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Made in USA
Handcrafted in Detroit by U.S. Veterans & artisans.
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Take Care
Keep your products looking great and lasting for generations - Learn more
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Sustainability
Crafted with zero waste from upcycled automotive leather.
Toss it in and make your moves. The Telegraph Tote will be alongside you. Sustainably made from buttery soft yet sturdy automotive leather, with a large open compartment perfect for flowers at the farmer's market or overnight adventures to your favorite places.
Each Telegraph Tote is one of a few we'll make in a few small batch colors this month.
Featuring soft and sturdy leather handles, dual inside pockets for your phone, wallet, sunglasses, and essentials.
Designed by Meg Harris, with our most premium leather upcycled from the top car companies in the USA, and other local partners, and handmade in Detroit by US Veterans and Detroiters.
Features:
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Leather body with either leather or seatbelt straps
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Leather interior
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U.S. made stainless steel rivets
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100% designed and made in Detroit
Dimensions:
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Classic Bag dimensions (17"W x 12"D x 15.5"L)
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Fits a laptop up to 16 inches
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- Compact Tote: (17"W x 12"D x 11"L)
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(2) Interior leather pockets (9.5"W x 4"D x 8.5"L), holds phone, sunglasses, wallets
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Soft flat seat belt wrapped in leather handles or all leather handle, with stitching accent; 9" drop
Made to Order:
Please allow 2-3 weeks for us to handmake and ship your bag to you.
The Leather Story:
Every day thousands of pounds of leather from brand new cars go unused for reasons as simple as color issues and small marks. We give this material a new life by transforming it into high quality leather products that are sustainable and handmade to last.
Perfectly Imperfect:
Every Pingree Tote is slightly different. Why? The leather that we use is of the highest genuine grade and has imperfections that tell an authentic story. Small scratches and marks on the leather's surface are normal and will help the bag patina and age nicely. Texture and shade of leather may vary slightly from those pictured.
Why the Name, "Telegraph":
US Highway 24 (US 24) known as Telegraph Road is named after roads that once ran alongside actual telegraph lines across Michigan in 1868. The road runs for 79.828 miles through three counties in southeastern Michigan as it parallels the Lake Erie shoreline.
The northern part of the highway follows a section of an old Indigenous trail called the Saginaw Trail that connected Detroit with points further north.
Shipping
Since the majority of our products are made to order, we try our hardest to ensure orders ship quickly. Most accessories ship within 3-5 business days after the order being placed. If the product is made to order- you'll see the estimated days needed to make your handmade piece in bold on that respective product page. Footwear will ship based on the month included on the receipt emailed to you and the name in the Title when you checked out.
Returns
We want you to be happy, and tell your friends, family, and co-workers about your Piece of Pingree a decade from now how well it's still holding up, so we will stand by our product for life. If the stitching or any hardware fails on one of our products within 365 days of the product arriving to you, we cover the cost of getting it shipped back to us to repair and shipping it back to you at no extra cost. After the warranty, for the Life of Your Product, if anything breaks on it from normal use (please don't use our dog leashes to lift engines out of cars--even though they can hold it) - all you pay is the labor it costs us to repair it and the shipping expense.
Why Pingree is Different?
At Pingree Detroit, we’re not just crafting products—we’re designing impact into everything we do. Every product we make is a testament to our commitment to sustainability, quality, and neighborhood resiliency. By using upcycled leather, we’re reducing waste and turning it into handcrafted goods that stand the test of time. But what truly sets us apart is the people behind the work.
We proudly employ Detroiters and Veterans; paying a living wage and reinvesting 77% of profits back into the workers and neighborhoods where we work. Being rooted in a mission-driven environment, working with your hands, and being part of something bigger than yourself is restorative. You can be proud knowing your purchase is making a difference and you’ll know who it’s making a difference for, since each product comes with a "Maker Card".
We LOVE Sustainable Products
Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Our products are crafted using upcycled leather that would otherwise go to the landfill. By giving this leather a second life, we’re reducing waste and minimizing our environmental impact while delivering high-quality goods built to last.
But sustainability isn’t just about the materials; it’s about reimagining "waste" and designing around circularity. From our eco-conscious production and shipping methods to our commitment to maximizing well-being for our workers, customers, and the environment, we believe every step matters. When you choose a Pingree product, you’re choosing something better—for the planet, for people, and for our collective future.