Leather Monogramming Archives

Blog, Leather Monogramming, Live Embossing Events

Versace Partners with Inkwell Designers for Exclusive Leather Event Activation

December 15, 2024 By Desiree Colonna

When Versace sought to create a truly bespoke leather event activation for their VIP clients at their Atlanta Phipps Plaza location, they turned to none other than Desiree Colonna, founder of Inkwell Designers®, to deliver an extraordinary VIP event activation with a personalized touch. Known for her groundbreaking cold embossing method, Desiree brought her unparalleled craftsmanship to Versace’s exclusive VIP event, leaving an unforgettable impression on attendees.

desiree colonna inkwell designers leather event activation

The highlight of the event was Desiree’s ability to cold emboss luxurious leather purse tags using genuine Versace leather and fabrics. Guests were offered the opportunity to personalize these tags, creating monograms that perfectly complemented their high-end purchases. What set Desiree apart—and made her VIP leather event activation with Versace so unique—was her ability to replicate the exact font style of Versace’s iconic logo in the embossing process. This level of precision and brand consistency was critical to maintaining the luxury aesthetic that Versace’s clients expect.

versace purse tag leather event activation atlanta

Desiree’s proprietary cold embossing technique, which she personally invented, was key to this partnership’s success. Unlike traditional methods that use heat, Desiree’s innovative approach preserves the integrity of premium leather while delivering crisp, professional results. Impressively, she is the only artisan in the country capable of executing this technique, making her a natural choice for Versace’s elite clientele and their leather event activation.

versace client cold embossing event activation

The event was nothing short of spectacular, with the luxurious Phipps Plaza boutique serving as the perfect backdrop. As guests sipped champagne and browsed the latest Versace collection, Desiree worked her magic, creating elegant, personalized keepsakes that highlighted the brand’s signature opulence. Each monogrammed tag became a unique piece of art, blending Versace’s timeless style with Desiree’s unparalleled craftsmanship.

versace cold embossing activation with inkwell designers

This collaboration underscores why Desiree Colonna and Inkwell Designers are trusted by the world’s most prestigious brands. Her ability to innovate, combined with her commitment to excellence, ensures every event is truly extraordinary. For Versace, this partnership was a seamless extension of their brand’s legacy of luxury, creativity, and exclusivity.

If your company is interested in a leather event activation, contact us at 833 INK-WE11 (465-9311) for a quote. More information can be found here.

Book Stamping, Engraved and Embossed Leather, Leather Debossing, Leather Monogramming

Leather Engraving vs. Leather Embossing: What’s the Difference? (One is Toxic!)

May 15, 2024 By Desiree Colonna

When it comes to personalizing leather items, two popular techniques often come to mind: laser leather engraving and embossing. While both methods can create stunning, custom designs, they are vastly different in their processes, safety, and outcomes.

Leather Engraving

Leather engraving involves using a laser to etch designs directly onto the leather’s surface. This method allows for precise, intricate details and can achieve very fine lines and complex patterns. However, there are significant safety concerns associated with laser engraving leather. Most leather is chemically tanned or chrome tanned, including common types used for Bibles and general goods. The worst is PU or “pleather” which is made of non-laserable plastic. These items all contain chemicals and dyes such as bleach that can produce toxic gases when exposed to the intense heat of a laser. These toxic gases are harmful to both the engraver, the machine, the recipient and the environment, making this method less desirable for those who prioritize safety. Also these items can melt or burn unevenly under a laser leaving your item ruined and the writing burned beyond recognition. The only time leather engraving is safe is if the material is vegetable tanned which is a natural process of tanning and finishing leather. Our company will only laser engrave leather that is tested and proved as vegetable tanned.

Leather Embossing

In contrast, leather embossing is a safer and more traditional technique. This method involves using heat and pressure with a stamp or die to create a raised or recessed design on the leather’s surface. Since no harmful gases are released, embossing is a much safer process. Additionally, embossing can create a more durable and long-lasting impression, as the design becomes an integral part of the leather material. The leather is not burned or scorched using this method which is much safer than laser engraving. Most of our bibles and leather promotional materials are decorated using this method. We can add gold, silver or any color foil but you are limited to creating a logo die which can be very expensive. Fonts are also limited on bibles this way.

Cold Embossing

In addition to engraving and heat embossing, we also offer a cold embossing method which uses no heat, is price competitive and looks beautiful. This method was invented our CEO, Desiree Colonna. This decoration technique is what we use to monogram leather items for events for companies like PricewaterhouseCoopers, Marriott, Workday and many more worldwide.

