags

An early once-off collaboration with iconic brand 'Avirex' gave Garvan de Bruir the confidence to progress his leather travel bags. At the time the handmade bags were a new venture within his primarily furniture-making workshop.

Brass embossing stamp for Avirex brand as used by Garvan de Bruir in a custom leather bag commission.

Legacy

The Italian owned brand 'Avirex' are the makers of the iconic US Navy flight jacket. (As worn by Tom Cruise in 'Top Gun')

And the original trademark owner of the classic 'Chino'

Close-up of a vintage aircraft cockpit with various dials and switches. Backdrop for Aviation Bags at the DE BRUIR Atelier.
The DE BRUIR Parachuter backpack for sale in an Avirex store in Milan.

The Aviation Bags project was back to 2012, when Avirex, an iconic company which specialises in military apparel and flight gear took an interest in our Parachuter Bag.

The DE BRUIR Parachuter Bag customised for AVIREX Civilian & Military Tailoring.

Garvan de Bruir was still only perfecting his leather working skills and building a collection. So it was significant seal of approval for his style.

AVIREX King of Aviation, History and Origins of a great brand, book by Alfredo Cionti sitting of a DE BRUIR Parachuter Bag.

AVIREX King of Aviation

History and Origins of a Great Brand

by Alfredo Conti

Brass Logo stamps for Avirex with AVIREX King of Aviation book open. 
AVIREX are the makers of the classic US Navy Pilot's jacket made famous by Tom Cruise in Top Gun. 
Stamps used by Garvan de Bruir.

The brand Avirex are renowned for the Flight Jacket worn by the US Navy.

Made famous by the 1986 movie 'Top Gun'.

AVIREX King of Aviation

History and Origins of a Great Brand

by Alfredo Conti

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It was a pleasure to see DE BRUIR products, handmade in Ireland, for sale in stores in Milan and Bologna, for such an iconic brand.

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