The brown folio case with red lining is complete. It took a while due to some supply line issues. It was completed some weeks ago and is now for sale on the website and via Etsy.
The whole case is completely hand cut, hand stitched using traditional saddle stitching and hand finished using the finest natural materials available.
The out leather is from Sedgwick’s in Walsall. It is their brown bridal shoulder which is lightly corrected and fully aniline. It is not through dyed (officially) but the way it is dyed in large rolling drums ensures an even penetration so that although the edges are burnished with just water and beeswax (as per my edge finishing standard), the appearance is consistent and smooth.
Sedgwick leather is relatively dense and rigid giving this case quite some presence and feel both visually as well as physically. Ideal for protection of valuable contents. Over time the leather should form some patina around the areas most handled. The appearance of the surface of the leather is matt but there is a slight sheen which can be enhanced by feeding and polishing. Over time the leather may well form bloom and this can be seen already in the form of very light streaks running horizontally across the leather. This is not apparent in the photographs below and with continual use this would not appear.
The lining is goat kid suede. The fibers of kid suede are much finer than those of adult goats giving a smoother and softer feel and appearance. This lining is luxuriously soft and deeply dyed due to double dying techniques. It is quite thick for lining and this adds to the protective properties of the case as well a plush appearance. The whole inside of the case is completely lined and the edges are skived so that they give the edges a less bulky and more refined appearance. The lining is completely stitched in to the edges so that the chances of the lining coming away are quite slim.
The hardware is solid machined brass. The lock is made in Walsall and has a very solid feeling mechanism. The brass is un-lacquered so that the material that is touched is natural brass rather than a clear lacquer. The further advantage of this is that the brass will tarnish and form a patina depending on how and how often the folio case is used. This is my preferred style as it gives each item a completely personal and unique appearance with use. And a clean shiny new brass lock is only a few rubs away (although care must be taken here to prevent any damage to the surrounding leather). The lock comes with two keys.
Finally the thread is the famed and luxurious Fil au Chinois Lin Cable thread. Since the stitch density is a very fine 10 spi (stitches per inch) the thread used is the 632 weight which is just under half a millimeter in diameter. Thin it may be but strong enough it is. I am unable to break the thread by hand. As this thread is double twisted instead of single twisted, it retains its cylindrical shape even after the stitching and it has a cabled appearance. It does not fray easily. These features make it the ideal thread, especially where cost is of lesser concern. This is probably the most expensive thread available. Definitely the best!
Some friends ask me why this particular portfolio case is priced so below comparable folio’s on sale elsewhere. Especially those people who know something about handmade luxury leather goods (such as my colleagues at the Leather Museum). There are no faults with the case and it works perfectly. I have decided to sell my first few projects at a discounted price. Call it a promotional tactic. This will only be for a very short time and anyone looking at comparable portfolio cases online will find that this one is priced extremely competitively. If you do look, please keep in mind that this portfolio is completely designed in-house and completely handmade using the finest luxury materials. Hand cut, hand stitched and hand finished from beginning to end. No machines, no noise and no rush. Simple, old fashioned leather work.
I hope you enjoy going through the photographs below, taken in my workshop and at the Walsall Leather Museum a few weeks back.
