I love the wash bag that Heather gave me a few years ago. It’s a scaled down model of a leading outdoor brand expedition duffle bag, and just the right size. I can fit in what I need for a month-long trip, but it doesn’t take up too much space. It’s made from the same material as the expedition duffle so it’s tough and hard wearing, which is my sort of thing.
Yet sometimes, it just looks out of place.
Let me explain. When Her Ladyship manages to cajole me into a ‘city break’ (I don’t do cities!), the best leverage she has is the promise of a decadent suite to stay in. You know, the sort that comes with a walk in mini bar and far too many light switches. However this is where my wash bag looks like me – a little lost. Having made the effort and broken out my ‘man-about-town’ clothes (which I keep for such occasions), it feels a bit odd to have my trusty old wash bag in tow. It isn’t in keeping with this style of trip, and several times I’ve found myself standing in a swanky bathroom thinking my wash bag looks completely out of place. Sometimes I’ve even gone to the extent of hiding it in my suitcase so housekeeping don’t see it!
But no more.
Thanks to the lovely folks at Attavanti I’m now the proud owner of a fantastic Bonfanti Harris Tweed and Italian leather toiletry wash bag. It’s the perfect accessory on any luxury holiday, and now the only thing out of place in a posh hotel is me! I took the wash bag on our latest trip up to the Scottish Borders to try it out. We were staying in a historic castle spa hotel and a 5* converted peel tower so it was the ideal opportunity to channel my inner gentleman-on-tour.
READ MORE: Best things to do in the Scottish Borders
Attavanti – Italian artisan leather travel accessories
We really love the ethos behind Attavanti, a family company and online supplier of affordable upmarket Italian leather accessories and travel goods. Pretty much anything made in Italy is guaranteed to be stylish and expertly made, and Attavanti have chosen a superb range of both classic and contemporary items for their customers. They carefully source all their suppliers for authenticity and craftmanship so you know what you’re purchasing is artisan-made using only top quality Italian leather. I know Heather has her eye on one of their gorgeous handbags, and I’ve been told I need to update my ‘man-about-town’ messenger bag so watch this space!
Now our wash bag is by Bonfanti, one of the brands stocked by Attavanti. It was created way back in 1945 by husband and wife team Ermogene and Anita Bonfanti. Starting in a small artisan workshop they created handbags and briefcases for local workers, and moved on to focus on light luggage and everyday shopping bags. Later in the 1960’s with input from their sons Angelo and Terenzio, there was movement towards developing more stylish collections and today there is an eclectic and contemporary range for both men and women, ranging from printed canvas shoppers and leather briefcases to luxury luggage and Harris Tweed tote bags.
Bonfanti Harris Tweed and Italian Leather Toiletry Wash Bag
Described by Attavanti as “gorgeous” this wash bag is made in ‘George’ fabric which is a new addition to the well known Scottish Harris Tweed range. The certified handwoven (in the outer Hebrides!) Harris Tweed has been given a protective coating, trimmed with Italian leather and canvas handle, and looks and feels like it will last a lifetime. The single metal top zip gives access to the plain soft fabric lined compartment which is big enough to accommodate a substantial toiletry collection (the wash bag is 27 x 16 x 14cms). For those who prefer a splash of colour, the wash bag also comes in Harris Tweed Tartan, and both colours compliment their respective Bonfanti Leather and Harris Tweed Weekend Cabin Bags.
The Verdict
I’m not about to start gushing over a wash bag, but I’ll tell you something, I like it. I like it a lot! I love the simplicity of having one decent sized compartment, which means no faffing around trying to remember which ridiculously small inner zipped pocket I may or may not have put something in, and no struggling to concertina overstuffed pouches back into place. I’m a big fan of this wash bag having just one zip fastener – none of this elastic strap, metal popper, or zip combination that I’ve had in the past. I also like the look of the wash bag, with the fabric giving a gentleman’s style that won’t be out of place anywhere we stay, whether that be in a Scottish castle, a swanky city hotel or an exclusive safari lodge.
