Fashion
PAST VINTAGE We chat with Jordan Kirby, the founder behind Past Vintage, a brand that celebrates the true heritage of British manufacturing in its leather goods
TELL US WHY YOU DECIDED TO CREATE PAST VINTAGE? Past Vintage was created out of frustration and to some degree the evident decline of the British leather industry. Growing up, I saw the decline of British manufacturing firsthand as my father’s business was only a stone’s throw away from the factories of MG Rover, which is based in Longbridge, Birmingham. Today, operations have moved overseas, which paints a very familiar picture throughout most industries. I bought a vintage Royal Mail postal bag back in 2014, which to my surprise was still intact. The product was made of canvas but still possessed a very strong
and durable leather handle. After looking at similar products in today’s marketplace, it was clear these are manufactured outside the UK or constructed with poor materials. As a company, we’re very focused on transparency and provenance, which is also reflected through our material and manufacturing, which is something we’re very proud of! HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT YOUR BAGS CELEBRATE THE HERITAGE OF BRITISH MANUFACTURING AS WELL AS SUSTAINABILITY? Heritage was one of my top
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priorities when I started Past Vintage. It was crucial that we never moved away from this, especially with the material. Luckily, our leather supplier and brass foundry are both located in Walsall, a town situated on the outskirts of Birmingham. Other than London, Walsall was at the heart of leather manufacturing during the early 1900’s, and it’s production of luxury leather goods was recognised globally but stiff competition from overseas manufacturing hit the town a devastating blow. Even with the overall decline, British made leather goods are still sought after and are recognised as high quality. Sticking to our values, as a company is something we will never move away from! CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT BRIDLE LEATHER IS? Bridle leather is well known for its strength, durability and stiffness. The finishing (also known as currying) process is very thorough taking anywhere from several weeks and even years for completion. The high
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shine finish of bridle leather is put down to the layers of hand sprayed waxes and pigments used to dye and colour the fibres of the leather. Our leather suppliers were founded in 1900 and are world renowned for their bridle leather. The number of steps to achieve such a high quality piece of material is quite breath taking and are something to be admired.
Each piece is handpicked and inspected for markings, scars or any other imperfections. Bridle leather is very niche when it comes to the
