Glossary

We have created this glossary as a way to educate our customers on different terms and processes used within the industry. We will slowly add more terms to this list. For further information or if you believe we are missing anything, reach out and we will be happy to assist.

Vegetable tanned

Vegetable tanned leather is as the name suggests, leather made from the use of vegetation, commonly known as tannins. It was traditionally made using oak bark but as time progressed, other types of natural tannins were used which produced an equally stunning result. Vegetable tanned leather is generally stiffer and more prone to patina than chrome tanned leather.

Skins are cleaned and the hair is removed, after the initial treatment the skins are washed and tanned by being put in tanks containing water and the vegetable solutions where they will stay for several days or weeks. After this process they are washed again, sorted, and graded before finally being oiled, dyed, stained, or polished.

There are many more steps involved in modern leather manufacture, though this is a simplified process of how the leather is created for us to create some of our items.

Chrome tanned

Chrome tanned leather is made using chromium sulphates to create a durable and long-lasting material. Chrome tanned leather is generally characterized by its soft and pliable nature. Unlike vegetable tanning, it does not use natural tannins and can have more of an environmental impact. With the advancement of tanning technologies and processes, this type of tanning is becoming more sustainable.

When using chrome tanned leather, we aim to only use materials from environmentally certified tanneries.

Exotic Skins

Exotic leathers are made from generally rare animals or from parts of skins that are not generally turned into leather. As time has passed, exotic leathers have become much more regulated through the introduction of CITES. Due to their unique characteristics and textures they have become highly sought after in the leather industry.

Bridle Leather

Bridle leather was originally used in the use of equestrian equipment, which is how it got its name. It is a smooth finished leather that has been stuffed with fats and greases, making it a leather that is more pliable than standard vegetable tanned leather, yet extremely durable.

CITES

Cites stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is an international agreement that aims to ensure that the international trade of wild animal species or products does not threaten the survival of the species. It is a highly regulated agreement and creates a system allowing for traceability of every exotic skin. In Australia it is regulated through the department of climate change, energy, the environment and water (DCCEEW).

For more information visit the CITES website at: https://cites.org/eng
Or the DCCEEW at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/wildlife-trade/cites

Burnishing

Burnishing is a process of applying a high amount of friction to an edge or surface, in turn creating heat and sealing the part being burnished. In our case, we generally only burnish the edges on our items, as opposed to an entire piece or panel. Burnishing helps seal any cut edges which helps the leather maintain the fats and oils and adds a layer of protection to our items. Burnishing is easily repairable if any fibres start lifting and it also maintains a more natural look, as opposed to edge painting.

PVD Plating

PVD stands for physical vapor deposition. It is a process where a solid material is vaporised in a vacuum and then deposited onto a surface. In our case, bag and belt hardware. It is extremely durable and scratch resistant.