Press breakfast at Pack & Smooch 2018
Sunny & Trixie – Press Breakfast at Pack & Smooch
No, Sunny and Trixie aren’t new additions to our product lineup. The two senior wire-haired dachshunds, part of the Pack & Smooch family, stole the show from our phone sleeves, laptop bags, and accessories during our recent press breakfast in Hamburg. Over fresh coffee and canapés, we guided journalists through our studio – accompanied at every step by our furry team members.
To start, we shared our origin story: it all began around seven years ago with a single roll of wool felt worth €700. Using a stencil and a rotary cutter, we created our first laptop sleeve on the living room floor. A borrowed sewing machine from our mother got us going. Our first product was sold via Etsy. Since then, Pack & Smooch has stood for fine craftsmanship, carefully selected materials, and functional aesthetics.
Passion for Natural, Vegetable-Tanned Leather
Today, in our workshop located in a former chocolate factory, several rolls of felt and layers of leather await processing. Our five journalist guests were visibly impressed by the tactile quality and smell of our vegetable-tanned leathers. Especially eye-catching: our new "Demeter leather" – a matte-gloss light brown hide from well-treated, pasture-raised cattle.
What we’ve never lost over the years: the joy of creating and the freedom to innovate. We’re proudly independent and self-funded – which keeps our minds clear for new materials and product ideas. Until now, we’ve sourced our premium wool from Australia via the South African wool exchange, then processed it in Germany. In the future, we plan to develop our own felt blend in-house.
Behind the Scenes – Journalists Explore Our Craft
On the studio tour, the journalists walked past oversized cutting tables and delicate sewing and embossing machines. They observed our team as they inserted snap buttons into our Corriedale XS cable pouch – where even the ultra-flat magnetic closures undergo strict quality control.
One photojournalist, an avid camera user, examined our Wiltshire universal camera strap. This lightweight piece carries over two kilograms with ease and features a soft, ergonomic Nappa leather shoulder pad. He immediately pitched a great idea: reinforcing the strap with a nylon or steel core for added theft protection – an idea we’re now seriously considering.
Custom-Personalized Keswick as Press Gift
As a farewell gesture, each journalist was invited to personalize their own Keswick card holder. Using our hot foil embossing machine, we applied up to eight characters – initials, punctuation, even mixed-case type – in blind, gold, or silver embossing. This new feature is now available not only for the Keswick, but also for our Kirkby phone sleeve.
After two hours of PR hustle, Sunny and Trixie had had enough. Thoroughly tuckered out, they made themselves comfortable on the workshop floor.
