Maximising the brand they call it. If you have a premium brand it’s a good bet your customers will be amenable to a few designer geejaws, especially those fashioned from luxurious leather. Just look at successful brands like Montblanc with all their wallets, pen cases and notebooks and folios. Now Leica is in on the act with a rather nice line of tan leather accessories.

Smartphone slipcases (iPhone and Samsung P9 — they couldn’t miss that one out) feature strongly. I’m not a slipcase type admittedly, fearing the phone will fall on its face as soon as it is unslipped from the slip. But I can believe some people must like them. I feel pretty much the same about business card holders; my cards go straight in the pocket where I can get to them instantly. But I am rather taken with the pen holders and, if I didn’t have a drawerful of similar confections from Montblanc et al, I could be tempted. But this misses the point: These little accessories will be snapped up as presents for the Leica-person-in-your-life.

The star of the show for me, though, is the superior-looking notebook case which houses a fat Moleskine notebook. I love the look of this; indeed, I might well be penning a note to Father Christmas over the next month or so. I have to say that I would have preferred it thinner, accommodating one of the slimmer Moleskines, but it has tickled my fancy nonetheless. A complication is that I’ve recently deserted Moleskine in favour of Leuchtturm but they all come in similar sizes and I hope they will fit.

Here’s the full story from those smooth-penned Wordsmiths of Wetzlar:

Leica Press Release

Leica presents new collection of premium leather accessories

Leica Camera has today introduced a new collection of elegant leather accessories comprising a notebook cover, three smartphone slipcases, two pen cases and a credit card/business card wallet. Each of the accessories has been meticulously crafted by hand from high quality, finely-textured Nappa leather, with red stitching highlights adding a distinctive, sophisticated look and feel. All items are perfectly finished with the iconic Leica logo embossed on the front, and the ‘Handmade in Germany’ seal of quality on the reverse.

Tastefully protecting the enclosed Moleskine book, which itself features subtle Leica branding, the beautifully-designed Leica notebook case offers space for further items, such as loose pages, which can be tucked safely inside both the front and back covers. This exceptional case also provides two integrated pockets for credit cards or business cards, as well as two slots for SD memory cards.

The striking Leica slipcases for iPhone 6 and 7 and Huawei P9 and P9 Plus smartphones keep valuable devices protected from scuffs or scratches, and feature three handy compartments for bank notes, credit cards or business cards. A specially-designed recess on the back of the case makes it easy to slide out the phone ready for use, and allows charging without the need to remove the device.

With a choice of styles to accommodate one or three pens, the Leica leather pen cases offer a particularly attractive, yet practical way to carry writing instruments in a pocket or bag. The single pen case can be closed with a tab for added protection, while up to three instruments can be slipped easily into the separate compartments of the multi-pen case to keep them safe and sound.

Last but not least, the super-slim leather card wallet is an ideal solution for keeping credit cards and business cards safely stowed away. With slots on both the back and front, up to six cards can be carried securely in this smart and elegantly-fashioned case.

Availability and pricing

The Leica Leather Accessories Collection is scheduled to be available from October 2016 from Leica Stores and Boutiques, and selected authorised Leica dealers.

Suggested retail prices are as follows (including VAT):

• Leica Leather Notebook Case – £120.00
• Leica iPhone 6/6S/7 Leather Slipcase – £80.00
• Leica Huawei P9 Plus Leather Slipcase – £80.00
• Leica Huawei P9 Leather Slipcase – £80.00
• Leica Three Pen Leather Case – £70.00
• Leica Single Pen Leather Case – £56.00
• Leica Leather Credit/Business Card Wallet – £40.00

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