The Superior Labor Leather Portfolio - Natural (A5)

I love this one！

I've been eyeing this portfolio for a very long time and finally (impulsively) bought it one day after watching what must have been every single review on YouTube. It's one of those things you don't strictly speaking need, but man is it ever a joy to own. The leather is beautiful and smells amazing. It fits all my correspondence, a Midori A5, a pen, and another A5 sized book inside the zip very easily (or my iPad mini if exchanged with the second book). The zipper is very satisfying and doesn't at all feel like it will give out anytime soon. The front pocket is very useful for bits and bobs that I want to keep with my journal, but also have easily accessible (I like to keep a sheet of ink blotting paper in there) and the pen slot can hold up to two average sized fountain pens but it does feel a little bit like a stretch.

As other reviewers have said, there is a colour difference between the leather of the one that I got verses the pictures. It is darker, and looks more of a tan than the above, but I have no real problems with it (especially considering the way that natural leather tends to age anyway).

This portfolio is even better in person! I purchased this cover in natural because the brown was out of stock and I was a little nervous about that impulsive decision. I normally gravitate toward natural leather, but was not sure about this until I received it and realized the natural was such a great choice. The color of the one I received is slightly darker than the one pictured and has a beautiful peach tone that gives it a more feminine look than the others, in my opinion. It looks very professional. I was concerned it may be too floppy and lacking structure when empty but the leather is a great thickness and top notch quality. It is nice and stiff right now but easily fits a Seven Seas A5 writer notebook in a Midori goatskin cover along with my kindle in the main pocket without needing to stretch, but it also appears that it will stretch over time as it takes on a patina. I have not been able to stop looking at and touching it since it arrived! Thank you!!

This is a great little portfolio, A5 is pretty much the perfect size for me but it is surprisingly difficult to find good notebook cases and portfolios in this size. This one is even more perfect because it is A5 with a little room to spare so you aren't struggling to zip it up if you want to throw some extra pens or accessories inside. This morning I was able to fit an A5 Clairefontaine letter pad, my A6 hobonichi techo, and three pens inside very comfortably and zip it up without an issue.

Something to note - for the one I received, the color of the leather was pretty significantly darker in person, this is probably due to the way natural leather tends to age darker. I'm really pleased with the color as I was hoping it would get darker over time anyway (I had trouble deciding between the 'natural' and 'light brown').