UV Printing

Another option is uv printing directly onto the leather with a uv printer. The ink is non-toxic, eco-friendly and you can choose over 1,000 fonts and colors with this method. It lasts forever because it’s bonded to the leather with a uv light during the process. It’s also cost-effective. We can print logos, names, monograms, photos, you name it with this technique.

Choosing the Right Method

When deciding between leather engraving and embossing, uv printing or cold embossing, it’s essential to consider the type of design, the material of the leather, and the importance of safety. For highly detailed and intricate patterns, engraving might seem appealing, but the associated health risks cannot be ignored. On the other hand, embossing offers a timeless and elegant result without the hazards of toxic fumes, making it a preferable choice for most leather projects.

In conclusion, while both engraving and embossing have their merits, embossing stands out as the safer, more environmentally friendly option. Whether you’re customizing a Bible cover, a wallet, or any other leather item, opting for embossing ensures a beautiful, durable design without compromising safety.

Blog, Leather Monogramming, Leather Stamping Events, Live Embossing Events, On-Site Events

Celebrating a Million Customers with Style: Inkwell Designers Embossed Leather Keyfobs at Purchasing Power Event in Atlanta

October 6, 2023 By Desiree Colonna

Embossed leather keyfobs were the gift of choice to celebrate Purchasing Power’s impressive milestone of serving one million customers. To commemorate this momentous occasion, a fun afternoon event was organized in Atlanta, one designed to express gratitude while also exemplifying the quality and success that define the brand. This celebration saw the collaboration of Purchasing Power with Inkwell Designers®, known for their mastery in cold embossed leather keyfobs.

Inkwell’s cold embossing method is eco-friendly and requires no electricity or heat. Its truly a carbon neutral event activation unlike any other out there.

Inkwell Designers’ reputation for crafting exquisite cold embossed leather keyfobs made them the ideal partner for creating personalized gifts for loyal employees of Purchasing Power. These beautifully crafted keyfobs served as the perfect keepsakes to mark this significant and impressive milestone.

What made this collaboration truly exceptional was Inkwell Designers’ unwavering commitment to quality, which seamlessly aligns with Purchasing Power’s core values. Notably, all of Inkwell’s leather materials are sourced and manufactured in the USA, ensuring that every product meets the highest standards of craftsmanship and sustainability. This shared dedication to excellence was a focal point of the celebration.

The event itself was an outstanding success. Inkwell Designers established a station where they expertly cold embossed gold monograms onto leather keyfobs. Customers had the unique opportunity to witness the intricate and artistic process up close, as each keyfob was transformed into a distinctive work of art. Seeing their individual initials on each embossed leather keyfob gave each employee a renewed sense of pride in the company. They couldn’t wait to show off their gifts to friends and family.

The event showcased Inkwell’s meticulous attention to detail and their passion for their cold embossing craft, evident in every keyfob produced. Attendees left the event not only with a beautiful keepsake but also with a profound appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship created by Desiree Colonna, Inkwell’s owner and CEO.

As Purchasing Power celebrated their one millionth customer, they expressed heartfelt gratitude to each and every individual who contributed to this remarkable journey. They eagerly anticipate the opportunity to continue providing the best products and services, all while maintaining their unwavering commitment to quality and sustainability.

If you are interested in our cold embossing event activation to celebrate a milestone for your company, reach out to Desiree Colonna at 833 465 9311 (INK-WE11) or email details to desiree (at) inkwell designers.com for more details.

Baseball Glove Personalization, Blog, Custom Baseball Gloves, Engraved and Embossed Leather, Leather Monogramming, Leather Painting, Live Monogramming Events

Baseball Glove Personalization for Dick’s Sporting Goods

February 23, 2020 By Desiree Colonna

Baseball glove personalization is one of our specialties. After seeing our work online at the MLB All Star Game in Washington D.C., Dick’s Sporting Goods® reached out to our CEO, Desiree Colonna and asked her to bring our personalization service to their stores around the country.

Dick’s wanted a special activation to offer parents and kids before the start of the little league baseball season. We were more than happy to work with them! Our first events took us to Frisco, Texas and Raleigh, North Carolina on the same day.

We personalized baseball gloves by using a burning pen to brand the lighter colored gloves and gold, silver or white paint pens to add names to the dark colored gloves. The burned names are permanent and the pens are waterproof, but semi-permanent.

“Walkoff Weekend” was filled with a lot of fun and surprises including a raffle for a Yeti® cooler and a $500 gift card. However, the baseball glove personalization table was always busy. We personalized over 100 gloves combined in the two cities we visited.

