【Tech Seed: Fever Specialist】
New MacBook Folder
Master Miao Yongsheng, who has been working with leather for over half a century, used to specialize in making leather handbags for foreign brands in a factory. "Handbags have more accessories and details, so these tech accessories are quite easy to make," the gentle master murmured. The new MacBook is lighter and thinner, about the size of a small stack of papers. Master Miao designed two leather cases for it that resemble file folders. "When you pull out a thin file folder at work, you'd expect it to only hold papers, but when you pull out the new MacBook, it naturally highlights its thinness." The master's thoughtful design is perfect for showing off the new MacBook in a low-key way. One of the leather cases can be unfolded, with the left and right wings turning into mouse pads, making it suitable for use on uneven desktops.
During filming, even while demonstrating the crafting process, Master Miao was incredibly meticulous. For example, when cutting the leather, he would pay close attention to the veins and tendons in the leather, selecting the most beautiful areas. When asked which step was the most challenging, he smiled and said they were all pretty much the same. "Skinning the leather is a test of patience; beauty comes from experience; the first time won't be as good as the third time." Besides MacBooks, Master Miao also makes leather cases for more common iPhones and iPads. The iPhone cases are crafted from higher-quality calfskin or deerskin, offering a softer feel and making it easier for parents to hold their phones. Apple Watch accessories are rarely seen, likely because the watch band requires an adapter to fit the watch, which isn't readily available. We also didn't dare use unreliable, counterfeit adapters from Taobao. If they came loose, the watch would disintegrate, a costly mistake. Therefore, designing this watch band posed a significant challenge for young leather goods craftsman Patrick Tam.
Master Miao designed a folder-like leather case for the new MacBook.
Master Miao Yongsheng is very experienced, and making accessories for technological products is just a matter of hands-on work for him.
iPhone leather cases are made of rare calfskin or deerskin, which feels comfortable.
The folder can be unfolded to become a mouse pad, serving two purposes.
The old-fashioned cutting scissors brought from abroad are rarely used nowadays.
Another new MacBook leather case is even slimmer and looks like it can only hold papers.
The Lederer
1/F, Block A, 8-12 Wing Kin Road, Drunk Bay, Kwai Chung
Reporter: Zang Nuo
Photography: Huang Ziwei, Xu Xianyu
Editor: Huang Zizhuo