The Search for Colorful Leather

[wanea]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post!

I've been looking for vegetable tanned leather for a project that requires different colors. It seems like there are a lot of choices when it comes to aniline leather but not so much for vegetable tanned leather. One other thing I need is that is has color on the exterior side but either black on the inside or just plain natural so I can have that contrast.

I have come across a nice project from a London based designer. I assume it's vegetable tanned leather (I thought at first that it wasn't real leather but from what I read about the project it is described as being leather) Here's the link for it http://cargocollective.com/chieh/nothing_fancy-minimal-wallet-by-chieh (I have tried to contact him but no answer so far)

So, if anyone knows where I can get this kind of leather with such nice colors and black on the inside please help me out.

Thanks in advance!

Edited May 1, 2016 by wanea

[Roq]

If it is a small project, you can paint the flesh side with edge kote.

[wanea]

6 hours ago, Roq said:

If it is a small project, you can paint the flesh side with edge kote.

Thanks Rob. It is not that big of a project but I would still prefer to get it already painted.  

[wanea]

8 hours ago, nstarleather said:

I think your biggest problem is the bright colored veg-tan, it is very very uncommon.  I doubt the guy in the video is using veg on those videos for the bright ones (especially since the back is back).   It may have something to do with the tanning but you'll easily find Veg in earth tones but bright colors are much harder to find.  I would suggest you use a Chrome-tan if you want bight colors and probably the best way to get contrast is lining it.

Your other option if you need it to be veg, is hand dying.  With that you'd have the bright color and the natural back (if you're careful with the dye. 

Thanks for the comment. It is indeed uncommon to find colors like those. Maybe he used a pvc based fake leather for the mockups. 

[wanea]

13 minutes ago, nstarleather said:

Doesn't have to be fake, you can find plenty of bright colors in chrome tan.  Hide House's Mellow tan has a lot of options, but it's got a white back.

I get Le Farc to make up Purple and Red full grain, but it's the same color all the way through.

Exactly but I can see that the stiffness of the leather in this case is comparable to what you get with vegetable tanned leather but not from chrome tan. 

[wanea]

41 minutes ago, nstarleather said:

I've got some pretty stiff Chrome:

http://www.nstarleather.com/optimizer/category/CHECKCoversW.html

All Chrome.

Very nice work. Is it as stiff as vegetable tanned leather of the same thickness ? 

[sheathmaker]

Those wallets you show could be made from two layers of Kid skin which comes in just about any color you can imagine. You simply cement flesh to flesh with Black on the inside and whatever color on the outside and then cut out your patten. Top grain both inside and outside and will be about 2/3 oz total thickness.   His wallets appear to be clicker cut.  Getting the custom made rubber bands will probably be a bigger problem.

Good Luck

Paul

 

Edited May 3, 2016 by sheathmaker

[wanea]

True. I'm not interested in the rubber bands or the general concept of the wallets. I just think the colors of the leather are quite nice + the black interior for contrast. That beije one and blue are awesome.

Thank you Paul for your contribution to the topic. You are probably right!