Personalization: How It's Done
Our expert artisans treat each personalized accessory as it's own work of art. They start by selecting the optimal cut of leather based on the chosen customization selected. All personalized items are hand-stamped using brass-cut dies which are heated to 256 degrees in a hot-stamping press, and adhesive hot-stamping foil that is placed between the brass dies and the leather canvas. The product is secured in position, and multiple layers of foil are added to provide consistency and longevity for your personalized elements. All custom stamps are placed in the ideal location based on your product's shape and texture, and are finished with additional layers of sealant. The result: elegant monogrammed leather accessories that stand the test of time.
Virtual Customization
Step into our virtual customizer by clicking ‘Personalize’ on the individual product page and give your accessory the custom treatment it deserves. Our selection of foil colors, emojis, numbers, letters, and capability of up to 6 characters gives you many customization options. Experience the customization process right before your eyes where you can preview the design and placement of your desired personalization. So don't limit yourself, or your creativity, and design your favorite personalized genuine leather accessory right now, after all its free of charge completely complimentary.
Make A Statement - Personalization Ideas
Perhaps the most popular personalization element is initials, but there are so many ways to get creative and express yourself. In addition to traditional initials or names, some other great ideas include nicknames (think MOM, BESTIE, KING, etc.), birthdays (whether your own birthday, or the birthday of your first born), anniversaries (a thoughtful gift idea), and lucky numbers. The addition of emojis adds even more personality to the mix and gives your accessory a character of it's own as an extension of yourself. No matter what, we see personalization as a means to empower you to be proud of your unique identity, no matter where life takes you and your leather accessories.
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Michael's start in the online business world came from his brand Michael Louis NY (@michaellouisny). He started sketching designs while in college in New York City and eventually started producing and marketing these pieces himself. He had an innate talent for marketing and a flair for figuring out what people like. The result was a brand that grew in recognition over a short space of time. Eventually, the brand's popularity reached influential people, and the marketing snowball that is Instagram did the rest. Today, the brand remains committed to handcrafting exceptional leather products and is looking at expanding into different areas of the globe.
Michael has always been someone who never second-guessed himself. He attributes his success to curiosity and a questioning nature. He notes that, as people grow up, they lose their interest and ability to question the things they see around them. Instead of thinking outside the box, they live inside it. Michael believes that entrepreneurs shouldn't be bound by the standards of thinking inside the box. A true entrepreneur always questions what's accepted. According to Forbes, Henry Ford once said that if he asked the consumer what they wanted, they'd have told him faster horses. Entrepreneurs need to think along those same lines.
Michael's businesses will always have relevance, and that's a crucial idea to note regarding the longevity of a business. His brand Michael Louis taps into the primal nature of humans to embrace their own unique identity by offering personalization and enjoy the finest craftsmanship. Lifestyle will always remain relevant, and curating products to enhance daily essentials makes for an excellent long-term business plan.
Michael has a successful series of businesses, but he's looking for the next challenge like any entrepreneur. He's looking at slowly increasing his staff over time and getting individuals he can trust to help expand his business further. Marketing strategies to reach out to more consumers are also part of his plan. His personal brand is also growing by creating a podcast and a book that he intends to release in the future. Michael thinks that anyone can do what he did once they stay true to their principles. Entrepreneurs may be surprised to learn that he's right.
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Not all leather is created equally, which is why we went through a years long process to research the best leather tanneries to produce leather which is optimized for our products. Starting with the raw leather hide, we carefully select each piece based on various characteristics like it's grain, thickness, consistency, and overall look. We use full-grain calfskin leather for our core collection of pebbled leather products which is the highest grade available and ensures the leather is as strong as possible. Since full-grain leather is not altered from it's original condition, there can be minor variations in the grain throughout the hide, which is indicative of it's natural state. Such variations we celebrate as natural characteristics and thus make each product unique in it's own way. Ensuring quality control of the raw leather is of the utmost importance, as it sets the stage for what we have to work with in production.
Once the leather hides are selected there is a multiple step process to turn the raw leather into a finished leather hide suitable for production. These first stages of processing involve preparatory steps to clean the hide by removing any excess debris or grease and making it stable by curing the hide to avoid bacterial growth or decay. Through multiple soaking processes involving salt, water, and chemical components, the hide will become clean and stable which is known as tanning. By using chrome tanning, the leather becomes more soft and supple, enhancing the natural elements of the material. Each step of the preparation is crucial as it prepares the collagen in the hide for proper penetration of tanning agents and dyes in the latter part of the hide processing. During the dying process, leather hides are soaked in a dye bath which allows the coloring to fully and evenly penetrate the leather, and hides can then be laid to dry. Finally, the leather hides may be treated with a conditioner to maintain their soft character and/or a sealant to protect from wear and tear. Before hides are moved into production, a final quality control check is performed to check for any tears or imperfections that may not qualify for a finished product.
After the leather hides are inspected and ready for production, our artisans use strict standards to determine which parts of the hides are used and measurements are taken to calculate yields for specific products being produced. For example, a leather bifold wallet may require a thicker part of the leather to support the free-form structure of the wallet, so careful consideration is taken during this stage to identify which parts of the leather hides will be allotted to each product type and element. The leather is cut using brass dies to maintain consistency across units, and then may be skivved, adhered, burnished, hammered, and/or sewn to achieve the finished leather product.
As the core component of the Michael Louis collection, using genuine top-grade leathers is essential to our products. Throughout the entire leather sourcing and production processes we see the end in sight, maintaining uncompromising values and procedures to guarantee exceptional leather accessories.
]]>There are a few items we can never leave home without: our phone, wallet, and keys. Michael Louis' practical accessories for these everyday essential items have become staples of the brand over the years. After countless requests from the ML community, we are so excited to introduce New Product Sets to our official website collections.
