italian handmade leather

28
March
2018

How to understand if a leather is of quality?

How many times in buying a bag, a wallet or a belt we wanted to evaluate the quality of the leather? How to recognize it then?

It is essential to learn to distinguish the product that is worth from the poor quality to avoid being cheated and to make sure we get a beautiful accessory that lasts over time. For this aim, here are seven practical tips, which we hope will come in handy in your choice “leather good”.

  • The eye wants its part

Observe and examine the product well before buying it. It seems a banality, but first of all that item or object must visually convince you, it must be in your style and taste. Then the other senses will come into play, which will help you to distinguish the quality of the leather and make the right choice.

  • Let the nose be your guide

Do you have a good sense of smell? A leather belt or bag has a very peculiar, enveloping and acrid smell; already only the smell is almost a “brand” of originality, very different from all other materials. For the bags we usually use hides of animal origin (especially of bovine), which are subjected to tanning with chemicals to stop the natural decomposition and ensure the preservation of the skin. In the case of eco-leather, the origin is always animal, but natural substances are used to tan the skin, with a reduced environmental impact.

  • Touch for believe

Take the object in your hands, gently rub the leather, try to pull it and bend it to evaluate its consistency. Let your fingertips guide you. The real leather is soft and malleable and resists well to wear; you can rub and pull, but the shape will not be affected.

  • Look at the seams

If the seams are made by hand they will be more resistant and durable – and the product may cost more, of course, because the operation took longer – and from an aesthetic point of view the effect is nicer than the seams made by machine. It is also important that a quality thread has been used to sew the cuts: the most used are linen threads, more flexible than nylon ones.

  • Even the cut has its importance

The leather should be cut following the direction of the grain, to ensure more flexibility to the object and to avoid that over time accumulate wrinkles or creases aesthetically unpleasant.

  • Beware of the edges

To prevent moisture from getting better and penetrating inside, the edges must be burnished correctly, and it is an attention that good artisans usually do not fail to give.

  • Finally, the label

The “real leather” brand should be printed or glued on the object, to attest the quality of the product: “100% real leather”. At this point, it’s up to you: good choice!

21
March
2018

The secrets of leather processing

Leather processing is a fascinating and very ancient practice, dating back to prehistoric times, when man used this material to cover and cope with everyday needs. Sumerians, Greeks, Etruscans and Romans, many peoples have left us evidence of how the leather was a central part of their life and how these civilizations worked and used it in various ways.

Leather, a life partner

We can therefore say that leather has always been a precious companion of human life. It is no coincidence that it is a sought-after and widely used raw material for making garments, shoes, bags and other accessories, even jewelery. But what are the secrets to obtain high quality items, able to really make the difference?

The secret for quality items

In order to obtain high-quality objects that last over time, two things are essential:

  • the choice
  • the cut of the leather

After evaluating the selection and cutting of the leather, it will be subjected to conservation processes through dehydration, with the aim of keeping it in good condition, in fact, excellent condition until the tanning operations are started. Preservation can take place in various ways: by drying in air on stretched skins, salting with denatured sea salt, pickling by immersion and fulling in a bath saturated with denatured sea salt to which sulfuric acid is added.

From tanning to final processing

With the term tanning we mean the steps to which the skins of animals are subjected to make them rot-proof and transform them into leather.

Before moving on to the actual tanning operations, which serve to give the leather greater resistance to wear, maximum water resistance and maximum porosity to air and water vapor (sweat), we proceed to the preparation, washing and soaking of the skin (a treatment to eliminate foreign substances). The following steps in the processing of leather are: depilation, calcination and splitting up to trimming, deliming, degreasing, pickling and washing. These are all essential steps to achieve the desired thickness and thus create high-quality leather objects.

14
March
2018

New: Luisa bag

The “Luisa” bag is a delicious novelty that will be hard to resist! Elegant, functional, comfortable and very chic, “Luisa” is the perfect bag for work, an aperitif, the outing with friends, in short, for all those occasions when you need a practical but stylish bag.

There is room for everything!

Its capacity makes it the perfect companion for your longest days, a classmate for your impossible missions! Wallets, cosmetic bag, diary, smartphone, keys of house and car … you will not have to renounce anything!

 

Luisa, “the glorious fighter”

The name Luisa derives from the German and means “glorious fighter”; well, with this bag you can also triumphantly deal with your most demanding days, bringing with you everything you need, naturally with the utmost elegance!

Do you like the idea? So, you just have to choose the color and decide if you prefer to carry it over the shoulder or by hand, like a real “city bag”!

7
March
2018

Unmissable accessory: the calf leather belt

A must in your wardrobe is the calf leather belt. First of all because the belt has many advantages: complete your outfit, support the skirt or trousers, it is an accessory that can enhance or change the style of your clothing, giving a soul to your look! A decisive and classy touch.

Soft, elegant and quality

The belt in calf leather, as well as being soft and elegant, is a refined accessory even if sober, in step with current fashion and, if crafted, conveys a sense of attention to detail and good taste in dress. That’s why you can not absolutely miss it in your closet. Whether it is thin or larger, suede, smooth or two-tone, the calf leather belt is confirmed as an original and trendy accessory.

 

Three useful tips

Three things you must not forget when choosing your calf leather belt:

  • Opt for a 100% Made in Italy accessory
  • The craftsmanship is a must
  • Try it always to test the best fit on you and the combination you like best

29
June
2017

Leather bag models: tell me what bag you wear and I will tell you who you are

Leather bag models the female soul

 

Take a woman sporting a soft calfskin leather shoulder bag in Prussian with a tan strap and I’ll show you a girl with a sense of fun, stylish yet practical as she hitches the bag under her elbow and hops onto a tram car in Vienna. She can hug the bag on her lap as she takes in the ambience of the locals and tourists around her. A bowling bag on the other hand, with a long adjustable strap, is worn by a ‘need to have it all with me’ friend who always has the tissues handy, the lip balm and other needful things that you love her for. Her bag is in pink with a decorative padlock to keep her circle of friends safe.

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