Meet the Maker Past Vintage

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 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 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

PAST VINTAGE

mass production of leather globally.

The majority of leather used today is chrome tanned, which is produced more quickly and has a much lower purchase cost. Bridle leather is vegetable tanned using natural tannins such as tree bark or leaves, and this makes it far superior to its counterparts! Sticking to bridle leather as our primary material provides us with a great pedestal. Goods destined to be passed down through generations.

WHAT MAKES YOUR BRIEFCASES DIFFERENT FROM WHAT’S ALREADY OUT THERE? Past Vintage is entirely focused on quality rather than quantity. We focused on simplicity, which in essence is what adds lifespan to our products.

Fast fashion is not our scene! Our briefcases are not internally lined but have a raw finish. The reason behind this was to give focus to the material itself and for customers to experience a natural product.

During the design phase, we incorporated certain features to provide flexibility and convenience directed to our customers.

Extending our billet straps towards the rear of the briefcase enabled extra room and effectively offers a neat holder, ideal for a newspaper, jacket or even an umbrella. Unlike other brands, our logo placement was another area of extensive thought, and we went with embossing on the rear to maintain a high level of exclusivity.

WHAT INSPIRES THE DESIGNS AND COLOUR WAYS THAT YOU OFFER? We reflected on ‘why we started’ when designing our first collection. Using timeless leather pieces as inspiration and as a benchmark, we were then able to introduce add our own twist when it came to the colour selection. Contrary to this, we still had to appreciate that we’re living in an evolving digital era and providing adequate space within the briefcase was a must, to securely hold the latest smart devices such as tablets and laptops. Our colour selection was a combination of old with the new. The traditional colours of black and brown are without doubt the most common choices with leather goods but surprisingly our newest colour addition, London Tan, has claimed the most praise with the press.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR PAST VINTAGE? As a new brand, we’re very much keeping our feet on the ground during these early days. For the time being, we’ll be focusing on our newly released bridle collection. Our main commitment at this moment is to focus on product quality, and to continue going against the tide in supplying true British made leather goods!

PAST VINTAGE

www.pastvintage.com

Home Chrsstmas at home

We share some quirky festive essentials sure to put a smile on your family’s faces

HOMEMADE CALENDAR We love this idea from Dobbies Garden centres. It’s an inexpensive way of making an advent calendar that’s full of surprises! They’ve filled these little boxes with a selection of their sweets and confectionery including snowman lolly, luxury fruit jellies, and cinnamon stars. All priced from 99p | Dobbies Garden Centres www.dobbies.com

WRAP IN STYLE! This super cute Christmas dog-themed wrapping paper is sure to make someone smile and that’s before they see the incredible gift inside! Printed in Sussex, the wrapping paper is provided flat folded as single sheets, and features the wonderful illustrations from Heather Alstead.

£3.45 | Christmas Dog Wrapping Paper www.heatheralsteaddesign.com

RUSTIC RECYCLING Inspired by the British countryside - Wonderland Works creates rustic style home decor and gifts that look so magical. Taking everyday household items and waste, they turn them into keepsakes and practical décor using a special decoupage technique. This Gonk jar is made from recycled coffee jars, and is perfect for sitting on the coffee table full of treats during the festive period. £7 | Christmas Gonk Glass Storage Jars www.wonderlandworks.co.uk

A MERRY ECO-FRIENDLY CHRISTMAS Re-use these Christmas crackers every year. Decorated with a festive floral theme, they’ll be a lovely addition to your dining table setting. They include ecosnaps that are silent and pet-friendly, recyclable and compostable too. Packed in six and flat-packed, they’re ready to pop into shape and fill with your own special gifts. £19.95 | 6 Reusable Eco Crackers www.keepthiscracker.com

PAWFECT! Luxury British dog accessories brand, Teddy Maximus has introduced its personalised Christmas stockings for dogs and dog lovers! They are available in five colours and signature prints – choose from navy, apple green, pink, duck egg or peppermint – and are perfect for the whole family. £39.50 | Personalised Christmas Stocking www.tedddymaximus.com

ANIMAL ATTRACTION These reindeer antler napkin rings add that extra finishing touch to your Christmas lunch and let’s everyone know where they are sitting! Each napkin ring measures 115mm wide by 97mm high and is cut with a flat bottom so it can sit flat on a plate or table. The hole for the napkin measures 40mm in diameter to hold your best napkins securely. £14 | Personalised Christmas antler napkin rings www.belvederecollections