Unless you have been in a deep sleep and not reading the Philofaxy Video Web Finds, recently you can't have missed how popular the Filofax Malden currently is.
A recent Video Web Finds had a large number of Malden videos in it (~25%)
- Came out in 2010;
- Initially only in Personal and Pocket sizes;
- Mini discontinued at one point only to come back again;
- Many colours released over the years;
- It looked like the model would be discontinued at one point but it has soldiered on for many years;
- It has been made in all sizes except A4;
- Many accessories too, wallets, phone holders, tablet sleeves, e-reader sleeves etc
- Fake 'Malden style' organisers exist but low quality and sold on various on-line sites:
- The leather quality and quality of manufacturing has varied over the years, people tend to like the earlier examples more than recent ones.
- Orche has been in the range since day one.
Do you own or have owned a Malden?
How interesting, indeed. I've also noticed that there are sometimes negative comments about Maldens (something like "I don't particularly like Maldens..."). But I've never understood what exactly people don't like about Maldens... So I'd be interested to know what exactly people like and dislike about this model.
ReplyDeleteI've never owned - or even touched - a Malden. For me, personally, I don't like its looks - I find the closure displeasing (the tag coming to a point while the stitching beneath goes the other way). But mainly, having a zip pocket underneath the writing surface is an absolute no no - that's just sloppy design and I can't really understand how it has become so popular. Also, I read that the pen loops are problematic - but then, when aren't they on a Filofax...?
DeleteWhen I decided I needed a personal to carry when travelling to site instead of carrying my a5 finsbury. My old metropol was still OK but I wanted a leather one. I read so much about how nice the Malden is, but tbh I think the Holborn is a better design so I got that. Perfect for my needs and looks great.
DeleteMind you I suspect tgst after finally taking the plunge to buy a vintage filofax from the 80s or early 90s era I could find the Holborn as inferior too!
I agree with you about the stitching Graham. I’d never liked the look of the Malden and now I realize that’s precisely why!
DeleteIn contrast,, the Filofax Bridle model exemplifies how to execute a design that makes a feature out of the fastener stitching.
Hi, Klaus, PamAlison here. Over the years I've watched many videos and heard many people describe how wonderful the Malden is. The main things that put me off it are: it is too floppy - this seems to be a feature that everyone else loves; and there is something about how the leather comes across that makes me cringe. It just looks like the fake plastic leather that handbags were made of in the 1960s - the type of handbags you'd buy from Littlewoods, British Home Stores, or Woolworths. Not something to aspire to. Like Paul B, I've gravitated instead to the Holborn which has more structure and feels like a slightly better quality leather.
DeleteIt's hard to keep anything in the pockets and the zipper gets in the way a lot. They are also so unstructured it's a challenge to write in them. This is what I don't like. What I love? All four of my Maldens are made of excellent leather. They are all from the old stock and divine to touch. They live at home though due to the 'don't like' reasons...
ReplyDeleteI got an orchid mini quite cheaply from Amazon. It looks beautiful but the ring mechanism is very hard to open. It has filofax branding, but I think it might be a fake
ReplyDeleteI have a ocre Malden from 2017 and the leather is Beautiful! I love the look and feel of them, however I find for my needs at the moment it’s not being used and sat in my desk as I’m book bound not rings.The pen loop is very very small and tight as it doesn’t even allow for most pens. I love to use Fountain pens and there is no chance that you can even fit one inside, another negative for me. It should be elasticated at the back to allow for different sizes. I’m glad I have the older version of the leather as the new versions are sadly such poor quality.
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of the Malden (except for the frustratingly limited pen loop...) but I will say that my OG Ochre Malden from 2010 is worlds nicer than any I have purchased recently as far as leather quality goes. That being said, I am still a regular Malden user. I like the laid back style, the unstructured feel and the fact that it has a zippered pocket. I hope Filofax keeps the Malden around in the future, but wish they would return to using the high quality buffalo leather that was previously used for them.
ReplyDelete~Yvonne Martin
so interesting to read all these comments and seeing the pros and cons in the eyes of others!
