A natural material which has a beauty, character and versatility unlike most others, good leather is a true luxury.
"Any product is only as good as the raw material that enables it’s making. "
Adhereing to this ethos, The leathers we use are sourced with great care so as to ensure that the final product is luxurious, functional and durable.
Our products are in many ways artistic and functional expressions of the leathers we use.
Full Grain, aniline dyed, minimally finished.
When leather is made this way, the natural character of the hide/skin from which they are made is highlighted and celebrated.
The supple touch and feel is preserved, giving the wearer a sensory experience of luxury that is difficult to describe.
These kinds of leathers can only be made from the highest quality hides/skins.
What is Full Grain Leather?
“Full Grain Leather” is an oft used marketing terminology, as a sort of catchall phrase to indicate that the leather being used is of a high quality.
“Full Grain” simply means that the top layer or surface of the hide/skin is left intact.
This is the part of the leather which has the complex fiber structure and cross section from which leather derives strength and durability.
Full Grain leathers are therefore stronger and more durable over time.
What is Aniline Dyed Leather?
Aniline dyes are soluble, transparent dyes. The transparent nature of the dye means that the top layer or surface of the hide/skin is visible in full, even after the application of the dye.
Aniline Dyed leathers therefore show off the natural grain pattern of the hide/skin.
Aniline leathers therefore need to be made from hides/skins which have clean surfaces in order to be usable and aesthetically pleasing.
Even with careful grading and selection, on average 70-80% of a given skin/hide which is aniline dyed is usable.
As you may have guessed, the hides/skins which are of this quality are few in number and in great demand among luxury shoe and leather goods makers.
What is Minimally Finished Leather?
“Finishing” refers to the process by which the final look, touch and feel is achieved. Leather is finished in myriad ways. Different types of finishes are used depending on the end use.
Finishes vary from “none” to “fully finished”. The more “finishing” on a leather, the less natural it is in terms of it’s aesthetic, touch and feel.
Fine Leathers, such as those we use in our products, are minimally finished, so as to preserve the naturally smooth, soft, supple touch and feel and the beautiful aesthetic of the premium skins we use.
Our Leathers
Brillo Calfskin
This luxury leather is produced from the very best premium grade calfskins.
Full grain, fully vegetable tanned, aniline dyed and finished by the age old glazing process, which gives the leather a brilliant lustre and sheen.
The leather is gently hand milled, creating gentle peaks and valleys on the grain, which juxtaposed against the brilliant sheen, gives the leather the appearance of a crystal like finish.
The beautiful natural shrunken grain pattern of our Serre leather is achieved by dry "milling" the skins in a drum for 14 hours.
The milling results in the skin shrinking by 30% and creating the beautiful raised shrunken grain. The resulting grain is irregular, with some parts having a fine grain and some a bolder grain.
The raised grain gives the leather a nice texture, a semi-dry touch and beautiful rounded hand feel. The protein finish also means the leather will develop a fine patina with age.
Grain: Natural Shrunken Grain
Tannage: Combination Tanned
Finish: Protein Finished (Minimal)
Scuff Resistance: Medium
Shows Wear: Colour will darken and some scratches may show.
Astique Calfskin
The gentle sheen and smooth, flat grain appearance epitomises our Astique calf.
Full vegetable tanned and protein finished, this is technically a top grain leather, as the surface is ever so lightly buffed to create a more level surface.
The vegetable tanning gives the leather a firm hand feel, while the finish gives the leather a smooth, silky touch.
Grain: Corrected Top Grain
Tannage: Vegetable Tanned
Finish: Protein Finished (Minimal)
Scuff Resistance: Medium
Shows Wear: Colour will darken and some scratches may show.
Tiaho Chevre
Our Tiaho Chevre is crafted from the finest goat skins. Small size skins are specifically chosen to ensure a fine, tight grain.
The leather has a flat, smooth, waxy touch and a supple hand feel. The leather's glazed finish gives it a brilliant sheen that will get deeper with time.
The leather is lightly pigmented, producing uniform, even colours and a degree of resistance to wear and tear.
Grain: Natural Full Grain
Tannage: Chrome Tanned
Finish: Lightly Pigmented
Scuff Resistance: Good
Shows Wear: To a small degree.
Veludo
The brilliant, velvety touch and feel epitomises our Veludo leather.
This beautiful full grain Nubuck is crafted from premium grade cow hides. The leather is carefully and lightly buffed on the grain side, opening up fine naps and creating the velvety touch.
The leather has a smooth, flat appearance and a round hand feel.
Grain: Full Grain Nubuck
Tannage: Combination Tanned
Finish: Protein Finished (minimal)
Scuff Resistance: Low
Shows Wear: Yes
Orein Nappa
Orein is a supple Nappa leather made from cow hide. The leather goes through a specialised finishing process to give it a soft touch and a round hand feel.
Combination tanned and full grain, the leather is durable and will not show wear and tear easily.
The leather is dry milled for a short time, giving the leather a slightly shrunken grain appearance.
Grain: Natural Full Grain
Tannage: Combination Tanned
Finish: Lightly Pigmented
Scuff Resistance: Good
Shows Wear: Minimal
Amarillo
The rugged, two toned appearance of Amarillo is it's signature. The embossed grain pattern gives the leather an added textural element.
Combination tanned and finished with a special recipe of oils and waxes, the leather is designed to show scuffs, nicks and scars which will blend with the natural two tone to further enhance the vintage look with use.
Grain: Natural Full Grain
Tannage: Combination Tanned
Finish: Lightly Pigmented
Scuff Resistance: Good
Shows Wear: Minimal
Hubo
Our Hubo calfskin is combination tanned, drum dyed and finished with special waxes.
The grain is lightly buffed to give a smooth, flat appearance and the leather has a mild pull up effect.
The leather is not treated with any kind of protective coating, meaning it will show scratches and nicks with use.
Grain: Smooth Top Grain
Tannage: Combination Tanned
Finish: Oil and Wax, Protein
Scuff Resistance: Low
Shows Wear: Yes
