Leather Yourself

For people like myself who can't afford to go buying a new bag, pair of shoes, laptop case, etc., every few months, leather is a choice material. When cared for properly, good leather will last you for years and look better the older it gets. I'm often confused by the fact that a lot of people don't get this or at the very least don't care. Growing up in the horse world, leather goods were everywhere. From an early age I learned from my instructors and peers what brands were good, what quality leather looked, smelled, and felt like, and most importantly, how to take care of it. Out on the road at horse shows I've met artisans who make custom leather goods by hand, the old-fashioned way, and I must tell you: there's nothing else like it. In the past several years I've noticed a bit of a boom in small leather crafting businesses all over the country. It has created a really exciting, creative community that has revitalized some of the old traditions and rethought classic designs for practical application in everyday life. Creating products that people actually use and will perhaps even pass on to later generations makes leathercrafting an extremely useful and worthwhile trade. I've collected a little sampling of leather things that I have, or want, or think that people should consider as an attractive and timeless alternative to synthetic, factory-made accessory cases.

Above is my very own Teranishi for TROVE iPhone case, first on the day I purchased it, and then worn in 6 months later. I love this case so much, that I'm not upgrading to an iPhone 5 just so I can keep using it. It is modeled after an old Buck knife case, but with obvious adjustments to suit its new purpose. It has a little pocket under the flap to protect the screen of the phone from the snap, and it also comes in handy to stick a couple of cards and some money if you're going out and want to travel light. The back has a belt loop, which I use all the time when I ride. I've also been meaning to buy a leatherbranding kit so that I can put my initials on it... I guess we'll save that for another post. At $100 it seems like a lot for such a small thing, but my destructive tendencies have had little effect on this case, so I think it's totally worth it. Plus, all of Teranishi's goods are handmade from start to finish on a little island across from Seattle, WA. 

I have a moderate/severe addiction to Field Notes, or rather, Field Notes enables my addiction to writing everything down and making excessive lists in the most aesthetically pleasing way imaginable. I did a LOT of research before I settled on a leather cover for my Field Notes. Factors included: size, bulkiness, color, amount of embellishment, and price. I wanted something very simple and minimalistic, since Field Notes themselves are extremely basic. However, it needed to be sturdy enough to actually protect the notebook and survive bouncing around in my bag and sometimes my back pocket. Price here was also more important than it was with the iPhone case, because an iPhone costs $200+, and cardboard covered notebook costs less than $10. After months of agonizing, I decided upon the leather case from Hellbrand Leatherworks. I'd been following them on Instagram for a while, and when they posted about a limited "Back to School" discount, I jumped on the opportunity. My indecisiveness over color was patiently resolved with Ed over a few emails, where he described each available color and how it wears. My handmade case arrived from Florida just about a week later, and I couldn't be happier. 

There is no end to my recently discovered affinity for copper. When I saw this black leather Skinny Standard belt with a copper buckle from Portland's Tanner Goods, I just about lost my mind. You can mix and match from a few different colors of leather and buckle options, but the black/copper blew my mind. I also love their leather sunglass case, shown here in Indigo.

If Santa brings me an iPad, the first thing I'm buying is this leather iPad sheath from Colsen Keane. This is the Crazy Horse color, but it comes in some less weathered looking leathers as well. It is handmade in North Carolina from one solid piece of leather and hand stitched. The rugged, western vibe of this piece definitely stands apart from the ultramodern, techy looking cases most people are carrying around. And for $115, the investment/protection cost ratio is pretty reasonable. 

 

Working for Dubarry exposed me to a lot of people who had no idea how to care for leather. It doesn't matter how much you're spending on it, or how great the quality of the leather is: if you don't take care of it, it's not going to last. You must remember that leather is essentially skin that is tanned and treated, but is otherwise not receiving nutrients to keep it supple and moisturized. Over time, its natural oils dry out. If you don't replace them by using some kind of cream/oil or your leather, it's going to dry and crack. 

Smooth leather requires different care techniques than suede and nubuck type leathers, so be careful of what you're using and don't be afraid to ask whomever you're purchasing from for tips on care. Creams and oils tend to ruin the texture of sueded leather, so be especially careful of that. Portland's own Otter Wax makes a complete leather care kit with saddle soap, salve (cream), and leather oil, for less than 30 bucks. I haven't personally tried this out yet, but they have an outstanding reputation for leather and cloth waterproofing/protectants, using only natural ingredients.

French sellier Devoucoux's Leather Balsam, or grease as I call it, is specially made to be used on their saddles. Their US rep was kind enough to grease up my very-thirsty saddle at the Middleburg Horse Trials a couple years ago and I could not believe the way it transformed the leather. A healthy application of salve/balsam, followed by around 10 minutes of soaking in time, followed by a nice buff with a clean cloth will reimpregnate your leather with moisture and natural oils, as well as form a waxy, water-repellent coating. For $35 it's a more expensive option, but it's definitely worth having around for emergency leather cases, or just to be used every once in a while.

ALSO... if you have some vintage leather goods kicking around in your closet or basement that seem too far gone and dried out, make a project of getting some good leather treatment stuff and giving it some TLC. It might take more than a couple applications of leather cream, but that old belt/pair of boots/handbag could be given a whole new lease on life!

Teranishi Brand

Hellbrand Leatherworks

Tanner Goods

Colsen Keane

Otter Wax

Devoucoux