A simplicity taken seriously. The timeless design of CAMPBELL COLE's leather goods

A stance of taking the beauty of simplicity seriously and pursuing it with sincerity. The sight of someone chasing after good things without being swayed by the fashions of the time moves people regardless of age or gender. This time, we'll be talking about CAMPBELL COLE, a brand from the UK that creates leather goods combining simple beauty with functionality.

In pursuit of timeless design

CAMPBELL COLE is a brand founded in Nottingham, England in 2012 by two British designers, Ian Campbell Cole and Felicity Baggett. Valuing simplicity and timelessness, the brand manufactures its products at a factory in the English Midlands that specializes in tanned leather items. Because the design studio and the manufacturing site are close to one another, communication between the two stays tight-knit, and the designers are able to see firsthand exactly where and in what kind of space their products are made. Born from a sense of doubt about mass-produced, mass-consumed goods and a desire to offer quality products that will be loved for generations, CAMPBELL COLE manufactures its collections at a facility called Bespoke Manufacturing, known for its exceptional craftsmanship even within the UK, resulting in a collection with the quality to truly be called "Made in England." 

Ian Campbell Cole and Felicity Baggett

Beautiful even down to the edge finishing

"Simple Timeless Design"

CAMPBELL COLE aims for designs that are simple and unbound by trends. To learn more about the thinking behind this philosophy, we conducted a short interview with the brand's representative in the UK.

When we started the brand, we wanted to create products with a distinct, solid style, and we imagined and refined our approach again and again. In particular, the expression "simple" refers to the ultimate state of design—one where nothing more can be added or taken away. We believe that kind of beauty can be enjoyed by anyone.

When something is unbound by time, you feel like taking good care of it and keeping it with you for a long time. By sharing time with that object and spending your days with it, an attachment naturally forms. On the other hand, when you acquire a trendy item that comes and goes quickly, there's a chance you'll discard it along with the passing trend—and we don't want people consuming things in that way.

Yes, we use an embossing process where a brass die is placed on the leather and pressed. The expression created by the dots of the punched leather provides contrast against the flat surface of the leather, giving it a lively character. Functionally, it's also designed to serve as a marker for dividing sections, so it's a design element we've adopted for both its aesthetic and functional qualities.

The machine used to punch the leather

I think we humans consume far too much. Products that could still be used perfectly well end up being thrown away simply because people have grown tired of how they look. We're thoroughly tired of that kind of situation. Instead, making things after careful consideration is also wonderful for the environment. Taking the time to think about and decide what you truly need, and whether it's something you can use for a long time—even if that means paying somewhat more for it—should lower the chances of you giving it up too soon afterward.

Our products are chosen by creative people who care about high quality all the way down to where things are made. We'd be happy if people who love simple, long-lasting design, and who understand and share our commitment to design that's been carefully thought through down to the smallest detail, choose our products.

Delicate functionality and beautiful leather goods.

The leather goods created by CAMPBELL COLE are packed with elegance within their simplicity. Here, we introduce them along with the buyer's recommended points.

Zip Corner Wallet

The Zip Corner Wallet, with its two-way zipper, is a wallet whose defining feature—true to its name—is its use of the corner. When you open the zipper, you'll find a coin pocket with punched leather detailing attached at the center.

What sets this wallet apart from others is the way you take things out of it. With a typical wallet, you'd expect coins, bills, and cards to each have their own separate spot, but with this Zip Corner Wallet, all three are brought together in the same place. The central pocket holds coins, while bills and cards can be stored in the sections in front of and behind that pocket.

When you open the wallet, the pocket mouths spread wide, making it easy to take out and put away coins. Wallets like this usually lack gusseting on one side, which can make it hard to reach items at the back, but the key point here is that the gusset opens up nicely and offers great usability. It's also convenient that bills and cards can be taken out not just from the top of the wallet, but from the side as well. Despite being a compact wallet, the design is thoughtfully engineered for functionality.

The zip uses a Swiss-made Riri Zip. With its high metal density, it's a zip whose teeth resist breaking. The zipper pull features something called PARACORD, notable for its beautiful braiding—originally developed for use as parachute cord for the US Air Force, it's an extremely durable and versatile material. It's a zip that holds up well even to something pulled on repeatedly, like a wallet.

ZUTTO's recommended points:

Small wallets are all the rage these days, and L-shaped mini wallets aren't rare either, but the key point of this wallet is its "corner." Because the corner itself is gusseted, it opens wide and lets you see inside easily. This makes it easier to slip items in toward the back. It's a small detail, but because the zip extends onto the third face as well, the wallet opens up widely. It's little points like this, different from other wallets, that make a big difference in usability.

Key Wrap

The [Key Wrap] is a signature piece from CAMPBELL COLE, made from a gently pentagonal piece of leather fitted with a gibo (ball-post) fastener. Its slightly curious shape lives up to its name—"wrap"—by literally wrapping around the keys. Crafted simply from a single piece of leather, its appearance is both smart and full of functionality.

The ring attached to the top of the leather is a key ring style adopted by the US military for bundling documents. Known as a ball knock, it's a detachable type that can be attached or removed with just a firm press of the finger.

The gibo fastener, secured by bending the leather, doesn't interfere with the overall design.

