Smythson Teams With sacai On Passport Cover, Pouch, And Chelsea Notebook

Smythson and sacai are launching a new collaboration that reframes classic travel and stationery pieces through Chitose Abe’s hybrid design lens, with the drop set for 13th February 2026. The partnership is positioned as a craftsmanship led capsule rooted in Abe’s long standing relationship with Smythson as a customer.

A Customer Led Strategy

The collaboration was conceived from Abe’s personal connection to Smythson, with the brand noting she has used its travel accessories and diaries for years. The framing matters because it places the project closer to product culture and daily use than seasonal hype, which aligns with how Smythson typically communicates heritage categories.

Paolo Porta, CEO at Smythson, said, “It is wonderful to see some of our most iconic Smythson products reimagined through the eyes of Chitose and her team. It has been an honour working with the sacai team to bring this collaboration to life.”

From sacai’s side, the message lands in a similar place. Chitose Abe, Creative Director at sacai, said, “I feel that Smythson’s products have a quality that enriches everyday life. At sacai, we also place importance on creating from an extension of the everyday. By building on the shared philosophy at the core of both brands, and layering our own brand elements onto the traditions Smythson has cultivated over time, I believe we were able to create a new sense of everyday.”

Three Core Pieces

The collection comprises three Smythson signatures, a passport cover, a pouch, and a Chelsea notebook. All three are made in Smythson’s crossgrain black Panama leather, keeping the material story consistent while leaving room for sacai’s design intervention.

How sacai Reworked Classics

sacai’s team played a central role in the creative process, and the key new detail is structural: each piece features a miniaturised set of structured handles inspired by Smythson briefcases and luggage. It’s a straightforward way to inject sacai’s ‘unexpected juxtaposition’ approach without changing the function of the underlying items.

Conclusions

For leather goods collectors and fashion collaborators, this is a tight, three piece statement: Smythson’s long running travel and notebook codes, reworked with sacai’s structural signature in a restrained black leather execution.