Why are the colours different?

Haha – ok this isn’t one I’ve been asked – it’s one I’m paranoid about getting asked!

Dying leather is a tricky part of the art! You need to case it first, and use different tricks depending on what you’re dying to get an even coverage. But before that, even undyed veg tan leather tans with age and wear and develops it’s own character! The natural properties of leather mean that “chestnut” on one hide is a different “chestnut” on the next or “chestnut in 10 years time”.

Natural Veg Tan Leather

I’ve breifly covered parts of this before, explaining why “Leather is Unique“, but here, more in depth, are the reasons why even the colour on your new leather item is completely unique. To start, leather is essentially preserved skim. The skin on your body varies from face to elbow, and person to person. Every hide I receive has come from a different animal. it’s been treated slightly differently; so will have different ph levels and oils. It’s aged differently depending on how it’s been stored. Before the colour is applied I have a huge number of variations!

Black

Black is the trickiest colour of all! Without care it can look patchy, quickly fade, or crack. The corset belt pictured uses 3 different types of black leather. There’s a dyed through cow belly that’s begun to fade with age and the deep glossy sheepskin. Then the oldest piece I had: the pouch is made from a dyed through, chrome tanned hide. Vinegaroon (see the hat) produces different shades of black depending on how long it’s soaking.
However, acid is no friend to leather, it needs offsetting with an alkaline, so is prone to drying and fading. Dye it for too long and it will deteriorate and crack.

The second photo shows leather and methods we are currently using. The top two photos show our black split hide – the top contains a pigment that is highly polished. The botom two photos have been dyed by hand then a shiny top coat applied and polished in.

Red and browns

Browns and reds are all dyed by hand. As above, each hide is different and takes the dye differently. Some hides are more porus and will soak up the dye to produce a deep, rich colour. Others have tighter or fresher fibres and the colour will be brighter. As with natural leather, these will all wear and develop their own character over time.

Our current red will eventually end up a deep red-brown. The chestnut wolf head is freshly died and still wet. As it ages the reds slowly tan with the sun to become the chestnut you see in the the mens leather satchel. The rose guitar strap shows how our mahogany looks “brand new but vintage”. The bags are fresh out of the workshop.

So “Why are the colours different?” Age, variation of the natural fibres, amount of sunlight… it’s just another one of the beautiful characteristics of leather products – every piece is unique!