ZUTTO's recommended points:

Not a "case," but a key wrap—simply thread your keys onto the wire and wrap them in a single piece of leather to secure them. It's a unique and simple structure, but we really want to share with everyone what an innovative and wonderful idea it is. With a key case, you tend to be constrained by its fixed shape, but with this key wrap, it's fine if the keys stick out a bit—it looks casual and stylish—and for tall items like large car smart keys, you can even attach them on the outside. Wrap only the pointy keys that might scratch things inside your bag in the leather, and feel free to customize the rest however you like. I think that kind of freedom comes precisely from its simple design and functionality. It comes in gift packaging, making it perfect as a present too. Made from luxurious Italian vegetable-tanned leather, it's also an item you can enjoy watching age over time.

A6 Pouch

A slim, compact A6 pouch you can carry with one hand. The leatherwork is finished so meticulously down to every corner that it's simply captivating.

The appeal of this simply made, compact pouch also lies in its high degree of versatility—it adapts to however its owner wants to use it.

For example, it's great for storing small items that tend to go missing inside a bag, such as bankbooks, notebooks, stationery, or lip balm. It can neatly hold together all those long or bulky items that are actually more common around us than you'd think.

When traveling, it's also handy as a holder for your passport and plane tickets, or as a wallet for foreign currency.

Though it's on the smaller side, you can also use it as a small clutch bag by packing in only the bare essentials.

Although it's a slim-profile type, it has a slight gusset along the zipper side, so it opens up plenty wide when you unzip it, and you never have to worry about taking things out. 

This A6 pouch also features the same PARACORD zipper pull as the Zip Corner Wallet. The durable pull, which blends beautifully with the leather, also serves as an accent to the simple pouch.

ZUTTO's recommended points:

An A6-sized pouch—something that seemed like it should exist but somehow didn't. It's actually incredibly practical. A mini notebook, stationery, small cosmetics, a passport, cards, and even bills fit right in. With its slim design gusseted on only one side, it slips easily into the gaps of a bag. Because it has no bulk in height, it doesn't get in the way of other items, giving it more usability than its appearance suggests. We also recommend using it as a bag-in-bag, or as a clutch on its own.

Card Holder

A card holder with a diagonal slit and eye-catching punched detailing. When you pick it up, it feels not so much flat as pleasantly plump with a bit of thickness. This makes it easier to pull cards out compared to a flat design. One side is stamped with the brand logo, while the other side features punching detail across its entire surface. Both sides have card slots positioned asymmetrically, each able to hold about 3 cards.

England, where CAMPBELL COLE was founded, has traditionally had a strong culture of using checks, and it's said that debit cards are more commonly used there than credit cards. A culture centered around checks and debit cards—safer and smarter-looking than cash transactions—does feel very English, doesn't it? People there rarely carry cash and pay by card most of the time, which is why this card holder has been a signature item since the brand's earliest days. For those in Japan, where living on cards alone can still be difficult, you might slip a few bills inside and use it alongside a coin case, or even use it as a holder for an IC commuter pass.

ZUTTO's Recommended Points:

Well-worn leather goods reveal something of their owner's character. There's an elegance to pulling a fine card holder out of a bag or pocket, and it fits naturally into any business setting when you reach for it. With its collection of grown-up colors, this card holder is an item we'd recommend to adults of any generation or gender.

A Firsthand Account: Enjoying the Beautiful Aging of CAMPBELL COLE Leather

CAMPBELL COLE's leather is tanned with tannin, so as it's used, it develops a deeper color and sheen, gradually softening in texture. This time, we borrowed a Zip Corner Wallet that the person in charge of the brand at the Japanese distributor had actually used for a year, so let's take a look at how it has changed over time.

What we borrowed: Zip Corner Wallet BLACK

 Left: personal item used for one year, Right: brand new

Upper left: brand new, Lower right: personal item used for one year

Top: brand new, Bottom: personal item used for one year

Compared to the brand-new one, the borrowed wallet has taken on a glossy sheen, and the thickness it had at first has softened and settled in. Even so, this fine Italian leather hasn't gone limp—it still holds its shape firmly, which actually makes it easier to reach for and take things out of.

A wallet that has settled comfortably into its owner's hand becomes a true "beloved item," one that carries a hint of its owner's presence. Its beautiful aging will continue to bring joy to its owner for years to come.

Leather Goods as a Gift

Leather goods naturally settle into their owner's hands over long use, growing softer and more cherished with time. It's almost like a relationship that deepens gradually over the years, as two people come to understand each other. Why not give a leather item to someone special, with the feeling of "let's stay close for years to come"?

Packaging You Can Give As-Is, As a Gift

The Card Holder, A6 Pouch, and Key Wrap come in an envelope-like design with a fastening cord. The simple packaging is stamped with the brand logo, so you can hand it over just as it is as a gift.

Linen Wrapping, an Expression of Your Feelings

For the Zip Corner Wallet, which comes in a beautiful box, we recommend adding linen wrapping. Just like the leather, the linen wrapping grows more cherished with use and develops its own character over time—and even after you've unwrapped it, it can be put to use as a handkerchief or a dish towel. For this item, the wrapping comes in the red-striped Small size. Since you want the recipient to treasure it for a long time, why not put some thought into the wrapping too, and give a gift they'll remember?

The CAMPBELL COLE items featured here can be found below