Now you can carry your favourite books with you anywhere you go with By M book clutches that see your favourite books turned into a chic leather clutch.
Do you have a favourite book you love so much that you wish you can carry with you at all times?
Now you can with By M, a custom book clutch service founded by Maria Marigliano Caracciolo, that turns your favourite books into chic leather clutches.
First spotted on our very own Tengku Zatashah Idris at the Malaysia Tatler Ball 2014, we’ve been fascinated by the bespoke book clutches that can come with a myriad of titles since.
We managed to score an interview with the creative mind behind the clutches to share with us a little more about her creations and how she’s making literature the new fashion must-have.
It all started in the place where I was born, in the heart of Naples where you can find my family’s home known by everyone in town as ‘Palazzo Marigliano’ of the Duke del Monte. In the past centuries, everything in our neighbourhood used to be dedicated to books. Our street name is in fact translated to mean ‘The Street of Saint Blaise, protector of booksellers’.
Nowadays, most of the traditional little bookshops have unfortunately not survived, but the area is still full of old-world charm. Following some important donations to government by members of my family, part of my own family house was turned into the Archives Department of the town. In the courtyard, you can find today one of the best bookbinders in Italy. It is where my little book clutches are done!
My love for books started before I was born. I always read a lot, especially classical books. I liked all literature, Italian, French, English, South American, Oriental. Now that I think about it, I should get started with some authors form Malaysia!
As a very young teenager, I was particularly fascinated by Jane Austen and her romances which detailed descriptions of fantastic dresses and parties. Growing up, more European intellectual authors came close to my heart, especially the French ones, such as Albert Camus and Sartre as I’ve been in a French school. Above all that is impossible to forget is ‘The Leopard’ written by Sicilian Prince Guiseppe Tomasi in Lampedusa.
By M book clutches are created according to a centuries-long tradition developed in the area using only the finest leather, silks and gold leaf. Every step of a book clutch’s construction is handcrafted – exactly as per the books of past centuries. The artisans impress the letters and the decorations on the leather by hand with the traditional Gold Leaf technique. Every single detail of your custom-made book clutch is the result of a considered and informed choice by our clients.
What I like most about my By M book clutches is the history behind every single product. Every book clutch requires between 6 to 8 hours of skilled craftsmanship. I personally know all the handcrafters who work in the bookbindery – I know their tatler_tatler_stories and how much of their life is invested in what they do.
The consumers decide the titles. In theory, we can do any title, even very modern ones. I just think old books are by far prettier than the modern ones and this is why 90% od the titles we are asked to do are old classicals.
Tengku Zatashah Idris had actually very refined tastes and I had made for her a unique piece of II Principe de Machiavelli in purple limited edition and red. She also ordered a blue and gold Princes de Cleves de Madam Lafayette. Both the Book clutches have the royal crown on the back.
Poppy Delevingne asked for a Princess and the Pea in white parchment edition with her name and birthday engraved, whereas her sister Cara Delevingne got a black and red Alice in Wonderland with The Lion on the back.
The most important thing we offer to our clients is the full personalisation. Every detail of the book clutches can be personalised according to preference, from colour, material, decoration and, of course, the title that you wish to carry with you. Every piece is totally unique.
(Photos: Maria Marigliano Caracciolo)
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