Bringing you the best of the essentials in a single product bundle, our New "Card Holder Set" features those three essential items - a protective phone case, a classic card holder, and classic key holder in a single set. Now it is easy to shop the full product set from a single page and streamlined experienced.
The new Card Holder set is available in our classic assortment of genuine pebbled leather color ways (Black, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow and Pink), as well as our iconic Black Python and Black Croc leather types. Each item can be personalized with Gold Foil name or initials by using the PERSONALIZE button on the product page, where you can choose to personalize one, or all three items directly on-screen in the single experience. Within the virtual customizer you can also select a Phone Case size from the drop-down menu to ensure a seamless fit to your device.
Take a look at the full assortment of Product Sets linked here.
]]>Over the past 9 years, we have had the pleasure in building a close-knit team dedicated to servicing our customers with the same passion and purpose as when the company was founded. Thousands of customers across over 130 countries around the world have grown to know and love the Michael Louis brand. Even so, it's the little things that bring us the most joy - like hearing how a Michael Louis phone case protected your phone when it hit the pavement on a morning jog, how the personalization of your daughter's birthday reminds you of your life's true purpose every day, how it was easy to find your lost car keys thanks to the vibrant leather, or simply your appreciation for the craftsmanship and elegance of genuine leather applied to your everyday essentials. In owning a Michael Louis product you become part of the ML family, and are each connected by a common thread in whatever the product means to you personally.
Looking forward and as we approach our 10 year brand anniversary, we remain dedicated to our craft and celebrate the community we have built. Thank you for being a part of the journey.
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Building on the increasingly connected, digital and wireless nature of lifestyle in current times, the debut of Apple AirPods offered a much needed upgrade providing in-ear audio to deliver an unparalleled listening experience with all your devices via bluetooth. The Recent AirPods Max over ear headphones which debuted this past December 2020, provided powerful high-fidelity audio with industry-leading Active Noise Cancellation. But truth be told, for everyday and on-the-go use, the Airpods buds are more practical while exercising, commuting, or enjoying a day at the beach. There have been no updates to the AirPods buds since the AirPods Pro debuted in October 2019, so this forthcoming update could be big in terms of updates and improvements.
Apple is said to be working on a new AirPods model that will launch later this year in 2021. There is speculation on what updates or improvements the new AirPods 3 may include, and we definitely have our thoughts on a few key features. Firstly, from images leaked by one of their suppliers, the new AirPods buds appear to be a hybrid design of the original and pro models, with a shorter stem and no rubber ear tips. The ear tips definitely allow for more comfortable wearing, and conveniently can be replaced keeping the buds fresh, so it will be interesting to see which of the two Apple opts for. In terms of technical aspects, the new AirPods may feature Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) much like the over-ear AirPods Max, potentially longer battery life, and better waterproofing. We don’t know for certain which technical updates are priority since Apple has been keeping quiet about the launch. There has not been any official word from Apple, so until press day we don’t know the details just yet.
Stay tuned for the new AirPods 3rd generation release, and our newly designed AirPods Cases coming soon.
Leather is one of the most common materials used to produce a variety of personal accessories - from shoes and bags, to jackets and wallets. Thanks to it's durability, leather can withstand prolonged use while maintaining it's integrity for many years, and sometimes decades. You likely have at least one leather item, whether it's an item of clothing or a family heirloom, that seems to have a character of it's own as it ages. While leather can get better with age, there are certain care notes you should keep in mind to ensure longevity of your cherished leather goods.
It is wise to understand the material characteristics to best equip yourself with the knowledge and expertise to handle your leather goods with proper care. Most importantly, leather is a natural material that is porous in nature. Similar to your skin, leather is a skin of it’s own with the ability to absorb, retain and lose moisture. Additionally, while leather is durable, it is not immune to wear and has the ability to stretch, be scratched or soiled. With that said, there are a few specific care notes to keep in mind.
Over time as your leather goods are used, the leather can change in appearance, and is somewhat dependent on elements the leather is exposed to. Firstly, exposure to sun can cause leather to dry, lose moisture, or become more dull in appearance. Avoiding direct or prolonged exposure to sunlight or other UV lights can help to minimize any possible effects of sun damage. On the note of moisture, leather also has the ability to absorb liquids, oils, and perfumes. This is important to keep in mind because something as simple as the natural oils on your hand can have an effect on a leather product that is handled often. While it is expected that you will handle your leather goods, it is important to be mindful if your hands have lotion on them, or perhaps are soiled/dirty from other activities like cleaning products or food.
No matter how cautious you are when handling your leather goods, sometimes accidents happen - like spills, slips, or scratches. The good news is there are certain remedies available to alleviate some unwanted wear. In the case of dirt, leather can be easily cleaned with a dry or lightly dampened lint-free cloth. It is best to gently wipe the leather surface first with a dry cloth to remove any substantial residue, and then use a very lightly moistened cloth afterwards to loosen any stubborn dirt. Other visible signs of wear such as scratches can be alleviated using just your finger, by rubbing the area in a circular motion. Different finishes of leather may also handle more advanced forms of treatments like the use of a leather brush for suede, or a leather conditioner. Before using any products other than a dry or dampened cloth, it is best to consult with us or a local leather expert.
Adding a touch of elegance to any item, leather can provide a premium feel and aesthetic superior to alternative materials. By following the above guidelines, you can ensure your leather products remain in their best possible condition for an extended period of time. With proper care, we hope you take pride in and enjoy your leather goods for years to come. If ever you have any questions in regards to your leather goods, we would love to talk with you as leather is truly a passion of ours.
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