There’s no question that CaseScoop has reviewed some fantastic cases in the last year so we decided we wanted to dig a little deeper this year and see just how some of our favorite case manufacturers make their cases, with a specific focus on the products they use to individually craft each case and why those products are important. FIRST UP: Sena!
Sena
Created in 1999 by gadget enthusiasts, Sena Cases aims to produce cases that are trendy, sleek, and completely function-accessible and customized entirely by the customer. Sena cases are handcrafted by leather artisans in Turkey using full grain genuine Italian and Turkish calfskin Napa leathers. Sena cases are offered in classic smooth leather or patterned leather such as croco, pebble, perforated or
vincado in a variety of colors. Since Sena cases are made from full grain genuine leather, the cases adjust and soften to develop a perfect fit to the device after a short break-in period. The leather is unique as it begins to form and customize to the owner’s individual usage habits. Sena knows good leather, and believes in the variations of markings that come with their leather, considering marks and scars a necessity in distinguishing real, quality leather from imitation, and deems these “imperfections” as genuine properties of the leather that enhances the overall quality aesthetic of their cases. Offering a large variety of case designs for their vast selection of devices, Sena allows unique customization options so that each case is crafted just as their customers wish.
To read this full article, click “read more” to learn about Piel Frama, Krusell, Vaja, Noreve, OtterBox, and Fortte’s manufacturing process!
Piel Frama
The kind of leather Piel Frama uses to make their PDAs cases is cow skin 1ª quality. This leather comes from Piel Frama’s country of Spain, which allows them the opportunity to select the highest quality leather offered. The leather Piel Frama uses is from veal (young cows) due to their clean, undamaged skin. Additionally, Piel Frama´s leathers are environmentally safe, or “green”, because the leathers are tanned and finished with natural products and biodegradable organic substances, which avoids impact on natural systems. All of Piel Frama’s products are hand-made through an “elaboration process,” which maintains that each piece has a strict quality control. This elaboration process includes creating different molds in hard cartons, then cutting the different parts of the case (the leather, interior lining, etc.) and assembling each part together like puzzle pieces with glue that is not environmentally harmful. Piel Frama also uses a raw material called “viledón” which is a highly resistant synthetic cloth, located between the leather and the lining, adding consistency and resistance to the cover. The leather cover is then sewn together by 100% polyester thread (stronger and more durable than cotton), and a conveniently removable rotating clip is added to the case.
Krusell
Krusell, a Swedish company founded in 1991, makes a great deal of their products primarily with superior and medium nappa leather, a full-grain dyed and tanned leather known for its soft feel and durability, as well as cow skin for the interior of the case. Krusell offers seven different collections of cases labeled by different colors for a variety of customers (business [blue], active users on the job [red], sporty [green], “cool”/hip [orange], glamorous [purple], luxurious [Grand Kru], and a separate collection for accessory packs [black]). Because of this, leather is not the only material Krusell uses to craft their cases. For instance, their Green Label collection is made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) rubber for shock-absorption and durability for their sporty customers. As well, PU imitation leather is used for their Orange Label, quilted leather, micro fiber lining, and piping is used alongside nappa and PU leather in the Purple Label, and Polyamide plastic is used for the accessory packs in the Black Label. For more information on the manufacturing of Krusell’s products, watch the video below:
Vaja
All leather used in Vaja products is full grain cowhide. These hides are from the top ten percent of Argentina’s leather and are selected for quality, strength, character and grain. They have not been altered in any way thereby allowing the natural markings and character to show through. Full Grain cowhide is generally much cleaner and has minimal scarring and insect bites. This results in a more expensive product than other altered grain leathers, but Vaja feels this is warranted in order to produce a product of extremely high quality. Vaja’s products are made one at a time in their own factories by skilled craftmen who maintain the highest quality standards in the leather industry.
According to Vaja’s online FAQ, “Each customized product is specially handcrafted for the customer who requires it. All of [Vaja's] products are handmade by a group of craftsmen specially selected for this purpose. There are many stages involved in the customization process: leather selection and special arrangement according to the model and features selected, case molding and assembling, finishing, quality and functionality testing. Attention to even the smallest details is always present in each of these steps.”
Noreve
This French (St. Tropez) manufacturer has conquered the international market through a network of specialized resellers across the globe since 2004, and continues to become more accessible to customers all over the world. Noreve specializes in the manufacturing of high-quality, individually hand-crafted leather cases for the most up-to-date devices by offering a large variety of color options as well as four selections of leather: Perpetual, Ambition, Exceptional, and the recently-released Illumination Selection. All four selections differ greatly between texture and
style, and each leather type is unique and offers something a little different from the next. All leather used by Noreve production teams is premium cow leather that goes through a different treatment process depending on the custom-ordered case. In the Perpetual Selection of leather, full grain calf leather is used to create a smooth feel with a matte finish. The Ambition Selection of leather is pebble-grained and has a polymer to protect against scratches. This selection is also weather-resistant and fights discoloration. The Exceptional Selection is suede-like leather that goes through a strict weathering process to highlight the natural quality of the leather and make it unique from every other case manufactured by Noreve. Finally, the new Illumination Selection of leather is glossy and smooth to the touch and is finished with a layer of varnish that is applied during the last stages of the tanning process to obtain a shiny effect.
OtterBox
Dedicated to the “klutzy, spontaneous, chaotic, graceless individuals,” OtterBox (located in Fort Collins, Colorado) was created in 1996 to protect devices for customers with an active lifestyle. Their original line of cases are waterproof (like that of an otter’s fur… get the connection?), which has since expanded into four lines of device-specific cases for the most up-to-date gadgets on the market.
As a company that has been continuously evolving, their cases are crafted primarily with polycarbonate and silicone components to withstand water, sand, dust, and klutziness in practically any situation. Additionally, silicone materials maintain good electrical insulation to resist the flow of electrical currents while polycarbonate components are easily molded and are impact-resistant. Both polycarbonate and silicone components maintain thermal stability and are temperature-resistant which is ideal for OtterBox’s active customers looking to keep their devices insulated and protected from UV light.
Fortte
Known as one of the leading leather case manufacturers, Fortte specializes in the creation of sleek, customizable leather cases for mobile devices popular in today’s market. They only use quality hides and inner materials that guarantee to maintain long-lasting durability. Fortte additionally manufactures in Biodegradable Plastic in an effort to help environmental practices, and part of sale is reinvested in Sustainable Forestry in the Amazonian basin. A focus of Fortte’s is guaranteeing that their brand is manufactured with only selected material under the ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Assurance), ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Practices) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Safety and Labor protection). This also means that the suppliers of the materials also comply with the regulations.
Fortte cases are designed both to custom fit every specific device (they even offer a universal collection) and maintain a high level of functionality without compromising style. They offer high quality leather cases at decent prices in a variety of colors with a choice of belt clips and customization options. Fortte only brings their best cases to the market with a strict focus on quality standards and customer satisfaction.
