Seeger Lederwaren

Seeger Lederwaren is a German luxury leather goods brand founded on 11 November 1889 in Offenbach am Main by the saddler Karl Seeger. The company began as a workshop for travel bags sold mainly in nearby Frankfurt, and grew into an internationally distributed maker of high-quality leather goods that received international awards for its craftsmanship. Its products were sold through specialist retailers worldwide and became known as luxury articles. Over the twentieth century the firm passed through several hands. Friedrich Emmerling joined as a partner in 1905 and later became sole owner; he commissioned Ludwig Enders to design products. After Karl Seeger's death in 1923, Emmerling brought his son-in-law Fritz Johl into the business in 1930. Seeger products won gold medals at the world expositions in Paris in 1937 and Brussels in 1958. In 1971 the sons of Fritz Johl, Fred and Armin Johl, took over and moved the company headquarters to the Offenbach district of Bieber-Waldhof. In 1992 the family sold the business to Montblanc in Hamburg, and the brand name was changed to Montblanc Leather GmbH. Montblanc soon withdrew the Seeger brand from the market, though production remained in Offenbach for a further 17 years and shifted to split cowhide, which was cheaper than the leather traditionally used by Seeger. On 10 March 2009 Montblanc announced it would close the Offenbach production site at the end of the year and move manufacturing to Florence. The closure did not happen: in June 2009 a Lübeck investment company took over Montblanc Leather GmbH and acquired the rights to the 'Karl Seeger' brand from Montblanc. The operation continued under the old name 'Karl Seeger Lederwarenmanufaktur GmbH', again making products to the old quality standard. An insolvency proceeding was opened on 30 September 2010, and in December 2010 the company was sold to a newly founded Karl Seegers AG, which ceased operations in April 2011. Since 2012 the trademark rights have been held by SEEGER Lederwaren International Ltd. in Hong Kong. The brand's official website presents it under the tagline 'Cashmere in leather'. Notable commissions include a special case for the conductor Leonard Bernstein that could hold 24 batons, and a white leather case with leather lining and an embossed coat of arms made for Pope Paul VI.

Seeger Lederwaren was founded on 11 November 1889 by the saddler Karl Seeger in Geleitsstraße in Offenbach am Main, initially as a workshop for travel bags sold mainly in neighbouring Frankfurt. Rising demand led the craft business to expand, and seven years later it moved to new premises on Kaiserstraße in Offenbach, opposite the headquarters of its competitor Goldpfeil. In 1905 Friedrich Emmerling joined the firm, first as a partner and later as sole owner. He commissioned Ludwig Enders to design the company's products. The founder Karl Seeger died in 1923. In 1930 Emmerling brought his son-in-law Fritz Johl into the business. Seeger products were awarded gold medals at the world expositions in Paris in 1937 and Brussels in 1958. In 1971 the sons of Fritz Johl, Fred and Armin Johl, took over the company and relocated its headquarters to the Offenbach district of Bieber-Waldhof. Seeger supplied specialist shops with luxurious leather goods around the world. In 1992 the family business was sold by its owners to Montblanc in Hamburg, and the brand name was changed to Montblanc Leather GmbH. Montblanc withdrew the Seeger brand from the market a short time later, but production remained in Offenbach for a further 17 years. Production was switched to split cowhide, which was cheaper than the leather traditionally used by Seeger. On 10 March 2009 Montblanc announced that it would close the Offenbach production site at the end of the year and move manufacturing to Florence. The closure did not occur: in June 2009 a Lübeck investment company took over Montblanc Leather GmbH and acquired the rights to the 'Karl Seeger' brand from Montblanc. The operation continued under the old name 'Karl Seeger Lederwarenmanufaktur GmbH' and once again produced goods to the old quality standard. On 30 September 2010 an insolvency proceeding was opened, and in December 2010 the company was sold to a newly founded Karl Seegers AG. That company ceased business activity in April 2011. Since 2012 the trademark rights to the name have been held by SEEGER Lederwaren International Ltd. in Hong Kong. The brand's official website presents it under the tagline 'Cashmere in leather'. Among notable commissions, Seeger made a special case for the conductor Leonard Bernstein that could hold 24 batons, and for Pope Paul VI it produced a case of white leather with leather lining and an embossed coat of arms.

• Karl Seeger founds a workshop for travel bags in Offenbach am Main.

• The business moves to new premises on Kaiserstraße in Offenbach, opposite competitor Goldpfeil.

• Friedrich Emmerling joins as partner, later becoming sole owner.

• Founder Karl Seeger dies.

• Emmerling brings his son-in-law Fritz Johl into the firm.

• Seeger products win a gold medal at the Paris world exposition.

• Seeger products win a gold medal at the Brussels world exposition.

• Fred and Armin Johl take over the company and move headquarters to Bieber-Waldhof.

• The family sells the business to Montblanc; the brand name becomes Montblanc Leather GmbH.

• Montblanc announces closure of the Offenbach production site and relocation to Florence.

• A Lübeck investment company takes over Montblanc Leather GmbH and acquires the 'Karl Seeger' brand rights; operations continue as Karl Seeger Lederwarenmanufaktur GmbH.

• Insolvency proceeding opened.

• Company sold to newly founded Karl Seegers AG.

• Karl Seegers AG ceases business activity.

• Trademark rights held by SEEGER Lederwaren International Ltd. in Hong Kong.

Luxury leather goods, handcrafted in Germany, historically awarded for quality and sold through specialist retailers worldwide.

• Travel bags

  Original product line of the workshop founded in 1889.

• Luxury leather goods

  High-quality leather goods sold through specialist shops worldwide.

• Special case for Leonard Bernstein

  A special case that could hold 24 batons.

• White leather case for Pope Paul VI

  A case of white leather with leather lining and embossed coat of arms.

1. 1SEEGER | Cashmere in leatherseeger.com
2. 2Seeger Lederwarenwikidata.org
3. 3Seeger Lederwarende.wikipedia.org