The Custom Longchamp Travel Bag Review: My Made-to-Order Hospital & Weekend Bag

There are handbags you like… and then there are handbags that mark a moment in your life.
This Longchamp bag is very much the latter.

This is not just any Longchamp Le Pliage–style travel tote. It’s a made-to-order, fully personalised Longchamp travel bag in canvas, designed as my hospital bag for the birth of our first child—and also destined to become my go-to weekend and travel companion.

In this review, I’ll walk you through the design, customisation process, what fits, pros & cons, and whether a custom Longchamp travel bag is worth it over the classic nylon range.

Overview: The Custom Longchamp Travel Bag

Longchamp is a French heritage brand known for its Le Pliage line—those iconic nylon totes that fold neatly and somehow go with everything. This particular bag sits within the Longchamp travel collection and is part of their personalisation / made-to-order offering, which allows you to design your own colourway, initials, and even interior message.

Key things to know about this bag:

  • It’s a large travel-sized tote – ideal as:

    • hospital bag

    • weekend bag

    • carry-on or overnight bag

  • It’s made from thick cotton canvas, not nylon

  • It features:

    • burgundy/maroon body

    • petal pink leather trim

    • gold-tone hardware

    • initials “AIG” hot-stamped on the front and on the leather tab

    • A personalised inside message: “You are my treasure”

It was a gift from my husband, ordered specifically as my hospital bag for labour and delivery, which makes the message inside and the whole design incredibly emotional and special.

Design & Features

1. Overall Aesthetic

The bag is big, bold and beautiful.

  • Body colour: a deep burgundy / maroon canvas

  • Trimming: soft petal pink leather on the handles, edges and strap details

  • Lettering: matching pink lettering for the initials "AIG" on the exterior and the inner message

  • Hardware: polished gold-tone hardware that ties everything together and adds a luxurious feel

The combination of burgundy canvas, blush-pink trim and gold details makes it feel feminine yet grown-up—playful but still elegant enough for travel, city breaks, or chic hospital arrival photos (because yes, we absolutely think about these things).

2. Personalisation Details

The magic of this bag is really in the customisation:

You can choose:

  • Body colour

  • Trim colour

  • Hardware tone (e.g., gold vs. other finishes)

  • Initials on the front

  • Additional hot stamping on the leather tab

  • Interior message in a contrast colour

On my bag:

  • Front initials: AIG – Alicja Isabella Griffiths

  • Hot stamp on the leather flap: AIG again for that cohesive branding moment

  • Inside message: “You are my treasure” in pink letters on the inside panel

The interior message is what truly elevates this from “a nice personalised bag” to a sentimental heirloom piece. Imagine being in the birthing suite, exhausted, rummaging for something in your bag, and every time you open it, you see: You are my treasure. It’s such a small detail, but it changes the emotional experience of the bag entirely.

3. Material & Construction

Unlike the classic Longchamp travel bags, which are usually nylon with leather trim, all the personalised versions in this line are made from canvas only.

  • Exterior: thick cotton canvas – soft, pliable, and slightly textured

  • Interior: soft grey fabric lining – gentle, neutral, and easy on the eyes

  • Trim: smooth pink leather on handles, strap attachments, and details

  • Structure: unstructured, slouchy and foldable, with a large open interior

Because it’s canvas:

  • It’s not waterproof like the nylon Le Pliage

  • It will likely show dust and dirt sooner than nylon

  • But it also feels more substantial and quite luxurious in a casual, travel-friendly way

What Fits Inside: Capacity & Organisation

This bag is huge—in the best possible way.

The interior is:

  • One large open compartment, like a soft canvas suitcase

  • Lined in grey fabric

  • Equipped with a large slip pocket on the back wall for smaller items (documents, phone, lip balm, passport, etc.)

Because it’s so spacious, it works beautifully for:

As a Hospital Bag

You can easily fit:

  • Nightwear and a robe

  • Slippers or slides

  • Toiletries and skincare

  • Change of clothes for going home

  • Nursing bras / comfortable underwear

  • Baby’s first outfits

  • Swaddles, nappies, wipes and essentials

  • Important documents, birth plan, charger, snacks

Instead of juggling two medium Longchamp bags (one for mum, one for baby), this consolidates everything into one chic, functional holdall.

As a Weekend / Travel Bag

Think of it as the perfect weekend in the countryside or carry-on city escape bag. You can pack:

  • 2–3 outfits

  • A pair of flats or sneakers

  • Makeup and toiletries bag

  • Laptop or iPad in a sleeve

  • Light sweater or scarf

  • Travel documents and in-flight essentials

It’s essentially a soft cabin bag that still looks stylish enough to sit on top of your suitcase in a hotel lobby or under a pram in the hospital hallway.

Functionality: Strap, Comfort & Ease of Use

1. Shoulder Strap (The Game-Changer)

One of the biggest frustrations with many of the classic Longchamp travel models is that they don’t come with a shoulder strap—they’re top-handle only.

This custom canvas travel bag:

  • Includes a removable, adjustable shoulder strap

  • Strap is made of fabric with pink leather trim

  • Features gold hardware with the Longchamp logo

This matters so much in real-life use:

  • When the bag is packed to the brim (which it will be), you do not want to carry it only by hand

  • The shoulder strap makes it significantly more practical, especially:

    • Walking through airports

    • Navigating hospital corridors

    • Balancing luggage, baby, or coffee

The strap truly makes all the difference between “pretty but annoying” and “pretty and actually usable.”

