I’m so excited to share my new camera accessories collaboration with you – a selection of handmade vegetable tanned leather straps and pouches available at mimiberry.co.uk! Read on to discover how the collection came about and discover Mimi’s top tips on caring for leather… 

A Wonderful Coincidence

[ezcol_1half]Would you believe that my very first serious London bag purchase was from the Mimi Berry shop on Cheshire Street back in 2002! It took me a week to decide and I kept returning before I finally walked out with the most sumptuous tan leather tote (which I still have!). Fast forward to 2015, and I take Gus to visit his new nursery pal and have a total fangirl moment when I discover his mum is non other that Mimi Berry herself! After pulling myself together we nattered away like old friends and through the boys ended up hanging out loads!  [/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end]Following the success of the Sail Handmade skinny straps I did in collaboration with Olympus  – loved seeing you guys with these straps! – I asked Mimi if she’d like to work on a brand new collection with me. And she said yes! So I’m thrilled to be embarking on a camera accessories collaboration with her – super luxe Italian vegetable tanned leather straps in three parts – love the hardware fittings! – and oilskin and leather pouches big enough for a small (Pen sized, natch!) camera and extra lens(es) for protection from scratches in your bag. [/ezcol_1half_end]

Inspired By…

Never happier than when exploring a new city or countryside with my camera in hand we decided to name the collection after 19th and 20th Century female explorers and adventurers Gertrude Bell, Amelia Earhart and Nellie Bly. And, of course, the straps and pouches are designed with the Olympus Pen F, E-PL7 and E-PL8 in mind but will suit any small camera or compact.

“Adventure is worthwhile in itself.” Amelia Earhart, aviator, 1897-1937

The Sunny 16 Rule & #mimixstyonylon

With each strap or pouch you will receive an old-fashioned Sunny 16 card which gives you aperture settings advice and a general shutter speed rule of thumb. 

Don’t forget to share you photos as we’d love to see the Explorer Collection on its travels using the #mimixstylonylon hashtag.

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Mimi’s Top Tips For Leather 

Few know leather as well as Mimi, here are her top tips for caring for vegetable tanned leather: 

1| Vegetable tanned leather ages naturally and beautifully, it darkens with age. You can treat it with a beeswax leather food to rub away scratches. It will age naturally and develop a beautiful patina. 

2| Rain stains will darken the surface and eventually the surface will become uniform. 

3| To maintain suppleness you can use a leather food (Mimi’s favourite is Chelsea Leather Food) once a year. 

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Shop the Mimi & Stylonylon camera accessories at mimiberry.co.uk 

Straps – nude, chocolate, black

Oilskin pouches – sand, brown, black

Leather pouch – black

Or if you’re out and about in Hackney, pop into the new Mimi Berry shop at

102 Lower Clapton Road, London, E5 0QR

(nearest station Hackney Central)

Also in the photographs 

Purse | Mimi Berry

Diary | Trouva

Big candle | Wood/Grey

Small candle | Ohros

Sunglasses | Finlay & Co

Signet ring | Bianca Jones Jewellery

Watch | Rotary

Tan camera | Olympus Pen E-PL8

Black & silver camera | Olympus Pen E-PL7

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All shot by myself on Olympus Pen F with 17mm lens!