Quality and Origins
Depending on the type of leather, our hides are sourced from around the European Union, USA, and India. Most our leather is manufactured in the European Union, with a few styles coming from India. If not from the EU, the origin will be listed on the product page. All of our solid plain leather
(excluding the wrapped and other complex styles) is high quality top-grain leather. Please keep in mind that this means the
leather and dyes are NOT waterproof—please treat your leather jewelry as you
would a pair of fine leather shoes. Please check individual categories and product pages for information specific to that style of leather.
Environmental Impact & Toxicity
Some leather manufacturing uses harsh chemicals and is
extremely toxic to the environment (and possibly you!). All of our solid plain leather
is vegetable-tanned, meaning only natural ingredients found in vegetable matter
are used to tan the leather. The colors are added using mainly vegetable dyes, although the exact chemical composition of a dye will vary depending on the color.
Though the variety of leather styles we carry are
manufactured in different factories, they are generally environmentally
friendly and non-toxic. The solid leather is free of lead, AZO, PCP, Formaldehyde, Cadmium,
Chromium, and other potentially hazardous chemicals.
Additionally, the majority are compliant with R.E.A.C.H (European
Union), R.O.H.S. (United Kingdom), and CPSIA requirements. If you need more information about a specific leather, please inquire.
Joins
Please keep in mind that leather is a natural product and
can only be manufactured in certain lengths. Remember, a cow, goat, or deer is only so big! Joins
are a part of the production process and you may receive one or more joins in
your length of leather. We will always send you extra if there is a join, so
that you can cut around it and still make the same number of bracelets. Please
check your leather before you begin cutting, so that you can accommodate any
joins or imperfections.
Variance
All leather sold on our website can vary slightly in thickness, even on the same spool. It is impossible to manufacture leather to be exactly consistent, due to differences between hides, and because the leather may expand or contract during the dyeing and drying processes. Leather manufacturers are allowed to be within +/-0.3mm of the target size.
What does that mean for you? When you are combining leather, which can vary, and metal pieces, which are made to an exact size in a mold, please be aware that they may not always fit together easily! We recommend that you stock a wide variety of metal pieces and leather colors, so that you can find which pieces fit best together. Additionally, the leather can usually be manipulated to fit if it is slightly too big. You can squeeze the end with a pair of pliers to compress it, trim the corners of flat leather, or lightly shave the end with an X-acto knife. If the leather is too small for a clasp you want to use, try using a gel-based glue or epoxy to securely set it. Customers have also trimmed a tiny piece of leather to act as a shim inside the clasp.
Sources of Leather
Cow – Most of our leather is sourced from cattle, as a by-product of the meat industry. It is the most common type of leather, and offers a great variety of styles.
Goat – Goat skin is softer and suppler than cowhide, making it a popular choice for high-end products. We offer some flat leather made from goat.
Python – Our genuine python skin is harvested in Vietnam and processed in Italy. Python leather CANNOT be shipped to California, or outside of the United States without a specialized fish and wildlife permit. We are the direct importers of the finished python leather and are fully licensed to import and resell within the US, but the buyer is responsible for following all of their own local laws regarding the sale of python skin.
Kangaroo - Kangaroo leather is lighter, stronger, and suppler than cow skin, which makes it a great choice for designs that require a high tensile strength. The harvesting process for kangaroos is overseen by strict government controls, ensuring that it is a sustainable and humane process.
Camel - Camel leather has a denser fiber content than cow, resulting in a durable leather with a high tear strength. It has a unique grain texture, which gives it a bit more visual interest than plain cow leather.
For further reading about the types of leather and the general manufacturing process, this Wikipedia article is a great starting point!