Making a case for the utilitarian

Pencil this in: Classic, handstitched leather for your writing tools

There’s something about leather that makes it such an alluring material—its classic color, the way it feels to the touch, even its distinct smell. From the clichéd image of a cowboy in leather chaps and motorcycle riders in heavy black leather jackets to expensive designer luggage, leather has been shaped into all forms—whether for the rugged or for the refined. That is why making something out of it requires a certain technique, care, and expertise, and only those who know and honor leather—such as Ruben and Trina Flores of Bags by Rubbertree —can make the ubiquitous pencil holder into something quite out of the ordinary.

The “pen hoarder” as it is called, is a cut and a stitch above the average pen holder that usually has no visual appeal. Its leather quality and handy feature rolls up form and function, and “every piece has [its] own distinct leather wash and identity,” as Trina puts it. It may look simple, but this quirky tool may just add a little something extra to your workspace, whether as a decorative piece or as a tool to keep your creative ideas right at your fingertips.

This pen holder, however, is but one of the many creations that come from the couple’s craftsmanship. Staying true to their raw and unpretentious designs, they work on the treatment, cutting, and stitching of leather in their cozy design studio just outside their house along Maginhawa Street. And those who pass by will surely see the couple working with their hands, hear the sounds of hammering and get a whiff of that nostalgic, unique scent of new leather.

Pen hoarder. +63(2)433-4482. bagsbyrubbertree.com. rubbertreedesigns@gmail.com.