When you buy a belt, wallet, bag or other leather accessory it is very important to check not only the presence of the logo made in Italy, but also the overall quality of the manufacture and the way it was finished.In this regard it should be remembered that over time the techniques concerning the colouring of hides have undergone profound transformations. The new methods are carried out by expert craftsmen in tanneries and ensure durability over time. Here are the most popular systems that are performed with colors of natural or synthetic origin.
Spray and barrel dyeing
The leather can take on various colors thanks to the use of a machine equipped with revolving guns that dispense the dye on the accessory. In this case, we speak of spray painting, much appreciated by companies specialized in the production of leather objects because it allows to obtain impeccable results in a short time, while at the same time reducing the use of labor. Different is the bottal technique, which involves the immersion of the leather accessory inside containers that rotate and contain a solution based on water and color. The container is then heated up so that the liquid inside can reach a temperature of about 60 º C so that it can be distributed evenly on the artifact.
Tampon dyeing on the table
The coloring techniques made in Italy also include the buffering, otherwise known as a brush, which is most often applied in case of leather that is tanned with tanning or alum. To perform this type of procedure it is necessary to have a table with a convex top made of copper. The leather accessory is then placed on the top and carefully colored by the expert craftsman, thanks to the use of a hair brush that is previously immersed in the dye.
This technique, unlike spray and barrel dyeing, requires longer times, in addition to the use of highly skilled labour.
Skin dyeing with the use of natural dyes
A briefcase, bag or shoulder bag, as well as many other leather objects, today are often colored with colors of natural origin, especially derived from camping. It is a wood tending to dark red, quite common in South America, but also in other countries such as England and Spain.
The characteristics of this wood are to be found in its active principles that, as much as extracted and left to rest for the necessary time, form hematine, or crystals with a characteristic light yellow color. When this substance is combined with metallic oxides it generates different shades, which can be tending to dark blue, as well as black and red.
However, the leather is not only dyed with camping, but also with other woods that contain extracts. The sandal, for example, is used to give the artifact an intense red color, while the wood of fustello gives a yellow tint.
Other natural colours used for leather good
Natural colors are not only those that come from wood, but also include special lacquers called tannic, which are mostly used to color the bottom of the leather accessory. This kind of lacquer is obtained by extracting the tannins that are present in plants. More specifically, the somacco plant is mainly utilized, very versatile because it offers various salts, such as those of aluminium, lead and antimony which give respectively a green, hazel and yellow colouration. This plant even allows the leather purple, brown yellow and black, because it also contains salts of titanium, copper and iron.
Artificial dyes for skin coloring
In recent years, artificial or synthetic colors have also taken hold to color the leather. Compared to natural ones they offer great advantages because they allow you to complete the processing in a very fast time. These shades are also particularly intense and durable over time.
Called aniline, these non-natural colors can be acidic or basic. In the first case they are more suitable for producing leather objects tanned with chrome. Basic colours, on the other hand, are used on tannin tanned leather goods, that is vegetable.
Made in Italy leather goods quality
In the light of what has been explained, it is well understood that the colouring of leathers is a fairly complex and demanding operation, which can only be carried out by artisans who have acquired a certain competence. Otherwise the results that are obtained can not be resistant, up to expectations and above all to perfection. That’s why when buying leather accessories it is important to rely on serious retailers, highly specialized in leather and leather processing.
The manufacture of Florence Leather Market stands out and is designed to resist the continuous change of trends. Thanks to the wide range of leather accessories, available in different colors and models, it will be easy to find what you can do to your case.
