Style

21
October
2021

Saffiano leather

The history of Saffiano leather

This is a type of leather, used in the fashion industry. The name Saffiano comes from the cross-hatch print, pressed into the wax that covers the leather.

Saffiano leather was produced for the first time in one of the most famous fashion houses in Italy, invented by Mario Prada for many years it characterized the creations of the Maison before being exported all over the world.

Saffiano is a particular texture of calfskin leather, an icon 100% made in Italy, synonymous with beauty and luxury, which today has become a symbol of many collections of bags, belts and wallets of other top brands such as Michael Kors and Lancaster.This particular fabric is very used and requested because it is able to combine its great durability and resistance to any kind of stain in combination with a perfect elegance and class..

Origin of the name

Actually, this leather should be called Saffian, which is the name by which the material has been known for centuries, is the name by which the material has been known for centuries. Saffiano is simply the Italianization of the expression, introduced by the Prada brothers to give their products a slightly more Italian touch.

The leather is named after the Moroccan city of Safi, the material was imported from North Africa for before its complete manufacturing process became known in Europe. The French know Saffiano as Maroquin leather, the French name for Morocco. 

What characterizes Saffiano leather?

The hallmarks of this leather are its stain and scratch resistance and its water repellency.

The range of color choices for this leather is very wide, available in both vibrant and dark tones.
The choice of color does not stop only at the solid color but you can opt for two-tone effect. This can be obtained by applying a solid color to the entire leather and then embossing by applying a second color only in the embossed areas; however, it is important to pay particular attention in this case because due to the shape and the embossing, the secondary color on the reliefs will be more delicate and more exposed to wear, being the first point of contact.

How to take care of it

Saffiano leather is durable and taking care of it to preserve it at its best is not so difficult.

Inside each belt, wallet, briefcase, bag, shoulder bag, Saffiano leather accessory you will find a label that will list and explain how to take care of the object of craftsmanship, with manufacturing strictly Made in Italy.

First it will be necessary to empty our object, in order to remove light stains, small or little invasive will be possible to proceed to cleaning with a simple cloth in soft fabric slightly damp and pass it on the affected area very gently and carefully. 

Dirt, however, could also creep into the grain, so using a simple soft brush and also slightly damp you can go to gently scrub. The important thing is not to apply too much pressure in this step to avoid damaging the luster and grain pattern.

If there are more important stains it is advisable to use a stain remover specialized for that type of stain.

Usually this type of leather goods, due to their well-known delicacy, are sold with a dust bag, i.e. a special cloth bag to protect them from dust.

When not using the product it is advisable to put it in the bag described above.

You should also pay attention to the place where you store the object, it is advisable to store it in places away from direct sunlight and excessive changes in value.

If you don’t store it in this recommended way, the object could change its aesthetics and durability, the color of the leather could fade and the leather itself could deform.

It is useful to use a specific balm for this type of leather every now and then to keep it soft and preserve its original color and shine.

Recognizing the true from the false

Although Saffiano leather is uniquely recognized, each luxury brand adopts its own production and finishing methodology.

Nowadays there are many fraudsters who try to deceive by trying to recreate this particular plot; in order to understand and analyze a product, to accept that it is not counterfeit it is necessary to pay attention to the smallest details.

For sure this kind of craftsmanship is produced only in Italy: the production and treatment processes are very complicated and are kept by the tanneries of the Toscano district.

What makes it a luxury material is not so much the leather itself but the manufacturing process, with the unique finishing of one leather at a time through 12 finishing steps.

Observe if there is a multi-tone effect that makes the surface optically in relief and not flat through the different coloration that the tips assume with respect to the furrows of the weave.

The machine called mille punte takes care of ensuring this effect.

7
October
2021

The leather goods

Where does the term leather goods come from? Etymology and curiosity about this word

“Leather goods,” a term used in the past to refer to items made of animal skin, now has several linguistic connotations. In today’s era, leather goods mean much more than just leather items.  As the Universal Encyclopedia web dictionary states: the term also includes the company that produces it, the techniques used to make it, the store that sells it, etc.

What do we find in the world of leather goods?
Today, leather goods are not limited to clothing and carpets. There are also shoes, wallets, belts…and especially handbags. It is precisely the latter that are the most sought after on the market, always monopolizing the first place on the podium of fashion trends. A leather bag is a symbol of luxury, elegance, sturdiness and nobility. Several giants of the Fashion Industry are dedicated exclusively to the production and sale of leather bags. 

So where does this ancient art, which is gaining importance century after century, come from?

The National Center for Textual and Lexical Resources explains that “leather goods” draws its etymology from the word “Moroccan” or “goatskin”. The term and the know-how were transmitted to Europe by the Spanish, a word they learned in turn from the Muslims, the true inventors of the new practice: “marroqun”.

The genesis of the art of leather goods

It is known that the use of animal skins has very ancient roots in human history. The proof was given by archaeological findings on Egyptian soil: furs, shoes, objects of daily use, musical instruments… all made of leather. And that’s not all. The use of animal skin was also a common practice in ancient Greece: knights and fighters used leather leggings and epaulettes to protect themselves during battles.

Until then, leather goods existed, but with discretion: it was a response to basic needs, including that of protection from the cold and from the enemy in battle. 

It was only at the beginning of the 12th century that leatherworking began to develop, particularly in Italy and in the Maghreb countries. Leather was used in the production of luxury items, bought and worn exclusively by the bourgeoisie, the only social class that could draw on the high price. Fortunately, nowadays leather goods are accessible to everyone and can be purchased by anyone who wants them. It was only at the beginning of the 12th century that leatherworking began to develop, particularly in Italy and in the Maghreb countries.

The leatherworker: from modest worker to expert craftsman

Initially a leatherworker was a simple worker who barely earned enough to live on. But as time went by, leather goods gained importance, the bourgeoisie and the wealthy population became more and more attracted to this trend, which soon became “art”. Nobles of the Middle Ages decorated their interiors with leather objects, especially with trunks and carpets. This phenomenon continued to grow until the 13th century when demand reached its peak and furs became a real must-have, sought after by the middle class. The furriers then became artisans and their creations became objects of common desire.

Leather goods as fashion and glitz

We arrive at the sixteenth century, where leather goods enter the glorious world of fashion. The art of leatherwork became indispensable and no outfit was complete without a leather accessory. Owning a leather item was a matter of wealth, a reason for pride and irreproachable pride.

From utility to aesthetics

Leather goods, which until then had only satisfied the need for protection from the elements, also became an object of aesthetics. For this reason, a leather bag not only had to allow the transport of objects, but also had to be beautiful and elegant.

The baptism of the art of leather goods

Until then, the art of leatherworking had no real name. It was only in 1835 that it was given the name “leather goods”. From that moment on, the leather goods industry began its successful expansion and in the 19th century saw the emergence of the great luxury leather goods brands. Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Lancel and other fashion houses saw the light of day thanks to the production of fine leather goods and at the beginning of the 20th century they created the most popular leather accessory in the world: the bag.

Leather goods for everyone and for all uses
After its success in the world of fashion, the art in question expands also in the field of Design: more and more sofas, headboards, luxury car seats are made with exclusive and refined leather. Thanks to the hardness of this material it is possible to preserve beauty and uniqueness over time. Because leather is not only color or grain, but also softness, texture, characteristic smell and even art.

Today, leather goods continue to be an emblem of elegance and the highest quality: bags, shoes, gloves and leather accessories are synonymous with innovation and refinement, the result of a tradition of craftsmanship that aims at excellence.