2. How It Sits on the Body

When worn:

  • As a shoulder bag, it looks like a large but streamlined travel tote

  • The soft canvas allows it to mold slightly to your side

  • It doesn’t look stiff or boxy—more relaxed and chic

When held by the top handles:

  • It gives that classic Longchamp silhouette, just in an upsized, personalised version

Pros & Cons

No bag is perfect, even when it feels emotionally perfect. Let’s be honest about the pros and cons.

Pros

  • Highly personalised: initials, colour combination, hardware, and inner message

  • Sentimental value: especially with an inside inscription chosen by a loved one

  • Huge capacity: ideal for hospital, weekend trips, or travel

  • Shoulder strap included & adjustable: adds comfort and practicality

  • Soft, foldable construction: easy to store, not rigid or bulky

  • Elegant colour combo: burgundy, petal pink, and gold is chic and feminine

  • Versatile use: can transition from hospital bag to travel / mum-life / weekend bag

Cons

  • Canvas, not nylon:

    • Not waterproof

    • More prone to stains and dust

  • Less structured:

    • It’s essentially a big soft open space – you may want pouches or organisers

  • Potentially higher price than regular travel nylon bags

    • You’re paying for personalisation and canvas construction

  • Cleaning requires some care:

    • Canvas should be spot-cleaned or gently washed; leather parts need protection

Styling Notes: How I’d Wear It

Even though this is technically a travel / hospital bag, that doesn’t mean it can’t be styled.

For the Hospital

  • Soft neutral loungewear set

  • Chunky cardigan

  • Slip-on sandals or slides

  • Minimal jewellery (small studs, simple bracelet)

  • The bag adds a touch of quiet luxury to the whole experience

Shop this hospital look[Insert links / widgets]

For Weekend Travel

  • Straight-leg jeans

  • White tee or striped knit

  • Trench coat or wool coat

  • Ballet flats or white sneakers

  • Crossbody bag for essentials + this Longchamp as your main carry

Shop this weekend look[Insert links / widgets]

For Everyday Mum Life (Later On)

  • Leggings or relaxed trousers

  • Oversized shirt or sweatshirt

  • Comfortable trainers

  • This bag as a chic “baby plus mum essentials” tote for car trips or overnights

Shop this mum-on-the-go look[Insert links / widgets]

Wear & Durability (First Impressions)

Because this is an unboxing and early review, I can only speak to initial impressions, but here’s what stands out:

  • Canvas feels thick and robust – not flimsy

  • Handles and strap attachments feel secure – no obvious weak points

  • Stitching appears neat and consistent

  • Hardware looks solid and polished

The main consideration will be:

  • Protecting it from heavy rain

  • Avoiding dirty floors (especially in hospital / travel environments)

  • Spot-cleaning if any marks appear

Given how many people successfully wash their nylon Longchamp bags (even though they technically include leather), I’m optimistic that canvas will be reasonably easy to clean with care.

Alternatives to Consider

If you’re thinking about a Longchamp travel or hospital bag, you might compare this personalised canvas version to:

  1. Classic Longchamp Le Pliage Travel Bags (Nylon)

    • Pros: lighter, more water-resistant, usually less expensive

    • Cons: often no shoulder strap, no custom colours or inner message

  2. Two Medium Longchamp Totes Instead of One Large

    • One for baby, one for mum

    • But less convenient to carry than one big bag with a shoulder strap

  3. Non-personalised Weekender Bags from Other Brands

    • Plenty of leather or canvas weekenders exist

    • But they rarely offer this mix of lightness, foldability, and sentimental customisation

If personalisation and sentimentality are important to you—especially for a milestone moment like your first baby—the custom Longchamp really shines.

Is the Custom Longchamp Travel Bag Worth It?

So, is it worth investing in a made-to-order, personalised Longchamp travel bag?

I would say yes, if:

  • You want a bag that feels deeply personal and emotionally significant

  • You appreciate the French, understated luxury aesthetic of Longchamp

  • You need a large, practical, carry-all bag for hospital, weekends or travel

  • You value the experience of choosing colours, initials, and an inside message

It’s not the most “high-drama” luxury purchase—there’s no giant logo, no monogram canvas, no metal plaque shouting designer. Instead, it feels like something you’ll quietly love and use for years, that will always remind you of a very specific life chapter.

For me, as a hospital bag chosen by my husband with that beautiful message inside, it’s absolutely priceless.

Alicja’s Final Thoughts

This custom Longchamp canvas travel bag is:

  • Beautiful – the burgundy and petal pink combination is chic and feminine.

  • Practical – the size, shoulder strap and open interior make it an ideal hospital, travel or weekend bag.

  • Unique – no one else will have this exact colour and message.

  • Emotional – the “You are my treasure” inscription turns it into a keepsake.

It marks the beginning of a new chapter: motherhood, travel with a little one, and all the memories that will be made with this bag by my side—whether that’s in a hospital room, a car boot, or the overhead compartment on a plane.

If you’re considering a custom Longchamp for a milestone—be it a baby, wedding, graduation, or big birthday—I honestly think it’s a beautiful way to celebrate.

Watch the Full Video Review

If you’d like to see the bag in motion, how it looks against the body, and the unboxing moment itself, you can watch the full video on my YouTube channel:

👉 Watch the custom Longchamp hospital bag unboxing

You’ll see:

  • How it sits when worn on the shoulder

  • The exact size relative to my body

  • A closer look at the canvas texture, lining and strap

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Written for AlicjaGriffiths.com — Luxury Handbag Reviews & Style Insights.

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