The short answer
Start with what they carry every day, how they like to carry it and where it will go. For Christmas Eve, order a Velvinci bag by Monday, December 7, 2026, wherever we deliver. Import duties are already in the price, and every bag arrives in a gift box with a care card.
A good leather bag is one of the few gifts people use every day for years. It is also easy to get wrong: a size that does not fit their laptop, a strap that sits badly over a winter coat, or a parcel that arrives with a customs bill. This guide covers the three questions to settle first, the last order dates for this season’s gift days, and how to send a bag straight to the person it is for.
Three questions to ask before you choose
The right bag fits the way the person already lives. Three questions get you most of the way.
- WhatWhat do they carry? A laptop and papers, or only a phone, keys and a wallet. A work bag has to fit the laptop itself, not its screen size.
- HowHow do they carry it? In the hand, on the shoulder, across the body or on the back. Worn over a coat, a shoulder bag needs a handle drop of at least 9 inches (23 cm).
- WhereWhere will it go? The office, the city at the weekend, dinners or trips away. Each one points to a different shape.
Look at the bag they use now. It tells you the size they need, how they like to carry it and the colors they wear. Choose a bag that does the same job, better.
When to order: last dates for the 2026 holidays
Every Velvinci bag is prepared at our atelier in Marrakech within 3 business days, then delivered by tracked express courier within 14 days. The dates below allow for both. Order on or before the date shown and the bag arrives in time.
| Gift day | Order by | Date | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deepavali | Wed, Oct 21 | Sun, Nov 8 | Singapore |
| Father’s Day | Wed, Oct 21 | Sun, Nov 8 | Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia |
| Hanukkah | Tue, Nov 17 | Fri, Dec 4 | Everywhere we deliver |
| Sinterklaas | Wed, Nov 18 | Sat, Dec 5 | Netherlands |
| St Nicholas Day | Wed, Nov 18 | Sun, Dec 6 | Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg |
| Christmas Eve | Mon, Dec 7 | Thu, Dec 24 | Everywhere we deliver |
| New Year’s Eve | Mon, Dec 14 | Thu, Dec 31 | Everywhere we deliver |
| Three Kings Day | Fri, Dec 18 | Wed, Jan 6, 2027 | Spain |
December is the couriers’ busiest month, so earlier is always better. If your date has passed, write to us before you order and we will tell you honestly whether the bag can still arrive in time.
For any other date or country, the Gift Finder works out the last day to order.
Leather bag gifts by person
These are the shapes that suit each kind of day, and what to check before you buy.
For her, for work
A tote or a structured shoulder bag that takes her laptop, a notebook and the day’s small things. Check that the inside is about an inch wider and deeper than the laptop, and that there is a zip or an inner pocket for the commute. If she wears it over a coat, look for a handle drop of 9 inches (23 cm) or more. Our guide to choosing a work bag for a laptop goes into more detail.
For her, for the city and evenings
A crossbody or a smaller shoulder bag keeps her hands free and holds a phone, cards and keys. An adjustable strap lets her wear it across the body by day and on the shoulder at night. For evenings, a slim shape matters more than extra pockets.
For him, for work
A briefcase or a messenger that keeps papers flat and the laptop apart from chargers and keys. A firm base lets the bag stand on its own under a desk, and a detachable shoulder strap makes a long commute easier.
For a new job or a promotion
A work bag marks the moment and is used from the first day. Choose structure and a classic color: black or a deep brown sits well with most suits and coats. Save the bold color for a second bag.
For someone who travels
A backpack or a roomy tote with a zip carries a laptop, a book and a change of clothes. If it will go on planes, check the bag’s size against their airline’s personal-item limit, which changes from one airline to the next. Leather is not waterproof, so a zip also keeps the inside dry in a sudden shower.
What makes a leather bag a good gift
A gift bag should still look good years after the day it is opened. Four things decide that.
- The leather grade. Full-grain leather keeps the complete top layer of the hide, its strongest part. “Genuine leather” is usually a lower layer with a pressed surface. What leather labels really mean explains the difference. Every Velvinci bag is cut from full-grain leather.
- The places that fail first. Handles, stitching, edges and hardware wear out before the leather does. Our bags are stitched by hand, handles get extra stitching (and rivets on some bags), and every cut edge is sanded, sealed and polished. Craftsmanship shows each one up close.
- The right size. A bag that is too small for its job stays in the closet. The Bag Size Guide shows each of our bags to scale, with what fits inside.
- Simple care. A little care each season keeps leather supple. Our care routine takes about ten minutes.
Gifting with Velvinci
Every order is easy to give, wherever it goes.
- Gift boxEvery bag arrives in its dust bag, inside a gift box, with a care card.
- Your choiceAt checkout, choose “Invoice in the box” or “It’s a gift: no price in the box”. With the gift option we leave the invoice and the price out of the box.
- Their doorUse their address for delivery and yours for billing. The order emails and the tracking link come to you.
- No dutiesImport duties and courier customs fees are in the price, so nothing is charged when it arrives. In the USA, sales tax is added at checkout.
- ExchangesFree within 30 days of delivery, for another color or bag, from all 35 countries we deliver to. See Returns & Exchanges.
- GuaranteeTwo years on the hand stitching and every piece of hardware. See the Velvinci Guarantee.
Still deciding? The Gift Finder asks three questions (who it is for, their day and your budget) and shows the bags that fit, with the reasons.
Questions
When should I order a leather bag for Christmas?
By Monday, December 7, 2026, for delivery by Christmas Eve in any of the 35 countries we deliver to. Each bag is prepared within 3 business days, then delivered within 14 days by tracked express courier.
Can you send the bag straight to the person?
Yes. Enter their name and address for delivery and your own details for billing. At checkout you choose "Invoice in the box" or "It's a gift: no price in the box"; with the gift option we leave the price out. A customs document still travels with the parcel, in a pouch on the outside, as couriers require for international delivery. The order emails and the tracking link come to you.
Will they have to pay customs or duties when it arrives?
No. Import duties and courier customs fees are already in the price, so nothing is charged at their door. In the USA, sales tax is added at checkout and paid with the order.
Can they exchange the bag if it is not right?
Yes, free, within 30 days of delivery, for another color or bag. If the new bag costs more, only the difference is paid. A refund goes back to the card used for the order.
How do I choose the right size of bag for someone else?
Look at the bag they carry now: it shows the size they need and how they like to carry it. For a work bag, find their laptop model and add about an inch to its width and depth. Our Bag Size Guide shows every bag to scale.