We believe in providing an alternative to disposable culture, creating beautiful, functional products characterised by their simplicity and cherished for decades, not months. Taking a modern approach to traditional manufacturing, and working with local suppliers and workshops, every product encapsulates the pure design values Wingback stands for.
Useful. Minimal. Beautiful.
Here we have detailed some of the steps involved in making a Wingback wallet.
Wingback products are a celebration of exceptional materials. Our hides, sourced from Tuscany, Italy, bear natural markings that hint at stories of a past life. Each is tested rigorously before being cut to shape in our London workshop.
We use a pulsed fibre laser to cut our leather hides to shape. This level of precision allows us to etch highly detailed graphics and inscriptions. Heat generated from the 0.1mm beam seals the leather for a sharp finish that will stand the test of time.
A signature of all our small leather products is the coloured heavy gauge thread we use to hold them together. Each one is hand sewn using a saddle stitch – a hallmark of exquisite quality – that simply isn’t possible with a sewing machine. It takes time, but so does anything worth holding onto.
We choose to custom-design a lot of our metal components. The crisp machined finish enhances the soft texture of the full grain Italian leather we use for all our products and CNC machining produces incredibly precise parts that make mechanisms a pleasure to use.
One of the vital finishing touches we make before packaging each product is to bevel the edges of the leather. This cuts away any loose fibres and smoothes rough edges to give each Wingback a clean chamfered finish.
Next we use an ebony tool, spun at 20,000 RPM, to align and polish the leather edges. This removes any remaining burrs and further finishes products by providing them a gentle shine.
Each side of the leather we use is distinct from the other, providing a dual effect with our products. The inside is sealed to protect its surface while maintaining the natural qualities of the hide and extending the product's lifetime so you can see the inside of the leather age over time.
Great care and attention to detail doesn’t end with our wallets. We regularly review our packaging to minimise our impact on the environment, while providing you with something you'll want to reuse time after time.
The final step in the design process – turning our simple, utilitarian product into a masterpiece – is made by you. We want you to put your Wingback to good use. Let it pick up scuffs, scratches, marks and dents. As these smooth away, they will leave a majestic patina behind, one that serves as a daily reminder of the journeys you've shared.
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
~ Hunter S. Thompson