Each leather belt that is hand crafted with care goes through a series of steps during its production.  Belts can be made from a range of different animal skins such as alligator, calf and crocodile. The embossed leather used to create handcrafted belts is taken from leather hides that have been washed, tanned and dyed to create a superior leather product. Leather is desired for its durability and natural beauty. Once the leather hides have been treated at the tannery, what’s known as the ‘upper crust’ is cut from a larger piece of high quality leather by the leather manufacturer.

To give the belt edges a smooth feel they are beveled by the leather worker. The leather is then styled and crafted creatively using specific tools and materials. The craftsman may use dyed leather or create an inlaying effect. The leather may be cut and braided. Traditional or contemporary patterns can be embossed into the leather and hand finished. Embossed leather is created by stamping a pattern or design into the leather hide. The result is a product that has an even pattern whether it is a modern design or something more traditional like a crocodile or cow hide print. The leather can be adorned with studs and beads; the possibilities are limited only by the artist’s imagination. These designs and creative touches will result is an original and stylish belt that will be a great addition to any closet.

Once the design work has been completed a fastener is required. These are generally in the form of a buckle or clamp. The fasteners can also be hand made and should compliment the belt itself. Most commonly, metals are used to create beautiful buckles and clamps. Stainless steel, nickel and gold will create a timeless look that will pair well with the classic look of natural or embossed leather. Buckles and clamps can also be embellished with the addition of etching and embossing. The appeal of having a hand crafted leather belt is that you can customize the design, shape and size of the belt. You will be rewarded with an accessory that will provide you with many years of use and a style that will be unique only to you.

   Only genuine leather hides can produce the most luxurious and sort after hand bags. Derived from animal skins, leather hides are sold to design houses for the production of accessories such as hand bags and shoes. Prior to this, animal skins undergo what is called the tanning process. This involves the cleaning, cutting and treatment of the animal skins.

The leather tannery will put all skins through a three step process to ready the skins for sale to leather manufacturers. This includes preparation, tanning and finishing.  In preparing the skins, they are either heavily salted in agitating vats for up to a month, or brine cured in agitating vats for up to 16 hours. Upon completion of either salting or brine and curing, the skins are cleaned, soaked and rinsed in water. From there the skins are submerged into a lime solution to remove any remaining hair or flesh from the skins.

The process of tanning coverts the animal skins into useable leather hides and embossed upholstery leather. There are a number of tanning methods used which result in different kinds of leather. The most common methods are vegetable tanning which can take several weeks and involves the skins being stretched over large frames with varying levels of tannins applied. Mineral tanning (chromium) takes only a day, and results in flexible leather that has a higher resistance to moisture than that of vegetable tanned leather.

The finishing process involves drying of the leather hides and then grading and splitting it according to quality. The leather hides are then oiled to maintain the leathers flexibility and softness. It is during this finishing process that the leather tannery can apply special effects to the leather to produce different looks and styles. The leather can be embossed to reflect the natural look of cowhide, crocodile skin and even ostrich. The leathers can also be pigmented resulting in a huge range of colors. The outcome is a leather hide that is ready to be sold and produced into upholstery leather, clothing, shoes and accessories.

 There are three main types of leather hide that is used in the production of luxury handbags. These include top grain leather, suede and patent leather.

Top grain leather is a superior grade of leather. This is the outer most layer of the animal skin. Leather manufacturers cut this ‘top grain’ horizontally from the remainder of the skin. Top grain leather is highly sort after by hand bag manufacturers for is soft, supple feel and unexpected durability.

Suede is less durable than top grain leather as the tough skin exterior has been removed. Commonly used for clothing and shoes, luxury hand bag designers will also use suede for its softness, pliability and beautiful natural texture. 

Patent leather is leather hide that has been treated with a high shine seal. This glossy leather is more water resistant than others which makes it a popular choice for shoemakers and hand bag producers alike.

   When deciding on a fabric for your next furniture purchase the possibilities are endless. The use of natural leather hides for upholstery has always been a popular option as it is both beautiful and practical. 

Leather is derived from natural animal hides and has been used by man since prehistoric times. The animal hides where used in many ways such as clothing, shelter and home wares. Millions of years ago, animal hides were highly sort after for their strength and durability; qualities of leather that are still desired today. As leather hides are a by product of the meat industry it is also an ethical choice that you can feel good about.

Design wise, the possibilities are endless when is comes to embossed upholstery leather. Leather tanneries are able to provide many options to the consumer regarding grade, color and finish. Leather quality is determined by grades and this will also determine the cost of the animal hide. The best leather is known as ‘top grain’. This is the outer most layer of the animal skin and is sort after for its natural grain and supple feel. The inner side of the skin is known as ‘splits’. The natural grain is less evident on ‘splits’ which makes it ideal for embossing and pigmenting. 

Leathers can be dyed in a range of colors to suit any home décor. Leather tanneries have a number of ways to color leather although the best quality hides are aniline dyed in huge drums. This allows the pigment to permeate through the entire thickness of the skin. Should aniline dyed upholstery leather ever get minor scratching, the effects will be relatively unnoticeable.

Embossed leather can simulate the look of real crocodile, cowhide and even ostrich designs. Whether you choose embossed leather or natural top grain leather for your upholstery you can rest assured that you will be spoilt for choice. This allows the consumer to let their imagination run wild and make a real statement within their interiors.

Upholstery leather is also versatile in that it suits both contemporary and traditional furniture styles. Glossy finishes, bold colors and embossing the leather hides lend itself to modern styles of furniture. On the contrary, dark leather hides are better suited to traditional styles of leather upholstery.

As well as aesthetics, it is leather’s toughness and versatility that makes it such a great upholstery fabric. It can withstand high volumes of traffic making it a wise choice for families. Being a product derived from nature, it stands to reason that leather breathes and adapts in all climates ensuring the user’s comfort all year round.

With proper care and maintenance your upholstery leather will provide you with many years of use.

Yellow!!

There is nothing mellow about the brilliant yellow accessories for Spring 2011. This sunny, cheerful hue adds a citrus pop to any accessory classification.

This season the ageless fabrics take a more cheerful and versatile turn as we’ll find them tinted in the endless shades of the color palette. 

The Spring/Summer 2011 leather fashion trend makes no exception as the public will have the chance to see this fabric in classy dark shades as well as the other popular color trends of the season.

Leather is no longer associated with dark romance and Goth fashion instead it takes a more versatile and futuristic turn. The ambition of designers to break with the tradition of classy shades and designs can be easily identified in the Spring/Summer 2010 leather fashion trend.