Awling AW22 Collection

We're incredibly pleased to announce the arrival of our AW22 collection, which consists of three new belt designs and a concise range of small leather goods to complement the Awling man's lifestyle in an even more practical way. The accompanying lookbook was shot in London at a home that's a brilliant example of modern design, and we hope it offers a glimpse into how you might enjoy our newest Made in England creations. 

Since we began our ideation process of what new products we wanted to bring to market, we noticed that there had been a slight shift in preference for belt styles. The shift, of course, runs in tandem with the changes in the modern man's wardrobe predicated by the tumultuous world we've endured in recent years – WFH culture, etc. As a result, men are dressing increasingly more casual – much to our dismay, elasticated waistbands fitted on relatively smart trousers have become commonplace – but contrary to that, there's a growing urge for dressing up as a rebuttal to the status quo and one easy way to do that is by adding discerning elements of design and craft.

Where does Awling fit into that, then? Well, we've created two new belt styles named Foster and Camber. "The two new models are much sleeker, with a thinner strap and a narrower buckle, and they sit perfectly with our existing styles, which are a little thicker, by offering a point of difference. They can be worn casually, but when paired with more formal items, such as tailored trousers, they will lend the wearer a sharper look," explains Awling’s founder Chris Goldstraw.

Due to Awling being rooted in design, Chris has named Foster after the great Norman Foster, one of his British architectural heroes, and it has a clean aesthetic with a flat shape with no stitching. Camber is a homage to the geometric name used to describe a slightly domed shape in design. As a result, it has a slightly raised curvature that runs through the belt with single-needle stitching on either side. Both are available in pitch black and walnut brown vegetable-tanned, Tuscan leather from Lo Stivale with polished brass and nickel buckles. 

The third new belt design is the Modernist in pitch-black leather with a gunmetal buckle. Compared to the rest of the range within that family of belts, it's considerably more contemporary with an interesting point of difference, as gunmetal isn’t often seen on a belt. We can easily see it worn out for drinks paired with raw selvedge denim and a navy blazer – smart, chic and modern.  

Now to the small leather goods collection. "We've been producing thoroughly well-made belts since the start of 2018, and during this time, many of our customers have been asking if we can make them a custom wallet or watch case, etc.," says Chris. It's been an enjoyable experience prototyping different accessories with our leather workshop maker in Mowbray, Leicestershire. And, after many back and forths and even more tweaks, we're finally in a place where we can unveil the fruits of our combined labours.

Chris Goldstraw - Founder

We'll start with the smaller items: cardholders and wallets. There are three styles of cardholder, two of which are foldable and can store up to six cards, and one comes equipped with a gusset to store away business cards safely. The third is a simple cardholder which can hold up to four cards with a central slip for cash and receipts. All three have our three-dot logo debossed on the outside and are available in pitch black and walnut brown vegetable-tanned leather sourced from our prestigious partner Lo Stivale. 

Whilst many men nowadays prefer the slimness of a cardholder, there's something to be said for the classic bifold wallet. It's substantial and perfectly hefty; you always know whether you have it, and it looks the part when it's in hand. There are six credit card slots plus a pocket for cash, and it also has our logo debossed on the exterior. It's available in pitch black and walnut brown leather. 

The Pencil Case was a fun design to take to completion. Like the Bifold Wallet, there's something to be said about having a concise armoury of pens and pencils in your possession. Now you’re available to have one Made in England, which can store up to eight pens and pencils and is made from pitch black and walnut brown vegetable-tanned leather.

The final two items are the Journal and Folio. The Journal comes equipped with a Moleskin notepad already inside. Whether you use it as a daily journal to collect your thoughts or chart a path towards fulfilment, the neuroscience behind writing things down is conclusive towards productivity and processing. Throw in the bonus of high-quality leather, which will last many years, and you've got the ultimate Journal. Lastly, we have the Folio to safely house all of these lovingly, Made in England small leather goods. It's large enough to accommodate a 13" MacBook Pro, Journal and other miscellaneous items. It's available in pitch black and walnut brown.

We hope you enjoy these new products just as much as we've enjoyed the ride in making them for you. As always, each item has been Made in England using top-quality raw materials and traditional processes that ensure a lifetime of usage.