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Since 1917, TREULEBEN’s been showing the world the real value of time.

TREULEBENs been showing the world the real value of time

The German brand TREULEBEN is a centenary icon when it comes to elegant stationery & personal accessories – all of them crafted in high-quality (& high-beauty) leather.

The concept behind their meticulously made products is much more than meets the eye, tho. Treuleben is all about time and they have been valuing it since 1917, to the point where you can feel that appreciation in every aspect of the brand. They take time to conceive a design, so it has real functionalities & still manages to promote experiences worthy of memories. They give time to the skilled artisans responsible for the brand’s impeccable craftsmanship; this way, they can make every seam, well… impeccable in order to gift time wrap in leather products for their consumers to appreciate tactile, singular moments to reconnect with themselves for years to come.

All that reflects Treuleben’s core: the human touch. From conception, to crafting, to finally writing stories. Everything comes from humanity.

That’s one aspect of their heritage. The other one is more tangible, but not less important: their leather craftsmanship. They not only have old-school crafting techniques up their sleeve but they’ve also worked with the same material for more than 100 years, which gives them more experience than any other player in the business could ever have. Treuleben exclusively uses full-grain Italian leather from a family-run tannery (just like them) + applies unique expertise in craftsmanship to their designs, which guarantees high-quality, strength & long-lasting durability to every piece. That way, their products become more than just products, they turn into lifelong companions.

These concepts guide their choices of collab partners, as well. Their latest one with Monocle Magazine was born from their shared commitment to quality, social values & pleasing aesthetics. And this hot match resulted in a dynamic design process that brought universal pieces to life with sleek & minimalist looks that are easy to carry – be it in the office, through travels, or on the go.

If you're eager for more, dig into our exclusive interview with Arne Knecht, brand exec for Treuleben.

Leather craftsmanship & heritage: what a great definition for a brand. Tell us a little bit about Treuleben. How did it start a hundred years ago?

Treuleben & Bischof was founded in 1917 by Wilhelm Treuleben and Franz Bischof in Germany. Since the foundation, we have manufactured the finest calendars and portfolio products.

By building on this rich heritage of craftsmanship and leather expertise, we have created and relaunched Treuleben as a new brand in the span of only one-and-a-half years under the umbrella of the LEUCHTTURM Gruppe. With the relaunch, the company is now family-run again, with the Stürken family themselves equally looking back on a 100-year long tradition in bookbinding and paper expertise. With their fine instinct for modern and quality design combined with beautiful aesthetics, the tradition of excellence will hence be continued.

Our products acknowledge the thoughts that so many have shared with us, the wealth of impressions we have gathered on our journeys, the inspiration drawn from the artisanship of our craftspeople, and the perfection that we have achieved through our trials and tests with materials and techniques.

We are very honored that Treuleben has been awarded the German Design Award (2018), recognizing the innovative design and quality of our products.

The concept behind Treuleben is “valuing time since 1917”. How do you put these words in practice? What does time mean for your brand?

The concept of “valuing time since 1917” is a homage to the origin of our brand as a manufacturer of calendars and other portfolio products where time defines the core meaning and defines the reason why we use calendars. Moreover, time is a recurring theme throughout our design and manufacturing process. Time is precious and we want our Treuleben products to be as well. We have put a lot of thought into designing and creating a line of handsome products so that they stand the test of time and become valuable companions through life. We value our resources and only want to provide the best products. They are handmade by our talented artisans who take their time to manufacture the products with the greatest care. Our products are lifetime companions, they are made to guide you through life and remain at your side. Specifically, our journals and calendars provide the opportunity for us to pause and sort our hectic lives whilst writing down personal thoughts, which then later turn into memories over the course of time.

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Now, when it comes to heritage, how do your German roots influence Treuleben's products?

With the design of Treuleben, we have built up on German bookbinding and leather craftsmanship, which remains a traditional craft in Germany and which we were fortunate to take inspiration from. Prior to the set up of Treuleben, we gathered a fair amount of research and applied a rather structured approach to perfecting our materials and techniques. We have formed an elaborate production process that emphasizes high quality and aims to create items that last for a long period of time. With our sleek and minimalist design, we have set up a handsome line of products and a modern color palette that is both pragmatic and beautiful.

Treuleben specialized in long-lasting objects. How does leather help you keep the brand’s quality standards?

For our Treuleben products and throughout our product range we only use the finest leather. By ensuring that our products are of the highest quality possible, we make sure that all steps in the creation and manufacturing process are high maintenance. High-quality leather as a material is bound to last long when well manufactured. We design our products aiming to create long-lasting items. For this purpose, high-quality leather, the color with which the leather is dyed, and the expertise in craftsmanship come together.

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You work with Italian full-grain cowhide leather, don't you? Why did you choose this kind of material?

All of our products are made by hand using the finest Italian full-grain cowhide. Strong and natural full-grain leather still has the natural strength of the skin and is still flexible in its shape and appearance without ever compromising its quality. This quality ensures and enhances the fine appearance of our products and enables us to create a wonderfully smooth finished product that is both pleasing and functional for daily use.

To know the leather origin is to consider sustainable methods. Is sustainability a big deal for you? In which part of your production process can we see the brand's sustainable character the most?

We have created a line of products using only high-quality materials which make the products long-lasting.
In the production steps we value all the resources involved in the manufacturing process. We source the full-grain leather from Italy with cows from Europe, mostly Scandinavia and central Europe. For our book products and for our packaging, we use FSC certified paper and environmentally friendly cardboard as well.
In general, we source FSC certified materials from well-known resources.

Treuleben also sees a lot of value in craftsmanship. What does the human touch mean for your brand? How does it make your product stand out?

We created the brand Treuleben with the idea to provide products that guide you through the course of life in mind.
Our products are carefully made by our talented artisans for our customers to enjoy. Without a human touch, Treuleben would not have been created and would not be able to persist. We always aim to provide good service to our customers, to whom we are very thankful and for whom we create their own very special pieces. Prior to our first designs, we had extensively researched with creative experts and traveled through Italy and taken in mind all the feedback we had received. We value each and every person involved in the process of making our products and remain in close contact with the talented artisans in our atelier. The tannery we work with is also family-run, which we value immensely as a brand belonging to a family-run company.

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You've recently launched an amazing collab with Monocle. Tell us what does a brand have to stand for to partner with Treuleben?

When entering a collaboration with a partner, we like to share a common sense and spirit, as well as a common ground regarding quality standards and social values. As a brand, we are very design-driven, so we do enjoy a shared idea when it comes to aesthetics and pleasing design. We work closely with our collaboration partner and discuss ideas and designs openly, which is very important for us during the creative process.

And at last, what are your favorite pieces from this collab & why?

Our personal favorite pieces from the recent collaboration with Monocle are the Credit Card Caddy, as well as the Envelope Pouch. Both are very universal pieces, sleek and minimal in their design, but still fit a decent amount and are easy to carry – be it to the office, through travels, or on the go. They are both practical and beautiful – which are two very important characteristics and core qualities of our products.

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Long live Treuleben!

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