Numerous car manufacturers have already ventured into the world of fashion, but not always with success. For most of them, the result is average at best. The question often arises as to whether cars and fashion really go together. But Bentley has once again proven that these two disciplines do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Anyone who has ever sat in a Bentley knows about the special relationship that the traditional company from Crewe has with the processing of high-quality leather. From the steering wheel and dashboard to the regal seats, Bentley sews the finest leather with passion and attention to detail. The leather is carefully crafted by hand in Crewe. It takes up to 15 hours to make a steering wheel alone. It is therefore not surprising that several hundred hours of labour are required to finish the entire interior. This is why Bentley works exclusively with selected partners in the world of fashion who share the same values and quality standards.
Tradition for over 300 years
Despite over 100 years of history, Bentley can look back on a comparatively short company history. In contrast, the traditional company Meindl from the Upper Bavarian district of Traunstein is a true veteran.
In 1683, exactly 335 years ago, Petrus Meindl laid the foundation stone for the successful family business. He was the first shoemaker in Kirchanschöring to be mentioned in a document. The manufacture of shoes was to remain at the centre of his business for many years to come. It wasn’t until 1928 that Lukas Meindl began with tailoring of all kinds and six years later with the production of leather clothing. He learnt the craft himself, which was passed down from generation to generation. Meindl is still based in the small community of Kirchanschöring today. The success of the family business emphasises the quality of its products. Among other things, Meindl is one of the leading manufacturers of traditional leather trousers, which can sometimes exceed the €1,300 mark. With the Meindl manufactory, Bentley has brought an experienced specialist on board whose quality products have been impressing customers for several hundred years. Both companies share a respect for tradition and old values and are in no way inferior in terms of the standards they set for their own products.
Around 120 steps are required to produce a Meindl leather jacket. Meindl attaches great importance to handcrafted production and only uses 100 per cent lamb nappa. The jackets are finished with double stitching and long stitching, reminiscent of the lines of a Continental GT. The lining with matrix grille pattern has design parallels to the car manufacturer’s curved dashboard panels. The jacket bears the typical Bentley DNA with specially manufactured zip pulls and a hand-stitched hanger with a cross-stitch pattern.
Fancy more? Further information can be found on the websites of Bentley Stuttgart https://stuttgart.bentleymotors.com/eu/de/startseite or Meindl https://meindl-fashion.de/.
