Premium Leather Goods Company is Specially Commissioned by Former Wales International Rugby Union Player Ian Gough to create a Bespoke Bag. asalidesigns.co.uk

We’re pleased to announce that ASALI, renowned for its range of military-inspired premium leather bags and accessories has been specially commissioned to design a bespoke Weekender Bag for Welsh Rugby legend, Ian Gough.

Since his retirement in 2015, Ian is now a sports commentator for the game he knows and loves, a new father to his second child and a keen flying enthusiast who likes to fly his YAK_52, a Soviet Trainer Aircraft that first took flight in 1976.

Thanks to their love of all things aviation, the collaboration between ASALI and Ian Gough was born. The idea first started last year when ASALI Owner Mindy Arora met Ian and Carol Vorderman on BBC Radio Wales, Swansea for its annual airshow. Somewhere between last year’s airshow and this year’s pandemic Mindy still managed to speak and create a YAK_52 inspired bag that Ian had hoped for.

From left to right Mindy Arora, Carol Vorderman & Ian Gough

What you need to know about a YAK-52
It is a Soviet primary trainer aircraft
It first flew in 1976
It is often used for those training to fly warbirds and do aerobatics
It has a 9 cylinder radial engine putting out over 400 horse power.

The brief…
Ian wanted a classic weekender bag design and Mindy suggested the larger bag size to suit his sporting and family needs. They both worked together and trialled several different silhouettes of the Yak aircraft in flight before committing to the final look. To fulfil Ian’s exact brief the ASALI team had to create a bespoke block that could be used for de-bossing of the aircraft so it could be put onto the bag in the right position during its production.

Bag details
The final product is a Yak_52 Weekender Bag made from genuine Italian leather using a combination of hand and machine based techniques. The bag is finished with brass fixtures and fittings and all ASALI bags come with their own dust-cover. The best bit…the long strap was personalised, a service that ASALI provides on selected items to make their goods all the more special.

Own your own
The bespoke Ian Gough Bespoke Weekender Bag featuring the YAK silhouette is available to buy and can be personalised with your name. This bespoke design has become so popular that there is now a waiting list for the bag.

That’s not all…the ASALI brand actively gives back to charity and is proud to support the RAF Benevolent Fund and RAF Association by donating a percentage of profits of sales, and by giving products to their various charity events.