FAQs
What is Vegetable Tanned Leather?
Vegetable tanning uses organic materials and natural tannins derived from the barks, leaves and branches of trees and plants. This makes colors rich and deep in natural earthy tones such as browns, beiges, yellows and reds. The fibers of the animal hide used for the leather are visible in the finished product, lending an authenticity and personality to the leather that makes it more unique. The lack of consistency in color and tone is not a defect. Instead, it’s a characteristic of natural tanning processes, that makes the hide more beautiful.
Vegetable tanned leather is more sustainable, of a higher quality and gets better with age. It provides great value for money due to its durability. It is also a fashion classic that never goes out of style.
It’s a great choice for making saddles, holsters, belts, wallets, bags, shoes, purses and any kind of leathergoods.
What is Napa Leather?
Napa or Nappa leather is typically a full-grain, unsplit leather. Made from lamb, calf, or sheepskin. Full grain means that the skin surface is not modified apart from the removal of hair. Full grain leather is the most authentic type of leather because it keeps all of the texture from the original hide. That means that the leather retains most of its original textures and markings. It is very soft and pliable and easy to work with.
Many car owners prefer nappa leather for their car seats, because it has a softer and smoother quality. Overall, napa car seats are more durable and easier to maintain.
Also, this product is very popular for furniture upholstery, clothing like jackets and gloves. Leathergoods such as wallets, briefcases, handbags or purses,shoes. Heavy-duty leather items such as holsters or utility belts.
What is Suede Leather?
You can make suede from any type of animal. Such us goat skin, lamb skin and calf. It has a unique feel and look among all leather types.
Suede happens by turning the hide upside down so this fuzzy side is face up.
In our store you can find high quality goat suede and split suede. It is soft and it is perfect for clothing and high-quality fashion accessories. Also it is used for bags, shoes and lining.
Our suede leathers are high quality and come from the top Italian tanneries.
What’s the difference between leather and suede?
The main difference between these two types of leather is that Suede is made from the inside or underside of the hide while Leather is made from exterior or the outer side of the hide.
Suede is usualy textured with matty finish and Leather is smooth and buttery with a nice sheen.
Also is more flexible than leather. Leather can also be cleaned easier than Suede.
What’s the difference between Suede and Nubuck?
Suede and Nubuck seem to be similar, however they are completely different types of hide. Suede is made by rubbing the inside layer of the hide, while nubuck is made from the outside layer of the hide. That means suede is soft and supple and easier to work with, while nubuck is thick and sturdy, but this makes nubuck more durable. Suede and nubuck have similar feel but they are used for different types of crafting.
What is Upholstery Leather?
Upholstery hides are chrome tanned. That makes the leather remain supple and receptive to color. Upholstery leather is strong and durable and with proper leather care, it will remain beautiful for many years.
Upholstery leather hides have many different finishes. The most common are: Smooth finish, Pull up, Embossed, Full aniline leather.
Pull up is a type of leather that has wax on top usualy added for protection. When you strech this leather, the wax gives to the hide an antiqued effect.
Embossed leather is stamped or rolled leather. The pressure gives to the hide a new grain on its surface.
Full Aniline leather, because of the way the dye it, it lets natural marks and finished scratches of the leather to be visible. It’s considered to be top quality leather.
All these hides are perfect for leather covers for chairs, tables, puffs, leather sofas, carpet, armchairs, furniture, automotive and yacht interiors. They are also suitable for other purposes such as leather shoes and bags.
What is Embossed - Printed Leather?
When a leather hide is printed, it means that it has a design on its surface. By printing onto leather you can have a totaly customized project that gives a special design to your creations. Prints and stamps can verify from project to project.
Some common prints are leopard prints, exotic prints such us snake prints and crocodile prints, floral prints and more.
The type of leather that is used can be cow leather, lamb skin, goat skin. It can be thin or thick.
Embossed and printed leather can be used for making leather bags, shoes, accessories such as belts, earrings and so much more handmade leather goods.
What Is Pony Skin (Or Pony Leather) ?
Calf Hair leather, also known as Pony-Hair or Hair-on-leather or Cavallino, is usually created from cow or goat hide. It is made from the hair side of the hide. The pelt is shaved so that it resembles the hide of a horse. It can be dyed in different colours and patterns, such as animal print.
Pony Skin is used in a wide variety of leather products. It is used in designer furniture and clothing, such as coats, but its main use is in high end fashion accessories such as shoes, bags, belts and watch straps.
What is Laser Cut - Engraving Leather?
Laser cut-Engraving leather is laser cut to create a decorative design or patterns, also known as motifs. The laser machine burns the upper layer of the leather and gives a quality finish.
Most types of leather can be engraved. Both chrome tanned and veg tanned leather hides.
It is very important of the leather to be genuine, real leather and not synthetic or vinyl. This wouldn’t be recommented for the laser cut machine.
Laser cut leather can be used for many leather designs, such as shoemaking, leather bag making, leather details on clothes, wallets, belts and more.
What is Metallic Leather?
Metallic happens when a very thin metallic sheet applies on the hide’s surface during coating process. That metallic sheet can apply to most types of leathers. Cow hides, lambskin, goat skin, suede leather, pony skins.
The metallic foil gives to the hide a special sheen. Almost every color can become a metallic color.
Also, the feel differs from hide to hide. The foil can be smooth or embossed with patterns.
Metallic hides are used in leather bags, leather shoes, automotive seat covers and more. They give an extra shine and a special look to your leather creations.
What is Lambskin and Goatskin ?
Lamb leather, also known as lambskin, is one of the most commonly used types of leather. Sheep and goat skin leather is a soft, light weighted and strong type of leather. It is also durable as it is water resistant by its nature. Goatskin is a little less durable than lambskin, but both have the same feel.
Lambskin has a smooth and soft feeling, and it is extremely delicate type of leather. It becomes softer and smoother as it ages. Because of its feel it is used for premium quality leather garments and clothes.
Lambskin and goatskin need proper care to avoid stretching over time.
Many fashion designers use goatskin for making leather bags. The bags manufactured of goatskin are soft and flexible and no stiff at all. Just keep in mind to store leather or leather products to average invironment with no humidity and proper air flow so the leather can ”breath”.