Leathergoods
Leather Types
Most leathers sold by mass produced factories and even some high end stores are of low quality. When you encounter 'Genuine Leather' advertised, it is one of the most affordable and least quality leathers available. While it may appear smooth and flawless, it is sourced from the lower part of the hide, making it less durable.
Our products are crafted exclusively from Vegetable Tanned Full-Grain or Top-Grain leathers. Explore below for details on the most common leather types.
Full-Grain Leather: This is the highest quality leather, utilizing the entire hide without any sanding or buffing. It retains the natural grain, including any imperfections like scars or wrinkles, which contribute to its unique character and durability.
Top-Grain Leather: This type of leather has had the top layer sanded or buffed to remove imperfections and may be embossed with a grain pattern. It's more uniform in appearance than full-grain and is often used in high-end products.
Genuine/Split-Grain Leather: This is made from the layers of hide remaining after the top layer (or layers) has been removed. It's often used in products like furniture, and may be treated with a finish to resemble other types of leather.
Bonded Leather: This is made from leather scraps and fibres that are bonded together with a polyurethane or latex adhesive. It's a more affordable option but is generally less durable than other types of leather.
Vegetable-tanning vs Chrome-tanning
Both types of leathers go through a tanning process, but the methods are very different.
To create vegetable-tanned leather, tanners use organic dyes and plant based materials rather than chemicals and the process can take up to 6 months. The result is a stiffer material that will develop a beautiful patina over time.
Vegetable-tanned leather typically has a sweet scent, while chrome-tanned leather has a more chemical smell.
You can see the natural fibres in vegetable-tanned leather which you usually cannot see in chrome-tanned leathers.
Vegetable-tanned leather is better for the environment as it doesn't require harsh polluting chemicals.
Chrome-tanned leathers are often used for their efficiency in both time and cost. The process can be completed in just 1-2 days, resulting in a softer leather that can be dyed in rich colors. Additionally, it offers greater heat and water resistance for various applications.
These are some of the Leathers we use in our products:
Pueblo (1.2-1.4mm)
Sourced from Badalassi Carlo Tannery, Italy, the Pueblo leather is a premium, full-grain leather well known for its exceptional quality and distinctive characteristics and aniline finish. Pueblo vegetable tanned leather is the first layer of leather, has the highest durability and the characteristic aroma of Italian leather. Skilled tanners enhance the potential of each cow shoulder hide using expert techniques and innovative processing to transform them into unique and proud material leathers.
One of the most special points of Pueblo leather is the ability to develop a rich natural patina over time.
Buttero (1.2-1.4mm)
Produced by Conceria Walpier Tannery in Tuscany, Italy, known for high quality and unique characteristics. It is a full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather, superbly smooth finish and vibrant colours that develops a rich patina over time.
Buttero is cut from the shoulder area of the hide and is known for its tensile strength and quality. The surface is relatively resistant to water, making it easy to work with and clean.
Dollaro (1.2-1.4mm)
A printed grain cowhide from Conceria Walpier with very firm temper and medium scratch resistance. This leather starts off with a Buttero base (see above) and is further processed with heat embossing to produce its grain. This process increases its temper by hardening the surface which also in turn improves its scratch resistance. Unlike most embossed leather the Dollaro is vegetable tanned and will develop patina over time.
Thread used for our hand-stitched products:
Ritza Tiger
The renowned Ritza Tiger Thread from Julian Koch is a braided polyester thread with a waxed finish. It is globally acclaimed for its strength and durability. With a flat profile, it adds a unique and high-quality touch to any project.
Vinymo MTB
Vinymo MBT from Japan is a twisted polyester thread that is excellent for both hand stitching and machine sewing. Due to the twisting and bonding of the thread, it stays tightly woven even after being cut. This thread stitches beautifully and securely, providing a polished and neat finish.
