Plain Truths about the Gillio Mia Cara

Let’s get one thing straight from the beginning. I am an A5 user. Not only that but I am an A5-with-30mm-rings user. They are big and heavy as bricks but I have used them for years. I also love the Gillio Mia Cara. They make A5 30mm ring binders look like miniatures. They are big and heavy and bulky and floppy and overstuffable. This makes me love them even more.

However, they are not for the fainthearted. Or for those who want a light, structured, stiff, slim, light binder. Hopefully these photographs will give some idea of scale.  They are big heavy folders compared to all other equivalents. This is why they are so much more expensive.

If you carry small handbags and like your binders neat and slim, this is definitely not a binder for you. But if you like things big and heavy – go for it!

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These are big, heavy, floppy binders made of sturdy leather. And then doubled up in the form of a binder within a binder.
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Leather within leather in A5 size (top) and pocket size (bottom)
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As you can see here, the Pocket Mia Cara on the right is almost the size of the Personal Belmont Filofax on the left. The Mia on the right was sold to me by Laurie McFadden (who also took the photo) as she found it too big for her needs.
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A5 Filofax Siena on the left with A5 Mia Cara on the right. You can see the difference in size. The Siena has very few inserts so it would normally be a bit bulkier than it is in this photograph.
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A5 Siena on left and A5 Mia Cara on the right. The difference in size means a corresponding difference in weight.
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The difference in size and weight is obvious here. The full-length back pocket which allows A4 papers to be stored makes the binder  much bigger and heavier when full. 
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There is a significant difference in size between a standard A5 and a Mia Cara A5
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The Mia A5 out of its external binder is smaller but has no clasp closure

Author: Janet Carr

Fashion, beauty and animal loving language consultant from South Africa living in Stockholm, Sweden.

5 thoughts

  2. Love the foot shot Janet!! This has again, proven to me that my Filofaxes are all I need. Though I hear how supple the Gillio leathers are! I always enjoy reading your blog! xx

    Reply
  3. Pingback: Size Comparison between Gillio Mia Cara and Filofax – pocket, personal and A5 « Janet Carr @

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