The only aspect of the Bonfanti wash bag that I am a little concerned about is the soft fabric lining. Over the years between Heather and I there have been several wash bag ‘incidents’ where shower gel, shampoo and the like have leaked out of ‘secure’ containers – and not always due to being in the hold of a plane. The material of those wash bags was easy to wipe clean and dry, but I don’t think this will be the case for the Bonfanti wash bag. I’m not too sure how we would get on trying to clean the fabric lining, but won’t let that put me off using this bag for all our various up and coming trips! I’ll just have to make sure my bottle lids are on tightly.
The Giveaway
We’ve partnered with Attavanti to offer our readers the chance to win their very own Bonfanti Harris Tweed and Italian leather wash bag (in either brown or tartan, subject to availability).
The giveaway opens on Monday 2nd April and ends at midnight on Monday 16th April 2018.
The giveaway is open to entrants worldwide.
Please note that by entering you are opting in to my monthly newsletter, Conversant Chronicle. I promise not to bombard you with messages, just one newsletter a month where you can keep up to date with our adventures, travel tips, and giveaways. Your details will not be shared with any third parties and you can unsubscribe at any time. You can read our Privacy Policy here.
How to enter
It couldn’t be simpler. Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter, completing as many of the options as you like. If you have previously completed any of the actions (for example if you already follow us on Facebook, Twitter etc) then feel free to have an entry for them!
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IMPORTANT: Make sure you select your entries on the Rafflecopter widget to validate your entry (click on the grey bottom right hand box under each entry option)!
Attavanti kindly provided us with a Bonfanti wash bag for this review, as well as the giveaway prize. All opinions remain our own, and we only feature products that we know you’ll love. Feature image has been provided by Attavanti.
I’d use it at home
love taking this away in the camper next time we go on an adventure
On a weekend getaway.
Our holiday this year is a tour round the west coast of Scotland; we’ve never been but from everything I’ve heard it’s a beautiful part of the country; would love to take this with me on our travels.
I would use it on all my excursions.
useful for travelling and a lovely prize
On our weekend away to Winchester
The Lake District, it’s where we end up on holiday 9 times out of 10!
I would love to take this lovely bag with me on my holiday with my husband. He won’t tell me where we are going yet.
Off to dumfries later this year , i would use it then
on holiday to france this year
On our travel’s. We have a few things books for this year
Great prize! Fingers crossed…
On every holiday and short break. May visit Oban and Saint Andrews later this year. A visit to Liverpool sometime in the future.
Taking a course over several weekends in Manchester so I’d keep it packed and ready to go.
I would use it when going bodyboarding.
I would use it when we go on holiday next month
I would use this on a country house break
My boyfriend and I always go on city breaks for a few days, so I would gift it to him to use for them!
I would use it for the short breaks I am planning this year!
I would use it for trips away , as it’s so stylish .
well its first outing with me wouldn’t be very exciting although it would cheer me up – camping at Sidmouth!
My husband travels a lot for work so I would love this for him. We got married in Scotland so this would be a lovely reminder of our special day
I would use this on my holiday to Yorkshire later this year
On my next holiday.Thank you for a giveaway.
I swim every week so I would take this to carry my swim goggles and toiletries x
I would use the bag for hospital visits and the occasional break. I’d like to visit Scotland.
On my work trips to the US and Amsterdam
I would use it to show off at the gym !
This lovely Bonfanti Harris Tweed wash bag would be perfect to take with me on my summer holidays.
I would use it to store all my bits and bobs that I put away and can’t remember where I’ve put them
visiting friends in Switzerland in the summer…..they will love everything Scottish!
I would take it on my walking holidays round the British coast
I love your tag line Adventure by day, Luxury by Night. It is exactly my style of travel. The wash bag would go with me on my next trip to Italy.
Thanks Carolyn! We love exploring and adventuring, but we do like a bit of luxury at the end of the day 🙂 Have fun in Italy, the wash bag would fit right in there!
on my cruise
Definitely for my next holiday. It is a cut above what I usually take!
I’d use it on the next family vacation – it looks so roomy and stylish.
I would take it on my next road trip to see my daughter.
