Buying for colleagues and clients can be tricky. Whether it's a secret santa for someone you hardly know, or a heartfelt leaving gift for someone you've closely with for a decade, there are certain unspoken rules about what's appropriate for a work gift. And the stakes are much higher than buying gifts for friends — get it right, and your parting colleague turns into a valuable business contact further down the line. Get it wrong, and risk offending someone you have to work with on your next big project. Add to that the pressure of these gifts often being handed over in front of an audience of colleagues, and you really want to get it right! The same goes for client gifts, where it's really a branding exercise come new business proposal: what impression to you want to give them of who you are, and how much do you want to flatter them into coming to you with their next brief.
Etiquette advice is fairly consistent on one point: a gift needn't be expensive, but it should be thoughtful, showing that you have paid attention to the recipient rather than simply spent money. Harvard Business Review's guidance on gifts at work makes a similar case, that giving needn't cause stress or break the bank, and it advises particular care with food and alcohol, which can miss the mark. Long-established custom also holds that gifts in a workplace flow downward rather than upward, and that anything intended for the body, such as perfume, clothing or jewellery, is too personal for colleagues. Where a gift to a superior does seem necessary, a modest price point avoids any suggestion of seeking special treatment. Martha Stewart offers a simpler test than any rulebook: a present is a good one if you would be tempted to keep it for yourself. The best professional gifts, then, tend to be useful, well-made and clearly chosen for the person receiving them.
A leather cover for a notebook or diary is one of them. It suits the kind of person who values good tools, which describes most of those we are likely to be thanking. And if it's high quality and beautifully made, then it's a real compliment to the recipient that you thought this would be a fitting gift for them. Of course, a hand-made leather cover is a generous gift, so it might be overkill in certain situations. But when you really want to impress and flatter someone, it's the kind of gift that will really show how much you value the relationship, and admire their personal style.
An object that earns its place
For many professionals, handwriting has outlasted every predicted replacement. Solicitors take attendance notes, journalists fill reporter's notebooks and architects sketch alongside their calculations. Writing by hand is slower than typing, and for many people that is its value: it encourages selection over transcription, and it involves no notifications.
A well-made cover gives that habit a fitting setting. It is a small upgrade to something the recipient already does every day, so it is more likely to be used than admired once and shelved. The person who gave it is remembered each time it comes out of the bag.
Leather improves with use
Most gifts are at their best on the day they arrive. Leather works the other way. With handling it softens, darkens and takes on a patina particular to its owner, so a cover carried for several years looks better than a new one. This matters in a working relationship, where the aim is something that rewards long acquaintance.
Refillable by design
A cover differs from a leather-bound notebook in one important respect. When the last page of a bound book is filled, the object is finished. A cover is designed to be refilled: the used notebook is archived and a fresh one slots in. The gift stays in use for years, and it replaces the drawer of conference giveaways with a single durable object.
Mark+Fold: made in England
Mark+Fold, the London-based stationery company founded in 2015 by Amy Cooper-Wright, is known for layflat, thread-sewn notebooks and diaries. Its Leather Covers are hand-made in Walsall, England, and are designed to be used repeatedly with a fresh notebook or diary refill.
They are made in collaboration with Doe Leather. They are offered in Avocado green and a warm Brown, at £230. A Leather Cover + Notebook Bundle at £270 provides a complete gift, ready to use on the day. As the year turns, there is also a 2027 Diary + Leather Cover Set.
Provenance is part of the appeal. Mark+Fold documents the full chain of production openly, from printing in Aberdeen to thread-sewing in Suffolk. For a gift, this gives the giver something specific and truthful to say about where it came from and who made it. For larger orders, the company has pages devoted to corporate gifting and customisation, and current options are best confirmed with the company directly.
Alternatives worth considering
A leather cover is not the only sound choice, and the right gift depends on the recipient.
Smythson. The London house has long made leather-bound notebooks and diaries. It sits at the more formal end of the market, and its distinctive colours are recognised at once, which suits a senior client or a significant occasion.
Ettinger. Another British maker, known for wallets, card cases and small accessories, often finished with contrasting linings. A card case is a sensible choice where you are unsure whether the recipient still carries a notebook.
Bellroy. The Australian company makes slim leather wallets, card holders and tech organisers. These are practical, understated gifts for colleagues who travel or commute.
A leather desk mat or pen case. These suit the person who already has the essentials and would appreciate a better working surface, whether in an office or at home.
Each is a good gift in its own right. What distinguishes a notebook cover is its connection to a habit that the recipient already has and values.
Choosing well
Scale the gift to the relationship. For a departing colleague or a colleague marking a promotion, a cover in the £200 range is generous without being ostentatious. For a client, a cover supplied with a notebook is a more complete gesture. For a wider group, a smaller leather item or a customised option may suit the budget better.
Favour restrained colours. Brown, tan, black and navy suit almost anyone. A deeper colour such as a dark green suggests that you know the recipient's taste.
Check the format. Notebook covers are made for particular sizes. A5 suits most desks and bags, while a smaller format is easier to carry. It is worth knowing which the recipient uses.
Add a handwritten note. A brief card, or a line written on the first page of the notebook, makes the gift feel considered rather than purchased.
Order early. Hand-made work takes time, and the weeks before the year-end are busy for everyone.
In short
A leather cover is not the most conspicuous gift, and that is its virtue. It is useful and durable, and it shows that some thought went into how the recipient works. If you would like a British-made place to start, Mark+Fold's hand-made covers are available at markandfold.com. Whichever maker you choose, a good cover is likely to be in use long after other gifts from the same season are forgotten.
