Our First-ever, Full-wrap Leather Case
| Words by Madeline MyersThis September, Traditional Case marked our first foray into the world of full-wrap leather. To celebrate the launch of the case in English Tan, we wanted to give you some insight into the production process and share what features we love the most about the case.
The Design
Traditional Case is wrapped in a single layer of Ecco or Horween leather, creating a sleek, borderless look.
Your hand is touching nothing but leather when using this case, and seeing the leather wrap around the iPhone curves highlights all its cool aesthetic qualities… how it reflects light, how it starts to patina more at the edges where you touch it most.
While the leather takes center stage, we didn’t overlook all the other good stuff. The case features highly tactile aluminum buttons and a scoop-style cutout for the new Camera Control button. We also added a raised lip around the iPhone screen and rear camera so you can set your iPhone down on a flat surface without worrying about damage.
The Production Process
Traditional Case was one of the more challenging cases to design and produce as it requires much more leather than our other cases and introduces novel manufacturing techniques. Here’s a boiled-down version of how it’s made:
First, we cut a swatch of leather from a large sheet and adhere it to the back of the case. A specialized machine then wraps the leather around the sides and over the bumpers, creating a seamless, full-wrap effect. The extra leather gives the machine enough clearance to grip and wrap the material precisely around the case’s corners.
Once the case is machine-wrapped, our team hand-tucks the leather along the inner walls, applying heat to stretch it snugly around each corner for a smooth finish. This step is time-intensive but essential for achieving a flawless rounded look.
Finally, each case undergoes a quality check to ensure it meets our standards. Since our leather is naturally and minimally treated, some minor bunching or color variation may occur. Any cases with such imperfections are sent back for rework.
It’s Not Without Challenges
Our naturally finished leather is among the finest, but it’s also much more challenging to work with compared to synthetic alternatives, which can tolerate higher heat and tension without risk. To ensure each case is flawless, we take extra precautions with our leather, carefully adjusting heat levels and skillfully shaping the leather by hand. These steps prevent bunching or discoloration, particularly around the case’s corners, where precision is key to achieving a smooth, seamless finish.
Our Favorite Features
One of our favorite things about Traditional Case is its unique patina potential. The edges and sides, constantly in contact with your hand, will develop a rich, shiny finish with everyday use.
We also love how slim it is. We wanted a case that felt luxurious but still maintained a thin, sleek profile. With a 2.5mm backplate and a screen lip of just 1.15mm, Traditional Case gives some weight to your iPhone without being too bulky.
Even as someone who regularly uses a Rugged Case and doesn’t care about having the most minimal case, I really appreciate how thin the edges are and how minimal the overlap of the screen is.
Is Traditional Case right for me?
Traditional Leather Case protects against light everyday wear and tear and minor drops but it’s not designed to be quite as protective as other cases in our lineup. Tanner puts it best—it’s perfect for “doing city folk things,” but we don’t recommend taking it on your annual backpacking trip. If you’re looking for a more protective, adventure-proof option, check out Rugged Case or Sport Case.