Both kids and parents loved our baseball glove personalization. (We even snuck in a couple baseball bats!) The main reason people want their gloves personalized is to discourage anyone from taking their glove. Having a name on a glove also helps kids find their glove faster if someone else has the same baseball glove.

We will continue to travel to nine more cities across the country bringing our personalized baseball glove activation to many more families. Our travels include many major cities between Portland, Oregon and Portland, Maine. You can find our entire schedule on our calendar page.

We also offer baseball glove personalization (and other sports equipment) to our clients as a service. Click here to find more details and options including a bonded vinyl version where we can add any font in any color to your glove.

If you’d like to bring our activations to your next event, please contact us at 833-INK-WE11 or 833-465-9311. We’d love to talk to you about how we can create a buzz with your guests and make them feel special!

Blog, Corporate Gifts, Engraved and Embossed Leather, Experiential Marketing Events, Leather Debossing, Leather Monogramming, Leather Stamping Events, Live Embossing Events, Live Monogramming Events, On-Site Events

Live Event Embossing for Cushman & Wakefield in Orlando

January 23, 2020 By Desiree Colonna

Live event embossing activations are one of the most popular services we offer the event industry. We recently worked with Cushman & Wakefield, commercial real estate brokers, at a convention in Orlando, Florida.

Our live embossing event consisted of adding guests monogram in gold or silver foil to leather keyfobs and journals. We monogrammed over 200 items within a 3 hour event. Guests lined up with excitement the moment we arrived and started setting up our equipment. The buzz grew throughout the three hours we were there and the line never ended.

The keyfobs and journals were made of genuine leather. Our live embossing event included stamping up to 3 letters of a monogram in gold foil, silver foil or with no color. We stamped the logo on the items before the event and added the monogram on the other side.

We had two embossers at this live event. Each could stamp 60 items per hour.

Guests love the live event embossing activation so much we were out of product at the very end. The lines never ended the entire time we were there.

This lady had us emboss a keyfob for her 3 week old grandchild. She was so excited to give her daughter this gift. “Its my grandson’s first monogrammed gift!” she exclaimed. We love stories like these at our live event embossing activations! Our monogramming makes a beautiful gift for any occasion.

We had a lot of guests tell us how wonderful the activation was. There is something about seeing your initials put on an item during an event which is magical.

If you are interested in hiring us for your next event, please contact desiree@inkwelldesigners.com or call us at 833-465-9311 or (833) INK-WE11. We’d love to provide a quote for our live event embossing!

Blog, Book Stamping, Engraved and Embossed Leather, Experiential Marketing Events, Leather Monogramming, Leather Stamping Events, Live Embossing Events, Live Monogramming Events, On-Site Events

Leather Embossing Experience in Lisbon for PitchBook Data

November 9, 2019 By Desiree Colonna

Our leather embossing experience is always a favorite activation at events for our clients and their guests. If you want lines in your booth, this is the way to do it. Our leather stamping experience is always a big hit at conferences around the world! Our latest embossing event was in Lisbon, Portugal.

We were invited to create our leather embossing experience for guests at the PitchBook Investor booth at WebSummit 2019. We embossed journals one day and luggage tags a couple days later at the event. After we were done on day one, people never stopped coming by looking for us. There was even a line waiting for us the second day of our leather stamping activation!

Word got out quickly among conference attendees the first day of our activation and spread like wildfire. Our client, PitchBook Data, even asked us to stay 30 minutes later the first day and also add more hours our second day in order to fulfill everyone’s orders. That’s how popular our leather embossing experience always is, no matter where in the world we go! Our client was blown away at the popularity of the activation and very pleased at how many people came to the booth.

The key to successful event activations is making sure there are enough salespeople in your booth to talk to guests while they are waiting in line for their personalized items. Keep in mind, they aren’t waiting long. Each embossing only takes less than one minute. PitchBook understood this from day one and made sure their Investor Relations folks were on hand to talk about their platform with everyone.

Our leather embossing experience was so popular, we had to turn people away at the end of the activation time. The lines never stopped! Everyone loved their stamped journals and luggage tags. It really makes a difference when you give away a high quality, personalized item at your events. People remember your company and will keep your beautiful gifts for a long time to come.

If you are interested in learning more about our leather embossing, please contact us at 833 INK-WE11 or 833-465-9311. You can also email us by filling out this form. You are welcome to set up an appointment by clicking here. We love traveling all over the world to bring our leather embossing experience to your guests no matter where they are!