The romance, the theatre, the details! Since day one of Method Studio, we have been utterly obsessed…with Travel Trunks.
We used to make luggage in Britain - a lot of it in fact - and some of it seriously big. Back when steam travel was the only way to cross oceans and mountains, and long distances could take weeks to traverse. But fashions change and industries evolve, and though a handful of wonderful leatherworkers and artisanal bagmakers still exist in the UK, these days only a very few trunk-makers - what the French (the masters) call the Malletier - still exist anywhere in the world, catering to a niche and super-luxury market.
Over the years our team has had the opportunity to design and handmake a variety of trunks here in Scotland, and out of necessity has needed to un-earth, decode, intuit and revive near-lost traditional skills, and to track down the few remaining places where high quality fittings and hardware can still be found. As often happens when the old must be aligned with the new, we have combined some of these skills with our own - in our case fine cabinetmaking. First evolving our own design language and techniques. And then our very own trunks.
From this heritage has emerged Method Trunk Works: a workshop dedicated to creating one of the world’s most exclusive and unusual luxury trunks. Pieces are made only to order. Each is collaboratively designed with a client and takes hundreds of hours to create, making the finished articles among the rarest and most individual trunks in the world.
Our work is not for everyone. But if you think it might be for you, please contact us at: trunkworks@methodstudio.co.uk to learn more
Our flagship Grand Tourer (G.T) Requiring over 350 hours to meticulously handcraft, and as exclusive as luggage gets.
Shown option: Burgundy leather exterior with bridle leather edge and corner protection. Gold plated solid brass and oiled Scottish oak fittings. Cream leather interior with two drop-down drawers (with button down leather tonneau covers) garment hanging space with securing straps and two removable leather and oak accessory cases.
Hand-shaped Scottish oak and bridle leather garment hangers. Cotton-lined burgundy wool gym-kit bags. Rolling wheels and hidden Sterling silver Hamilton & Inches hip-flask. Personalised initial engraving on pull-out garment hanging drawer and silver hip-flask.
£32,000 + vat
Prices start from £25,000
(excludes shipping)
Lead time 16-24 weeks dependent upon the level of bespoke detailing.
Delicate, elegant and perfect for revelling in the ritual
Handcrafted from birch, bridle leather and goat suede, our petit jewellery trunk contains a series of finely detailed, goat suede lined lift-out trays - for watches, accessories and jewellery - which are gripped and lifted with slim, elegant polished brass handles.
The interior is lined with soft, ultra-fine goat suede and leather, and bespoke (to your wrist size) oak and bridle leather wrist-lasts allow watches to be housed without stressing the straps.
£8,200 + vat
(excludes shipping)
Lead time approx 12 - 16 weeks
Bespoke detailing, initialling and colour/material options available upon request.
Contact: trunkworks@methodstudio.co.uk for further details
Designed in homage to the classic steamer trunks of the grand tour era, our single watch campaign case is crafted from hardwood, fine leather and brass, and comes in its own soft cotton drawstring dust bag.
Essentially, it’s a tiny trunk for your treasured timepiece.
We've created these cases in some truly remarkable combinations. With custom leathers, scorched timber, gold plated hardware...to name just a few. We’ve even developed custom branded versions in small batches for some of the UK's finest watchmakers..
For us it's about celebrating and revelling in the ritual. The winding, the cleaning, the investigation...it's all part of the magic. And we believe that the opening of the case and the reveal should also be a hands-on, treasured experience.
From £540 + vat (discount available for multiple orders, please contact us for details)
(excludes shipping)
Various timbers, various leathers, various metals, initialling/personalisation by request
Lead time applies, contact trunkworks@methodstudio.co.uk for details and to check stock.
Handcrafted at our woodland workshop for for L.A. fashion brand FITE, this dramatic wardrobe trunk was unveiled at Paris Fashion Week.
A lightweight birch-wood frame carefully wrapped and lined in luxurious Scottish leather, protected with thick Italian bridle leather edging and solid ash-wood rails. These beautiful but practical parts are precisely fixed with hundreds of polished, hand-hammered nails.
Bespoke detailing includes logo-engraved catches, bridle leather drawer pulls, traditionally hand-painted monogram and stripe, and even custom hangers: shaped from the same solid ash wood as the side rails, individually flame-branded with the FITE logo and hand-finished in lemon oil and beeswax.
Indicative cost: From £16,000 + vat
(excludes shipping)
Birch, cowhide, bridle leather, stainless steel & ash
Images: Graeme Hunter Pictures
Designed and small-batch handcrafted to house that most precious of Scottish treasures…WHISKY!
Developed after painstaking research into the ritual and individual process of whisky tasting at a super premium level, for Casks of Distinction.
Lightweight birch carcass with oiled Scottish oak detailing, traditionally wrapped in sumptuous Scottish full grain and bridle leathers. Detailing is in custom-made gold plated solid brass and superfine goat suede.
Scottish oak, Scottish burgundy leather, bridle leather, gold plated solid brass, superfine goat suede & silk
Approx size: H60cm x W35cm x D35cm
Indicative Pricing: From £14,000 + vat
(excludes shipping)
Lead time 12-14 weeks
Made to order, bespoke detailing and material palette available upon request. Contact: trunkworks@methodstudio.co.uk
...Amazing!!!! Thank you so much. I am speechless. Such beautiful craftsmanship and level of detail'
Rodney Misso, Head of Brand Environments, R.M Williams
A commission from the creative team at legendary outback outfitters R.M. Williams to create a pair (of course) of bespoke shoe trunks.
It was important that the palette, construction and finish of the trunks echoed the style and feel of the brand - and the boots for which they are rightly famous. Rugged and hardwearing, but finely made and super high quality.
To pay homage to this, we specified the piece with as many organic materials as we could: naturally tanned leathers from Sweden, dense oiled hardwoods and solid copper hardware - all of which will all age and develop a fine patina over time.
The interior housed various sizes of drawers and substantial product storage, as well as a fold out/throw-over work table, which bolts to a set of handmade legs to create a practical sales display and work space.
The interior faces of the trunk are protected with solid copper lippings - custom engineered, waxed and hand finished. The outer edges and corners of the leather trunk are protected with thick bridle leather, wet-moulded and fixed with copper nails.
Fumed oak, organic veg tan leather, bridle leather, copper & iroko
Indicative Pricing: From £19,000 + vat per trunk
(excludes shipping)
Images: Graeme Hunter Pictures
The Malt Vault's design is unapologetically robust - crafted from solid hardwood and leather - but is also subtly balanced, thanks to a considered asymmetrical design.
The construction employs inwardly curving faces formed under pressure with laminations of lightweight birch. These are clad with organic bridle leather inside and out to create a lightweight rigid skin, which will age beautifully.
The heavy-drawing, smoothly sprung stainless steel draw-latch is British engineered and made, and is more commonly used on the sides of lifeboats and in automotive design. (But it's a stunning piece of engineering…and we just couldn't help ourselves.)
Hidden inside the vault are two handmade decanters and four hand-cut tumblers, all handmade in the finest full lead crystal by one of England's last remaining traditional crystal makers (Cumbria Crystal) and secured with thick bridle leather finger-straps and Sam Browne studs closures.
Made to order in a variety of timbers and leathers.
From £6200 + vat
(excludes shipping)
Fumed oak, bridle leather, stainless steel & full lead crystal
Images: Graeme Hunter Pictures
