The Ultimate "Key Clip" for the Discerning Adult

While the specifications and shapes of keyholders vary immensely, VRP's "Key Clip" is remarkably innovative in its concept. Magnets are embedded within the leather, allowing it to be clipped onto the edge of a bag or pocket.

This item, released in 2009, has garnered high praise and recently begun collaborations with other brands. But what was the original inspiration behind this "Key Clip"?

"It happened to me often," says Yuki Shiota, VRP's representative, who handles design and production. "Just when I was in a hurry to leave, I couldn't find my keys, and after searching everywhere, they'd turn up at the bottom of my bag. The product concept started with the idea, 'If you lose your keys that often, why not just attach them to your bag?'"

"How can we ensure keys are never lost? Should it attach to a bag for bag carriers, or to a pocket for those who don't use bags? Where should they be kept at home to avoid misplacing them?"—As Shiota pondered these questions, his gaze fell upon an order form attached with a magnet to a steel board in the workshop. It was then that the "Key Clip" was born, as if all the pieces of the puzzle had fallen into place.





"When I saw the order form held by a magnet, the 'Key Clip' was born as if all the puzzle pieces had clicked together. It can be clipped to a bag or pocket for carrying, and then attached to steel doors, desks, or refrigerators for storage..."

Now with over 20,000 units shipped, the "Key Clip" has become VRP's representative product in both name and reputation. After a somewhat lengthy preamble, OPENERS commissioned this special order for VRP's "Key Clip." Using cordovan and both black and white lizard leather, we have created a limited-edition model exuding luxury.

Cordovan, derived from the dense, fibrous layer of the horse's hindquarters, is characterized by its supple texture and rugged appearance. "While it might have a reputation for being hard, to be precise, the leather's fibers are so dense and strong that it's difficult to thin evenly. The surface is delicate, requiring meticulous care to avoid scratches during sewing," explains Shiota. It's also worth noting how the simple design of this "Key Clip" brings out the inherent beauty of cordovan.

"And when it comes to reptile leather, crocodile is the usual choice, but finding smaller-scaled varieties suitable for the 'Key Clip' that are readily available domestically is challenging. Therefore, we used the finest lizard: the ring-tailed monitor (a large lizard, up to 2 meters in length, characterized by a row of ring-shaped markings on its back). We selected the classic glossy black and a matte white where the scales are left unflattened."