An Apple Store exclusive for the 15” MacBook Pro, the Bennett Leather Laptop Bag from Jill-e Designs let’s you carry your MacBook in style, and here is our review.
The Bennett bag by Jill-e Designs offers just the right blend of rugged fashion, organisation and access, all while protecting your MacBook from the elements. Created for Apple this padded messenger bag is roomy enough for all your Apple devices, as well as your personal belongings.
Who are Jill-E Designs?
From their website:
Jill-e Designs got its start in 2007, right around the time increasing numbers of women were taking up photography as a career. We became an advocate for every female photographer who’d ever had to put up with the male-oriented look and feel of professional-level camera bags. Soon after, we realized style transcends gender – the male photography lover was trapped in that same stale canvas and nylon world of black and shades of black. So we introduced Jack bags for men.
As personal electronic devices became widespread, Jill-e Designs broadened its view. Today we offer stylish, secure, high-performance bags for today’s tech-driven, mobile lifestyle – great-looking bags for a variety of contemporary uses that meet the high standards for form and function we adopted to satisfy the demanding photo professional. We use the finest materials – top-grade leathers and fabrics, dependable hardware, durable padding and lining – blending them with our “future classic” styling and a little common sense to produce smart, protective, fashion-conscious, quality bags.
Today Jill-e Designs, headquartered in Orlando, Fla., is a multimillion-dollar company whose bags are sold and enjoyed the world over. We’ve changed how modern, on-the-go people think about the role and possibilities of their carry bag – whether for e-gear, career, photo, college, travel or everyday. They’re no longer a utilitarian device for the storage and transport of today’s ubiquitous electronic devices, personal belongings and lifestyle essentials. Bags by Jill-e Designs are “statements” that help establish the user’s unique image and creative credentials, while delivering professional-grade quality and performance.
We understand the power of style – it’s more than a simple indulgence. We capture that power in every one of our bags. Each of our creative designs helps the customer make an extraordinary first impression, while each bag’s construction and features take the customer as far as she or he would like to go. Jill-e Designs offers function on the inside, fashion on the outside, in a lush, durable leather bag that’s hard to beat. So people can look their best while they do their best. And who wouldn’t want that?
Features
- Fully padded exterior walls and interior compartments
- Carry over the shoulder or at your side
- Adjustable shoulder strap with comfort pad
- Durable top carry handle
- Separate pockets for 15” MacBook Pro, iPad and iPhone
- Detachable matching holder for ID and credit cards
- Convenient front flap magnetic tab closures
- Side zippered pocket on front flap
- Tailored interior pockets for all your Apple devices
- Zippered interior security pocket
- Available in brown and black
Specifications
Description
- Messenger-style tech / laptop bag
Materials
- Premium leather exterior, fabric interior
- Gun metal closures, zippers, fixtures
- Precision stitching
Dimensions
- Height: 31 cm / 12.2 in.
- Length: 40.6 cm / 15.9 in.
- Width: 10.4 cm / 4.1 in.
- Weight: 1.59 kg / 3.5 lbs.
What’s in the Box?
- Jill-e Designs Bennett Leather Messenger Bag
- Cloth dust cover bag
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The first thing I noticed about the Bennett bag was just how well it was packaged. It was wrapped in plastic and in a sturdy box to keep it protected. Most laptop bags either come in plastic or nothing at all, and that usually means that at some point after leaving wherever it has been manufactured and before it gets to you that there is a good chance it may have sustained a little damage. Often it’s only a scuff mark, so nothing too serious, and after all its going to get marked when you use it, but when you are paying the sort of money you are paying for the Bennett you want it to be perfect – and it is! I was also impressed that they included a cloth bag inside as well so that you can store the Bennett when not in use. That was a nice touch.
The Bennett itself looks (and smells) amazing – so much so that like me, you will probably treat it with kid gloves for the first few times you use it.
The front flap with magnetic tab closure provides convenient access to the inside of the bag and it really is easy to open and close in seconds, whilst at the same time keeping the contents of the bag safe and secure. There is also a zip on the front for access to some additional storage.
The inside of the bag looks just as good as the outside with various pockets and areas for storing your MacBook and other stuff. In fact, Jill-e Designs have even embroidered little images on each area to show you what you can store there, such as the laptop and even your sunglasses.
Carrying around various items in the bag felt secure and I was happy with the amount of space I had in – I could carry around everything I needed for the day. It was also very comfortable to carry around, and the strap in adjustable to suit anyone.
There is even a luggage tag provided which is all part of Jill-e Designs’ Registration & Recovery Service, so do take the time to complete that, as it might end up being very useful to you!
Overall it is a very impressive bag, with just the right mixture of fantastic quality, and looking great whilst at the same time protecting your expensive possessions. If you want that mixture of style and protection then look no further than the Bennett bag from Jill-e Designs.
The Bennett is an exclusive creation for Apple and you can only buy it from an Apple Store, and as a result of this fact, and the high quality of the materials used, the Bennett is not cheap. You might want to sit down for the next part – the Bennett will set you back £269.95, so it’s not for the faint hearted, but you do get what you pay for, and if you have that sort of money to spend then the Bennett is certainly a great investment.
