Ettinger was started by my father, Gerry Ettinger, in 1934 and originally imported fine leather goods from Italy and Spain, but after a few years he set up Ettinger’s own factory in Clerkenwell, in London, making fine British leather goods. Ettinger moved its production up to Birmingham in the 1980s and now employs around 40 people making the very finest of British leather goods there.

 

2. Why did Ettinger decide to move from being a manufacturer to becoming a brand? 

We decided to become a brand after we received the Royal Warrant as we could see some of our customers moving to the Far East to make their products. The writing was on the wall and we felt that having our own brand would give us more control. The Ettinger brand is now strongest in the Far East – particularly in Japan, where we’re in over 180 stores - but in October we are opening our own retail site, which will in effect, give us retail presence worldwide.