I MIGHT let my husband use it on his friend’s stag to prague
I would use it on my next available trip away – hopefully soon
on our city breaks x
When I go to India next year
I’d take it on my honeymoon later this year x
I’d give it to my husband to use when we visit his brother in Valencia later this year 🙂
I’ll be gifting it to my mum if I win and she’ll take it on her holidays
On weekend breaks / holidays 🙂
We’re off to las vegas this autumn so would use it there
I would use it in……the bathroom?…… 🙂
Perfect for holiday
I would use ti on our annual trip to Edinburgh
I’d use it when I go on holiday in the summer.
Same issue, my only chance of getting husband on a city break is by booking a ridiculously nice hotel
Maybe they’re in league 😉
We go away on littlw weekends a couple of times a year, next weekend we are going to the Peak District, so it would go places like this x
Classy stuff
I love this, it is so classy, and I adore both tweed and tartan.It would compliment my decor and my luggage, and would accompany me on all my holidays and overnight stays.
I would use it on nights away and if I go on holiday. But it would get a lot of daily use as I like to keep things together and organised xx
I would take it on my holiday to filey
When traveling and after the gym
On business trips
This looks lovely
I would use it when visiting my daughter and grandaughter
would love this for my trip to paris in may with d hubby!!
Just perfect to take away with us to our friends wedding in Ireland this May.
my husband would love this for trips away
Next time I visit friends in Wales
Be perfect for whenever I go on holiday or stay the night at a friend/relative’s house.
I would use it on my next trip to France.
We’re taking a year out from holidaying in Scotland, and going to Snowdonia instead, so I’d use it there, plus we have odd weekends away in Yorkshire and Cumbria so it would come there too….
I would use it when I travel to Ireland this year.
perfect for my summer hols to greece x
i would use this for weekends away
I would give this stylish bag to my Mum as a present, to use on a short break to Exmoor.
Almost looks too good to use. But I’d use it on my next weekend away.
I would expand on their fame by taking it caravanning!
A nice weekend break to the Scottish Highlands. Stunning bags.
This would be really special for our trip to The Loire Valley and Versailles, after all it is fit for a king!.
Lovely stylish wash bags, I would use on my next holiday in Edinburgh
I would use it for the numerous work trips I have to go on it’s stunning
I would use the wash bag on my next trip up north to Scotland, love spending time around the highlands on a weekend break
A trip to the Lakes
When we are travelling for our adventures
I would take it gallivanting around Ireland and my trips to Scotland. Showing it off where ever I go.
I would gift it to my husband. Next trip hopefully Berlin!
I would use it for my trips around the UK
I work away a lot so would use it for that, anything to make staying in anonymous hotels more fun.
On my husbands trips 🙂
This is beautiful! My husband would love it. He’s very into his tweed!
I would use it when i go away for breaks
Nice bags! My husband could really use something with some class!
I would use this bag on my next cruise in July.
I would use this wash bag on an upcoming trip away with the girls.
Perfect for our short breaks – Amsterdam and Whitby the next two!
I would take it on my next visit to family in Australia
I would use this everyday in my bathroom at home – it is too lovely to save for best
It is perfect for my husband as he loves his tweed! He would use it on our many camping trips over Spring and Summer
It would come with me to Suffolk this summer
it would be nice to use it on my city breaks away
I would use the bag on multiple city breaks! Perfectly stylish!
We would use it on our next cruise holiday.
id take this to wales in the summer
I would use it when I go to stay with my son in Edinburgh
i would take it on holiday this summer
I would use it on my next holiday to Oxford.
Great place for a city break (and a swanky washbag).
I am going to Morroco in May, so I would love to use it for that
Yeay Morocco, our favourite destination in the world 🙂 We have heaps of articles on Morocco if you need any inspiration!
I’d use it everywhere I went. Next stop Malta….
Ooh, very nice, I’ve heard good things about Malta!
I would use it on my next holiday.
I would use it in the bathroom!
Surely the kitchen would be a better bet 😉
I’d use it for weekends away!
I would use this on short weekend trips out.
I’d give it to my Mum for her holidays.
I would use it on my next holiday to Scotland
Perfect choice!
On holiday
I visit London quite a lot and this would be great to take with me.
Perfect!
on my holidays ,or everytime I had to go away
I’d use it when we go away in our campervan and on the cruise ships we work on teaching ukulele
wow, that sounds like a cool job!
I would use for my holiday in May perfect for all my toiletries
Would use it on road trips!