Leathersmith Opens First Standalone Store in London’s Princes Arcade
Leathersmith Opens Its First Independent Store in Princes Arcade, London
The British brand Leathersmith, which began in 1839 as a bookbinder, has launched its first standalone shop in Princes Arcade, St James’s, London. The space was transformed from the former Prestat chocolate shop. The interior design is described as a „contemporary British home,” featuring the brand’s signature navy blue and sunshine yellow colours.
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From the Runway to the Red Carpet, Has the Clear Shoe Trend Gone Too Far?Inside, customers can choose from a range of leather-bound diaries and notebooks, available in multiple colours. The store also offers a bespoke stationery service, allowing buyers to select leather type, paper, format, linings, and personalised details. A new collection of 925 silver writing instruments, made in England and stamped with the Birmingham hallmark, is prominently displayed.
Inside, customers can choose from a range
In the clothing and accessories section, the offering includes leather belts and wallets, cashmere scarves and stoles with hand embroidery, knitwear, shirts, tailored and casual outerwear made in England, as well as leather and suede shoes.
Simon Burstein, who acquired Leathersmith and its bookbinding link shortly after his family sold Browns to Farfetch in 2015, said opening the first store in London represents a milestone for a brand that has been part of British life for over 180 years. In 2023, Burstein also purchased the site where Leathersmith books are made, Charfleet Book Bindery, located on Canvey Island in Essex, where the River Thames meets the North Sea. He invested £2 million in renovating this large space, which today produces Bibles, notebooks, and diaries for brands such as Liberty and Fortnum & Mason.
Burstein, who also owns The Place fashion stores in London and Paris, said his dream is to transform Leathersmith into an accessible luxury brand. The brand has begun exhibiting at Pitti Uomo, and the opening of the new London store is the next step toward this ambition.