Craftsmanship is one of the oldest trades of mankind, since the work with the hands has endured throughout the centuries. It is true that in today’s world, technology and digitalization have made it possible to automate many processes in order to make life easier for retailers, but it is also true that there is an art that is still alive and still defends the values of craftsmanship: leather goods.
There are many stores or bazaars that we see on a daily basis that have high quality products manufactured using the technique of leather goods. You may still be wondering what is leather goods, so take note because here we explain it to you.
Global Leather Goods is one of the largest manufacturers of leather goods for companies and brands. Global Leather Goods products are handcrafted and manufactured in Spain with the best quality raw material.
Definition of leather goods
Leatherwork is an art based on the manipulation and work with leather in order to manufacture functional or decorative products. This art dates back to Roman times, so it is more than 2,000 years old.
Previously, this craft was passed down from generation to generation, allowing the process to be improved with new knowledge and new ways of treating the leather, obtaining increasingly complex articles.
Products made with leather can be very different from each other due to the way it is worked, the type of animal, the age of the animal itself or whether it is made entirely by hand or whether some type of machinery has been used in the manufacturing process.
Later on we will detail with what type of animals are usually used in this art of leatherwork, but we can advance that the most used are of bovine, goat and pig origin. There is currently a boom in the use of both synthetic and vegetable leathers.
As mentioned above, using the technique of leather goods, it is possible to make a multitude of articles such as wallets, document holders, coin purse, etc.
Origins
As we have already mentioned, the art of leather goods dates back to Roman times, more than 2000 years ago. This art has been used by a multitude of cultures and generations thanks to the great utility given to leather and leather products.
Man used the hides and skins of the animals he hunted to protect himself from the cold and rain. Later, the skins have been manipulated to produce other types of objects such as bags or sandals, objects that are still being made through this manipulation of leather.
Leather has also been used in the military industry, as it has been used to make clothing and footwear for soldiers. It has also been used for cavalry items such as saddles or rigging.
Leather goods also enjoy great prestige in the fashion world, as they are synonymous with high quality products due to the fact that they are handcrafted. In addition, they often represent timeless products that are able to stand the test of time.
An example of this is Global Leather Goods, spanish manufacturer that has been making leather products of the highest quality for more than 30 years. The objective of this company is to increase the prestige of its customers through these selected products.
Today, in continents such as Africa, leather and leather goods work is still the order of the day, with all leather tanning processes being carried out by hand.
Materials used in leather goods
As we have already mentioned, the main material used to make leather goods is leather or animal skin. But among the most commonly used are those of bovine, porcine or goat origin. Here we detail the characteristics of each of these types:
- One of the most commercialized skins is bovine, which is used for the manufacture of handbags, footwear or bracelets.
- As for goat skin, it is highly valued in the sector due to its main characteristic; a skin with a lower thickness. This leather is used in the manufacture of handbags, high quality footwear and gloves.
- Sheepskin is the least used because the pores are very open as a result of wool production. This is why the sheepskin is less dense than the other two.
It should be noted that although these three types of leather are the most commonly used, pigskin and horsehide are also used.
Other raw materials such as cardboard, rubber, waxes, zippers, cork, rubber, buckles or microfibers are also used.
Manufacturing process
Leather is animal skin that is treated by tanning, a process that mixes manual labor with the use of natural chemical components. This process consists of different stages:
Design of the piece: It is very important that before starting to work on the piece, you have a design of what you want to make.
Preparation: This phase is about choosing which leather to work with, taking into account the time and materials needed to start working on them. In this preparation process, the hair is separated from the animal’s skin and washed with water and salts to avoid possible deterioration of the skin. The skin itself is preserved with the salt until it begins its transformation process.
Tanning process: The coat should remain soaked in water for a period of between 8 hours and two days depending on the size and condition of the skin itself. After this process, two different methods are used to transform the skin into leather:
- Vegetable tanning: It is made by using tannins produced by the bark of trees. The skins are stretched and introduced into vats containing concentrations of tannins.
- Mineral tanning: This technique emerged during the 19th century using chromium, a white mineral. This process is faster than the previous one and results in a more resistant and durable leather.
The last phase in this tanning process is the process of drying the piece and refining it through the use of oils to give the leather its characteristic texture. In this way, the leather will be ready to be molded and to start manufacturing other objects.
Part configuration
Once the leather tanning process has been completed, it is time to get down to work to create the piece. In this phase the skin is cut, the existing edges are outlined and the stitching or gluing phase is carried out.
Part quality control
Finishing of the piece: Once the object has been manufactured, the only thing left to do is to give it the final touch by sanding the edges again and placing the necessary hardware or elements.
Decorated: In the art of leatherwork, the decoration of the object is paramount. It is in this phase where the object is dyed and decorative objects are placed manually.
Quality control: Last but not least, it is important to check the quality of the piece, that everything is well finished and its possible commercialization through an exhaustive quality control.
The importance of leather finishes in society
Nowadays, finished leather products are highly valued by society, since it is a handcrafted product, increasing the perception of quality by the customer.
In addition, these handcrafted finishes can provide the article with greater resistance to scratches and wear and tear, and can be properly preserved for a much longer period of time.
All leather accessories provide the user with a personality of their own through high quality and style.
En Global Leather Goods, you will be able to design your products and customize them in your own way, choosing the place and size you want. To learn more about our leather goods and to see some of the most modern designs, visit our website or contact us.