When I first started working with leather I thought all leather was pretty much the same- smooth and buttery with the scent of a warm, woodsy, earthy bouquet. I couldn't wait to take my designs from the notebook to the workbench. I found what looked like a great deal on a hide of supple Chocolate Brown leather and thought it would make a fantastic tote bag!
I'm now here to tell you, NOT ALL LEATHER IS THE SAME! That tote bag that I laboriously crafted is fine and functional. It's big, leather, and absolutely nothing like I had hoped. It felt more like a spongy centered faux leather fabric than the real deal and didn't smell anything like I thought it should.
This is where my leather education began. With this disappointing tote bag that cost me far too much in time and money. First I had to figure out why my bag was lacking that aroma that takes me back to my softball days of long practices on hot afternoons and plenty of quality time with my beloved maroon leather glove. My tote bag smelled a bit more like a gasoline soaked old rag. Who wants that wafting as they're strolling around the farmer's market?
I started to learn about the tanning process of leather and discovered I had purchased Chrome Tanned Leather (who knew that was a thing?) which has environmental implications about as terrible as it smells. This was clearly not going to work.
Finally I discovered Veg Tanned Leather! The holy grail of the leather world. Vegetable Tanning is a method that has been used for centuries around the world to produce gorgeous leather that improves as it ages. Sadly this method is becoming less popular due to the amount of work involved in and the associated higher price. Chrome Tanned Leather can be completed in just a few days making it a more economical choice but at the expense of the environment. And then you still have that nasty smell! On the other hand, Veg Tanned Leather requires months for skilled craftsman to take a hide through all the stages of the tanning process while using natural materials such as tannins found in bark, roots and other plant matter to produce impeccably tanned (and divinely aromatic) leather.
I now try to work exclusively with the best Veg Tanned Leather on the market as even Veg Tanned has a wide range of quality. Each piece I offer is hand made. It is cut by hand, burnished by hand, sewn by hand, stamped, punched and skived BY HAND. My hand. A tremendous amount of work goes into every piece I make. So why would I want to make it out of materials that will deteriorate fairly quickly when there is another option that just gets more beautiful over time?
There are few things I love more than a gorgeous hand made Leather piece that has developed a lovely Patina. It tells a story. Great leather that has been used and loved gives you a glimpse into the life of it's owner. From a perfectly molded wallet or handbag to a bracelet that lays just so, they all tell a story. It starts to form different shades and subtle creases as it's exposed to light and life. Like a great baseball glove, it starts to customize itself to you and mold to your form and the way you use it. Each mark adds to the story and makes your piece unique to you. When I finish a piece for myself I can hardly wait to see the slight color variations and customization start to shine through as I turn to that piece time and time again. Because in a world obsessed with fast fashion and disposable goods, there's something refreshing and endearing about products made to be cherished for many years to come.
Do you have a leather piece you absolutely love? I'd love to hear all about it!
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