The Oscars’ Best Kept Secret
Following the success of the 2023 red carpet, Swaine was honoured to be asked by PwC to craft the briefcases for the 2026 Oscars, each handcrafted by artisans in our London workshop beneath the flagship store on New Bond Street.
Since 1935, PricewaterhouseCoopers has overseen the Academy Awards’ vote counting, establishing rigorous standards to safeguard the integrity of the results. Today, each vote is still carefully counted by hand in a secure and undisclosed location.
The chosen case is the iconic President in Black Pebble, crafted from English calf leather and lined with soft Alcantara. Designed for both style and security, it features an internal zip pocket, two spacious divided compartments for organisation, and a lock-and-key system that ensures the ballots remain confidential. Its sleek, sophisticated silhouette commands attention, reflecting the intensity and anticipation of the results it carries.
Once verified, the results are sealed and placed inside identical black briefcases entrusted to two PwC representatives. For security, the representatives travel separately to the ceremony, each carrying an identical case containing the final results, ensuring that if one does not make it, the results will still arrive safely. The correct envelope is revealed to presenters only moments before each category is announced.
Inside each case are twenty-four envelopes, representing every award category. On the night of the ceremony, the two PwC representatives take their positions stage left and stage right, keeping the envelopes close at hand so that the correct winners are revealed at precisely the right moment; an essential drama behind the spectacle.
For Swaine, it is a privilege to contribute to this carefully guarded tradition. To play even a small part in the ceremony is a testament to the value of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and trust.
