For a family-owned company that has been handcrafting some of the world's finest small leather goods and bags for getting on close to a century, London-based Ettinger has moved with the times, preferring to constantly evolve its products rather than sit back on its heritage haunches. That's not to say it has ever needed to reinvent itself - quality stands the test of time, but time, like trends, is a fluid beast, and if you fall asleep at the wheel, you'll be sure to crash.
Thankfully, the founder's son, Robert has been steering his father's company with aplomb, so much so that the now
iconic London tan is recognisable all over the world. Glimpse that flash of mustard yellow as someone opens their
billfold at the bar and you just know it's an Ettinger piece (the 'London tan' was inspired by a fleet of buses
that used to gather up Bournemouth’s commuters and deposit them in London). You can also infer that the man in
question is one of extremely good taste. If you needed any more convincing, you would only need to go to Japan,
where Ettinger has developed something of cult following in the last 10 years. If there was ever a culture that
coveted quality and attention to detail (and no little amount of Anglophilia) it is the Japanese and the way they
have adopted Ettinger's products is a stamp of approval if there ever was one.
