PLOTTER draws on a wealth of materials, technology, and craftsmanship to create tools that will make creative work enjoyable. Today, PLOTTER, a brand born in Tokyo, Japan, has just reached its first significant milestone: the opening of a flagship store in the heart of Harajuku – PLOTTER TOKYO.
Since its creation in September 2017, the brand has developed products with the theme, “Go beyond the boundaries of system planners, and use them more freely and creatively, like a notebook.” We are constantly seeking out things that inspire us and further nurture creativity. In May 2023, the PLOTTER team embarked on a trip to Chicago to visit a mecca of leather craftsmanship: Horween Leather Company. Two years later, the two brands’ connection led to an exciting collaboration that is now an iconic lineup for the PLOTTER flagship store: Predator Leather by Horween, in a PLOTTER original color “Amber”.
This special collection is available in all five sizes of PLOTTER leather binder lineup: A5 Size, Bible Size, Narrow Size, Mini Size, and Mini 5 Size. This collection is exclusive to the PLOTTER TOKYO Flagship store and PLOTTER USA online store.
Connecting through Creative Communication
Horween Leather Company is a five-generation leather tannery with over 100 years of history and is one of the oldest continuously running tanneries in the United States. Its legacy of leather making is evident through famous footwear, apparel, accessories, and has even extended to sporting goods such as baseball gloves, basketball, and is even the exclusive supplier of leather for National Football League footballs.
PLOTTER team director Takayuki Saito has long been an admirer of Horween Leather and its use in the apparel industry, as well as their spirit for manufacturing. Through various collaborations and pop-up events, PLOTTER has transformed Horween’s iconic leather series into long-lasting leather binders for creatives and leather lovers alike.
From the moment PLOTTER director Takayuki Saito set foot on the historic tannery, an idea started brewing in his mind about the possibility of a special leather made by Horween just for PLOTTER. In the chaotic yet organized environment of leather tanning, Takayuki took note of the stark orange color accents throughout the building. The hue matches, coincidentally, with PLOTTER’s iconic orange color of inspiration. The first iteration of such a unique leather seeks to replicate the hard-to-capture colorway in natural leather.
PLOTTER director Takayuki Saito (center), together with Arnold ‘Skip’ Horween (left)(4th generation) and Nick Horween (right) (5th generation)
Horween Predator Leather in PLOTTER original “Amber” Color
While HORWEEN is widely sought after for its iconic Chromexcel® and Shell Cordovan leathers, PLOTTER chose a different direction—an oil-stuffed pull-up leather with a unique texture, with an original color.
Horween’s Predator line features leather with rustic and wild characteristics. The leather is packed with everything that leather lovers can’t get enough of: Aging, oil, a subtle pull-up, and more. Horween named this leather “Predator” as a symbol of “strength,” “ruggedness,” and “durability.” The Predator leather by Horween is a favorite among shoemakers for its rich blend of waxes and aging characteristics.
After going back to the drawing board several times, the final iteration of this PLOTTER exclusive leather exhibits a hue that’s not quite orange or brown but still evokes the bright energy and character of leather. The color “Amber” is inspired by fossilized tree resins, hardened over years of change but still preserving its iconic glow. Just like its namesake, this leather exhibits a slight pull-up to show a yellowish orange tone and will develop a rich patina over time.
Predator Leather in original “Amber” Color
The “Amber” color is further emphasized with the subtle pairing of a rose gold backplate. PLOTTER users will enjoy the aging process of both materials.
Predator Amber 6-Ring Leather Binder will be available in all 5 sizes of the PLOTTER leather lineup. PLOTTER fans can enjoy this special leather in their favorite ring binder dimension.
The Horween Leather Company logo is screen-printed on the inner cover of the leather binder.
We also invite fans traveling to Tokyo to visit PLOTTER TOKYO and enjoy the worldview of PLOTTER and Predator Amber in person.
Draw Today, Shape Tomorrow
