It all began in the summer of 2011, when we set out on a quest for the perfect iPad case—one that exuded refined simplicity and impeccable style. Incredibly, at the time, there was not one that suited our design aesthetic, and so our search proved unsuccessful, until P had a revelation: why not design our own?
What followed would be a two-year adventure across three countries in search of the perfect materials—the finest leather, hand-forged and polished brass hardware from Paris, and most importantly, someone who could bring our designs to life, a craftsperson who still created using the traditional, age-old techniques from times gone by. The search for makers would prove to be the most difficult, and we are very fortunate to be working with some of the best in the West Midlands, the heart of where the craft began and the centre of leather manufacturing in Britain for the past two hundred years.
From a single iPad case, our collection grew to encompass two elegant designs in an array of rich leathers and custom colours, plus coordinating accessories. Over two years of design and research, the original case underwent three prototypes before we were completely satisfied with the final result. During that time, we worked with one of the oldest and best equestrian houses in Britain, along with one of the most prestigious saddlery houses in France, collaborating to interweave their old-world mastery with our contemporary aesthetic in a beautiful merging of design, materials and craftsmanship.
The road had twists and turns—setbacks, false starts, losses and delays, homes and cities changed. And through it all, we were always in love, with each other, and with this, our latest adventure. In the end, there would be a wealth of knowledge about the design process: different types of leather and the tanning process; manufacturing and sourcing the best materials and hardware from Italy, France, and Britain. We would learn a great deal about patience and determination, and the truth that love is indeed in the details. But most of all, we would learn about ourselves.
Perhaps this is just the beginning of our story. We are thrilled to finally share with you, at long last, the realisation of that fateful summer dream.
From us to you,
P&R, January 2014