ReplyDeleteSeduced by a photo online of a deep purple Iris Malden, I was disappointed to receive a very different color - a pale lavender. I know that colors on monitors are often not true to life, especially on the blue/purple range. Debating whether to keep or return. I don't really like the style of the Malden but that purple photo was so gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteYou were sent the wrong one. They sent you the orchid instead of the purple!
DeleteSeduced by an email offering a beautiful purple Iris Malden, I was disappointed that the color of the Malden I received is a pale lavender. I know that colors online are often not true to life -especially in the blue/,purple range but this wasn't even close. Debating whether to return it as I'm not crazy about the Malden style.
ReplyDeleteI own 5 Malden, in personal a purple one, a black one and a stone one, and then a pocket black one and my beloved black mini one. I used to have an ochre one, but the leather wasn’t supple and squeeshy at all, it looked very “plastic-like”, whereas all the 5 ones above are made of a leather that I cannot really describe : it is full of wrinkles, it is not very shiny, it is very flexible and has a great smell. It is not enough to describe a kind of leather, I know, but that’s the way I feel it, and I like it very much. What I also like in a Malden is the number and form of the pockets, but I regret that only Pocket and Mini have the big back pocket. Last but not least point, I love the contrasted stitching, which gives a great style to all of the Malden.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED Malden planners but then Filofax went and cheapened their quaility. Planners I own from 2012 or 13 are amazing, now they feel painted and the color wears off.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone tell me if the ‘special edition’ Malden from a couple of years ago is considered good quality? It’s made in England, which I do t think others are, but I don’t know how the quality compares to the revered Malden’s of yesteryear. I have a special edition A5, and it’s pretty good. I removed the zip, the pen loops hold my Waterman fountain pens (they are slim compared to others I own), the leather is soft (if that’s good!), and the whole thing goes in and out of my bad every day. It’s my workhorse. I like it, and my only negative, zip non withstanding, is that it’s a bit ‘puffy’. I think it’s the soft leather that makes it squishy, hence I’d like to know if any has compared it with OG Malden’s. Whilst I prefer a firmer leather I’m in no rush to get shot of this one. It performs admirably. As a side note, how many have done actual side by side comparisons. People have a tendency to state ‘original’ things are the best (especially when they own one), test I just can’t believe that everyone who talks about ‘old’ Maldens superiority have actually done a real comparison. (I hate doubting people, especially here, but I find it a little hard to believe).
ReplyDeleteI love my personal ochre Malden. Even though I'm mostly an A5 user, it's one of my favourite and most lasting binders. I'm not sure when I bought it but it's one of the early models when they weren't made cheaply in China.
ReplyDeleteThey have a friendly look to them which is hard to pin down to one or two factors. I haven't owned one, but they came up in my mind a few times when I was thinking of giving planners as gifts, for exactly that reason. They seem somehow inviting.
ReplyDeleteInteresting take! I never thought of the Malden that way before, but they are sort of “casual dress.”
Delete“Casual dress” is an interesting term. Which Filofax could then be the opposite of a Malden, a kind of “business suit”?
DeleteKlaus, for me, that would be a Classic Croc. There are undoubtedly many excellent or superior vintage contenders (Ascot, Chameleon, etc…), but I sadly lack first-hand experience with them.
DeleteI have a duck egg mini Malden that I sometimes use as a wallet. I prefer it as a wallet over my mini Finsbury because of the wide front and back pockets for cards. Both models have an exposed zipper that will chew up your inserts if you don’t use a page protector. Likewise, the pen loop is equally limited on both models. Somehow the mini Malden looks more “wallet-ish” to me than the mini Finsbury, but I prefer the Finsbury as a planner/notebook.
ReplyDeleteJessie here, stateside Pittsburgh PA. The Grey and Crimson personal Maldens put me in hunting mode. My first was the A5 Grey from Colleen's collection destashing. It's my first relaxed form FF. I love everything about it and what others dislike. My first New purchase was a personal Ochre after receiving the catalog from FF UK. She turns 10 years young this coming lateJuly-August 2024. She's currently in my purse and I'm wondering jow to celebrate her 📔Tenth Birthday🌻. I obtained her sibling A5 within the past two years. (2 A5s, 5 personals). #Happy14AnniversaryMalden
ReplyDelete