If you're choosing between the Emery Astrid Tote and the Carl Friedrik Ashby Tote, you're looking at two vegetable-tanned leather totes for work. The Ashby is larger, closes with a zip, has pen slots and a leather key holder, and Carl Friedrik names its Tuscan tannery and its lining fabric. The Astrid costs AED 2,210 less, has its own 13-inch laptop compartment, weighs 1 kg, and comes with a lifetime warranty, 100 days to return or exchange it and free delivery across the GCC.
We make the Astrid, so we're not neutral. Everything below comes from what each brand publishes on its website, and we've included where Carl Friedrik comes out ahead.
Side by side
| Emery Astrid Tote | Carl Friedrik Ashby Tote | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (UAE) | AED 1,590 | AED 3,800 |
| Leather | Vegetable-tanned full-grain calf, LWG-certified tanneries | Vegetable-tanned vachetta from a named Tuscan tannery |
| Lining | Lined interior | 220gsm technical nylon canvas |
| Laptop | 13-inch, in its own compartment | "Dedicated business pocket for laptop and documents" (size not stated) |
| Pockets | Laptop compartment, large zip compartment, 3 small inside pockets, outside slit pocket | Business pocket, wide zip pocket, 3 open pockets, 2 pen slots, leather key holder |
| Closure | Not stated | Zip; can also be carried open |
| Carry | Long shoulder straps | Not stated |
| Size | Everyday tote | 46 × 29 × 12 cm |
| Weight | 1 kg | 1.2 kg |
| Hardware | Brass zip | Nickel-plated hardware, polished zips |
| Colours | Camel, Black | Cognac, Black |
| Personalisation | Not offered | Not offered |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime, for functional faults |
| Returns | 100 days to return or exchange | 60 days, unused; £30 return cost from outside the UK and Europe, exchanges free; shipping not refunded |
| Delivery to the UAE | Free across the GCC; 1–3 days in the UAE | Express AED 340, plus duties and taxes calculated at checkout |
Prices and terms as published, checked 25 October 2026. Check both sites for the latest.
Where Carl Friedrik is ahead
The Ashby is the bigger bag, at 46 × 29 × 12 cm, and its main compartment zips shut, so it suits days when everything has to fit and stay put. Inside, two pen slots and a leather key holder keep small things from sinking to the bottom. Carl Friedrik names the Tuscan tannery behind its vachetta leather and lists the lining down to the fabric weight. It says each Ashby is handmade by a family-run workshop in Naples. In Kuwait or Doha you can see Carl Friedrik at Harvey Nichols or Salam.
Where Emery is ahead
The Astrid is AED 2,210 cheaper. It's built around a laptop: a 13-inch laptop compartment of its own, plus a large zip compartment, three small inside pockets and an outside slit pocket. Carl Friedrik gives the Ashby a business pocket for a laptop but doesn't state the size. The Astrid is vegetable-tanned full-grain calf from LWG-certified tanneries, it's 200 g lighter at 1 kg, and its long shoulder straps carry it on the shoulder. Our laptop bag size guide lists real laptop sizes.
Both warranties are lifetime. The other terms differ. Emery gives you 100 days to return or exchange; Carl Friedrik gives 60 days, lists a £30 return cost from outside the UK and Europe, and doesn't refund shipping. Emery delivers free across the GCC, in 1–3 days in the UAE. Carl Friedrik charges AED 340 for express delivery to the UAE, plus duties and taxes calculated at checkout. On 25 October its product page showed delivery in three days, while its help centre quotes 5–9 working days outside the UK and Europe.
Which should you choose?
Choose Carl Friedrik if you want a bigger tote with a zip top, pen slots and a key holder, in smooth Italian-tanned vachetta.
Choose Emery if you carry a 13-inch laptop every day and want its own compartment, a lighter bag, a lifetime warranty and 100 days to decide, with free GCC delivery, for AED 2,210 less.
See the Astrid Tote and all our totes, or compare it with Kaizer's Au Fait.
Quick answers
Does the Carl Friedrik Ashby tote fit a laptop? Carl Friedrik says the Ashby has a dedicated business pocket for a laptop and documents, but doesn't state a laptop size. The Emery Astrid has a 13-inch laptop compartment (October 2026).
Which is lighter? The Emery Astrid weighs 1 kg. Carl Friedrik lists the Ashby at 1.2 kg (October 2026).
Which is cheaper? The Emery Astrid Tote is AED 1,590. The Carl Friedrik Ashby Tote is AED 3,800, plus AED 340 express delivery to the UAE (October 2026).
