UNDERSTANDING LEATHER

WHAT IS GOAT HIDE?

Goat hide products are individually crafted using ancient methods of leather tanning commonly known as pit tanning, a process whereby goat skins are placed in concrete pits and soaked in various liquors, made from leached oak barks of deferring ages and strengths. The skins are left to soak in the liquors for about 30 days.

Our goat leather products include natural scarring; a consequence of the life of the leather, uneven stitching and if lucky, some goat hair, giving your bag an authentic, well-travelled look. Goat skin is known for its strength, lightness and durability. 

Commonly used in the manufacturing of quality chamois, drum heads, and everyday items including bags and wallets, our goat leather products are not chemically treated, leaving the hide with a distinctive and earthy leather aroma that fades over time. 

With constant use, goat leather quickly becomes soft and its natural oils seal the bag without conditioning. Overtime, your leather bag will darken and become malleable, moulding to your style.

We guarantee that no two goat products are identical and from time to time you may need to wipe excess salt or wax (if any) off your bag. If you feel your bag needs some lift, you can apply an oil-based conditioner like beeswax.

WHAT IS COW HIDE?

Discover the enduring strength and natural beauty of our cowhide leather products. Sourced from the robust skin of cows, this leather is renowned for its exceptional durability and versatility, making it a popular choice through our collections.

Using the whole hide after the process of chrome tanning, we create durable products including bags, wallets, cardholders and journals. We also offer premium custom versions with higher-quality hides and special tanning for a more refined look and feel.

Our cowhide products are made to last and will develop a unique character with use.

WHAT IS BUFFALO HIDE?

Our buffalo hide products feature throughout our collections, in particular our belts, crossbody bags and backpacks.

Sourced primarily from Asia, this leather is known for its exceptional durability and distinctive thick, coarse grain. Unlike typical hides, buffalo leather is naturally less stretched, resulting in remarkable strength and tear resistance.  

The porous nature of buffalo leather allows for breathability, ensuring comfort and flexibility. With regular care, your buffalo leather item will not only endure but also become a timeless and valuable investment as it develops a beautiful patina over time. 

WHAT IS KANGAROO HIDE?

Kangaroo leather is exceptionally strong because of its unique fibre structure. The tightly packed fibres give it impressive strength. Unlike other hides, it has no sweat glands or fat deposits, which creates a consistent grain and adds to its strength.

Even though it's thin, kangaroo leather is much stronger than cowhide or goatskin of the same thickness. It's also naturally resistant to tearing and abrasion, making it ideal for tough gear like motorcycle wear and soccer cleats. 

This leather can flex repeatedly without cracking, and its natural elasticity helps it keep its shape over time. That's why we use it for our wallets, cardholders, keyrings and bags.

WHAT IS FULL GRAIN LEATHER?

Any leather which has not undergone snuffing, sanding, buffing or any other process to eliminate any imperfections, is called full-grain leather. It is by far the most durable and strongest of all kinds of leather. It retains the layer of skin which is found just below the hair, giving it breathability and resistance to wear. It develops a beautiful patina over time, and is generally used for high-quality shoes and accessories.

WHAT IS MILLED LEATHER?

Milling cowhides is a process in which only full grain hides are rotated in drums with heavy large rubber balls for a period of time to soften the leather.

WHAT IS DRUM DYED LEATHER?

Drum dyeing is a process whereby full grain hides are completely immersed in the dye colour of choice and tumbled in a rotating drum (similar to a washing machine but much larger and made of oak). This process allows for complete saturation of colour through the hides, including the pores and fibres.

WHAT IS TOP GRAIN LEATHER?

We only use full grain leather and top grain leather. Top grain is almost the same as full grain leather, but with the top sanded or buffed ever so slightly in order to allow the leather to change patina over a short period of time. Always changing from lighter to darker, you will enjoy a classic vintage look within 6 months of use. 

WHAT IS COTTON PARCHMENT PAPER?

Parchment was used for thousands of years by artists, poets and writers. Initially, parchment was made from animal skin, until the twentieth century. Animal skins were replaced by cotton which was recycled by ‘ragmen’ and taken to mills. Our parchment paper is sustainable and uses cotton picked from local farms.

WHAT IS WAXED AND WASHED CANVAS?

Waxed canvas is heavy cotton that has been impregnated with a paraffin-based wax. Depending on the type and amount of wax, the process can make the cotton canvas water repellent or waterproof.

Washed canvas is heavy cotton that is washed several times to give the item a worn in look. Widely used from the mid-19th century to the mid-1950s, the product, which originated in the sailing industry in England and Scotland, became widely used by many for waterproofing.

PERFECTLY IMPERFECT?

It’s worth noting that our leather will sometimes have scars, tick bites, variations in texture and other anomalies associated with quality hides. We are more than happy to send you a photo of your product before shipping.