Inspiration Behind the New Collection

Swaine is introducing three new silhouettes and a fresh colour palette to the collection. Mayfair meets Malibu, bringing together two rather different worlds with more in common than one might expect. One is defined by Georgian streets, polished brass and centuries of tradition, the other by Pacific horizons, open roads and an altogether sunnier disposition. They do, however, share a little history, with London and California once finding themselves under the same monarch and having shared many notable patrons. As America marks 250 years of independence this year, it provides a fitting historical footnote to a collection that brings two worlds together once more, this time through design.

The connection between Swaine and California goes beyond history. Both have been shaped by entrepreneurship, ambition and the determination for innovation. Swaine has endured for more than 275 years because generations of craftspeople have carried its traditions forward, adapting their skills and ambitions for a changing world. That same spirit has long drawn people west to California, arriving with ideas, dreams and the hope that, with enough talent and determination, they might make something of their own or even see their name in lights. 

The intention was never to recreate California literally, but to capture something of its atmosphere. Pacific light, hope, endless roads, Hollywood glamour and wide horizons.The result is not a departure from the house, but a broader expression of it: British craftsmanship made for a world that extends far beyond Britain. 

A New Chapter in Travel

Travel has always been woven into the Swaine story, and into the lives of those who have carried its pieces. Buffalo Bill packed a Swaine kit bag, while Hemingway took the house rather further afield. Swaine leather goods ventured to colder shores and decidedly inhospitable territory with Ernest Shackleton and Captain Scott, before finding more literary company with Patrick Leigh Fermor, whose journeys would eventually fill the pages of his celebrated writing. For a house founded in London, Swaine has spent a remarkable amount of time elsewhere.

Cinema offered yet another passport. The workshop became the starting point for pieces destined for worlds of spies, archaeologists and of course, flying nannies. James Bond had his attaché case, Indiana Jones rarely ventured anywhere without his Herbert Johnson hat, while Mary Poppins entrusted a Brigg umbrella with the rather unconventional task of air travel. What began on a workbench in England became iconic features in Hollywood cinema.

Hollywood has spent more than a century turning journeys into stories and faraway places. Swaine has approached the same world from the other side of the camera, crafting the objects that help make those stories believable. Perhaps that is why heading west does not feel quite so unfamiliar. This time, with the recent opening of our Beverly Hills store, we simply packed a little more. 

The New Bags

The Bel Air takes its name from one of Los Angeles’ most celebrated neighbourhoods, synonymous with grand homes and Hollywood glamour. Elegant and composed, its design brings a Californian perspective to the craftsmanship and structure for which Swaine is known.

The Malibu Tote, meanwhile, looks towards the coast. An entirely new silhouette for the house, it introduces a more relaxed expression of Swaine leatherwork while retaining the craftsmanship and considered construction at its heart. Spacious and versatile, it captures something of Malibu’s easy approach to dressing without leaving its British sensibilities entirely behind.

The Poolside Duffle completes the collection with a nod to California’s fondness for warmer days. Generously proportioned and finished with beautifully stitched handles, it brings a more leisurely character to the traditional travel bag. Available for pre-order only in pink and yellow, it is made with winter sun and warmer shores in mind.

From Mayfair to Malibu, the California Collection continues a story Swaine has been telling for generations. One of craftsmanship, travel, and the places, both real and on screen, to which a beautifully made piece will accompany you.