LeatherWerk is a crazy Swiss (as he refers himself) by the name of Men A. Werro. Men currently lives and works out of Oregon. BestLeather worked with LeatherWerk in the past on a review of vintage Swiss military bags. Besides sourcing and restoring vintage bags, Men makes custom accessories for bags and travel. Any leather enthusiasts on Facebook will have heard of Men or LeatherWerk for he has quite the devoted following.
Popular amongst the LeatherWerk accesories are these classic leather valet trays available in multiple sizes and colors.
CONSTRUCTION
Here is a 9″ (measured when lying flat, unfastened) valet tray in a leather that Men calls ‘Antique Brown’. The materials are 5oz cow hide leather with a suede finish on the bottom side, industrial heavy duty polyester thread stitching and brass studs.
FUNCTION
Valet trays are best used for desks, dresser tops, tables, and any other surfaces to keep small items organized. This tray is incredibly handy to unload one’s pockets or other small carry items into (wallet, cell phone, pocket knife, coins, notes). These really help organize any desk or table from clutter. The suede finish on the bottom side of the leather prevents the tray from sliding around on a desk or table surface as well as protecting the surface from any scratches or other markings.
The LeatherWerk valet tray also unbuttons at the corners so that the tray can lay flat and can be easily put in one’s bag for use in hotel rooms. As any busy traveler will appreciate, it is far easier to keep small travel essentials in one place rather than have them scattered or worrying about leaving them behind.
AESTHETIC
The leather chosen for the valet tray is very soft and velvety while being able to hold is shape to whatever you place in it. Out of the box, there is no stiffness to the leather whatsoever. At first I was concerned that it would get too floppy in time, but then realized I like the feel of the soft leather especially when it comes to unbuttoning the studs and being able to lay it flat or roll it up for travel. The leather has a beautiful rich antique brown finish with markings and scuffs that add to the antique feel. I suspect that this piece will continue to collect great character and patina with age. Lastly, the brass studs compliment the color and the antique feel of the leather perfectly and are very sturdy.
BESTLEATHER CONCLUSION
For $35 dollars this handmade valet tray is a steal! Available in a few different sizes, Men can design one to your desired dimensions as well. The LeatherWerk valet trays are simply yet carefully designed to maximize beauty, aesthetic, and functionality in any setting whether at home, on the road or even in the great outdoors. Check them out here.
