There is something delightfully analog about Ettinger’s new Games Collection. Created in celebration of the brand’s 90th anniversary, this luxurious selection of playing cards, dominoes and dice, each decked out in their own Capra leather case, takes the mind back to the golden age of travel – back when such curios would help passengers wile away the hours on board a ship or a plane, rather than simply staring blankly at one’s smartphone. It’s enough to make even the most ardent tech support crack a smile.
In many ways, Ettinger London is itself an artefact of bygone era. Founded in 1934 by Gerry Ettinger, the brand is one of the few remaining British luxury leather goods companies still proudly manufacturing in the UK. Based out of its Walsall factory on the northern outskirts of Birmingham, the brand continues to churn out stunning products each crafted using the same artisanal techniques that would have been used decades earlier, imbued with a dash of British flair.
Inspired by the best-selling Novelties Collection available in the 1950s and 1960s, the new Games Collection is no different. Meticulously handmade from Ettinger’s finest Capra leather, utilised for its soft supple grain as well as its scratch-resistant qualities, each of the available items are the essence of quiet luxury with a contemporary twist.
Our favourite product in the collection might be the sophisticated Poker Dice Set (£65), a small but mighty carry case for five dice. The compact leather pouch is made from a combination of durable goat leather with a soft suede-lined interior designed to keep the exquisite included dice well protected during transport.
In typical Ettinger fashion, each item in the Games Collection can also be personalised with initials, making it the quintessential gift for those with an appreciation for the finer things in life.
All in, it’s a charming throwback to a time when gift giving and games playing were an integral part of British life. Maybe it’s high time we take a leaf out of the past?
The Ettinger Games Collection; £65-£115. For more information, ettinger.co.uk
