Mention Montblanc and the associations that naturally come to mind are its range of writing instruments and its stylised six-pointed snowcap logo representative of the Mont Blanc snowcap aerial view. Notwithstanding, the maison’s leather collection deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as it forms one of Montblanc’s core pillars. While the dots connecting Montblanc’s core identity of writing instrument maker and its range of leather goods may seem vague — or worse, disconnected on paper — the division has quietly clocked impressive mileage since its founding in 1926. To keep in mind, Montblanc’s iconic Meisterstück writing instrument collection was born a mere two years before in 1924. When put into context, the legacy of Montblanc’s leather collection echoes long and deep within the maison’s leather workshop in Offenbach, Germany (1935) — before Montblanc’s Pelletteria opened its doors in Florence, Italy some 50 years later.

Despite the richness of the leather collection’s heritage and accumulated expertise and savoir-faire, it was never the poster boy to begin with. Instead, it was the supporting act to the maison’s writing instruments. Protective holders and cases were the first instances created back then, but the collection has since grown into a multitude of offerings — each thoughtfully crafted to accompany its owner on adventures that await. While the leather ateliers went about their business producing quality pieces, the appointment of Marco Tomasetta as Montblanc’s artistic director in March 2021 took the brand forward. Under Tomasetta’s titular touch, the leather offerings have quietly evolved thanks to his past experiences at various luxury fashion houses — the latest being Givenchy. A consistent style was applied across the various leather collection lines with a focus on refinement and sophistication through a blend of form and function.

The Montblanc Fall Winter 2024 leather collection captures the essence of Tomasetta’s thoughtful approach and hints at stability after tiding through the formative transitional years. The seasonal release is spread over nine different lines, including the Meisterstück, Meisterstück Anniversary Capsule, Extreme 3.0 and Satorial, to name a few. While each creation conformed to their distinct identities — such as the carbon fibre-like motif signature of the Extreme 3.0 — they were moulded in the same vision as 1926: to be the supporting act and the best it could be.

The pieces are quiet and steadfast while handling their tasks admirably, without much attention. Black is readily used across the nine collections in various effects — the subtle sheen seen on the Meisterstück Mini Messenger hints at the richness and suppleness of the leather, while the tree bark patterns on the 4810 Messenger come to the fore in matte black. Colours such as navy, rust, and dark brown make their presence felt, albeit in a restrained manner that works well during the transitional periods between seasons. Straddling between green and blue, Avio blue is the season’s hero colour as it is rendered in the Extreme 3.0 Large Backpack, amongst others. An alternative Lavender Grey seen in the Extreme 3.0 Multi-colour capsule is as loud as it gets.

By now, the various bag styles and sizes are no longer strangers to existing owners, though size updates mean more versatility. The slimmer 4810 Thin Document Case still ensures important documents are kept crumple-free sans the bulk of its larger counterparts, while a new larger MY4810 Trunk handles the packing stress of long business or leisure trips to aplomb.

Of the various lines across the Montblanc Fall Winter 2024 leather collection, the Meisterstück Anniversary Capsule is undoubtedly its shiniest star. Crafted to honour the 100th anniversary of the Meisterstück writing instrument, Tomasetta and his team incorporated a writing instrument holder into the bags as a symbolic and symbiotic reference between the two divisions. Whether it is the Briefcase, Messenger or Pochette, the ergonomically crafted holders are designed to accompany a Meisterstück writing instrument and its owner on any adventure.

This article was first seen on Men’s Folio Singapore.

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