There is always something special about buying handmade products. They are not just another statistic off some large assembly line or an output of an emotionless robot. You know that the people who create those products have special skills or talents that they diligently used.
When you buy a handmade product, you hold in your hands the output of those skills and talents. If they love what they do, then you also hold a product of their passion and craftsmanship. When it comes to high-quality items to which makers give special attention, nothing beats handmade leather products.
The Material
Historians can trace leather back to thousands of years. Leather being still in use today is a testament of its utility. Humans have used leather to make items such as clothing, accessories, and furniture. The durability and flexibility of leather as a fabric gives it a broad range of applications. It is because of its utility that people throughout history have dedicated their time and effort in honing their leathercraft.
Yes, handmade products can outclass those that commercial mass production brings out. However, just because you have something that human hands made, does not necessarily mean it is of high quality.
Not all leather is equal. There are four basic kinds of leather, with full-grain leather being the best, followed by top grain, corrected grain, and lastly by bonded grain. When you want to make the best dish, you use the same ingredients. The same goes for leather products; all self-respecting craftsmen would choose full-grain leather in creating their products. Full-grain leather comes from the most durable part of the hide of an animal. Not only does it make the most durable products, but it also gives them the texture and authenticity that makes them more fashionable and valuable.
The Craftsmanship
When you have great leather handled by great craftsmanship, you end up with a product that lasts a lifetime. A remarkable feature of handmade leather products is that they can put factory outputs to shame. The key difference is expert craftsmanship.
So what do expert craftsmen have over sophisticated machines? For starters, experience. Leather craftsmen dedicate their entire lives to mastering their art. Years of hand stitching, dyeing, burnishing, and more all come together to make one pristine product.
Another edge that masters have is their eye for details. Stitching, for example, calls for delicate movements of the needle to achieve a stitch that is not only smooth on both sides but will also never fall apart even if one stitch breaks. Burnishing the edges protects leather products. Burnishing has several steps that include precise cutting, beveling, sanding, and more. Any mistakes on one can make the burnish fall apart and shorten the lifespan of a leather product.
Lastly, there is style. Machines cannot match the artistry and taste for beauty to that of any master leather craftsmen. Everyone has a unique style, and craftsmen know how to match theirs with their clients. Artisans give their handmade leather personalities that can withstand trends. Handmade leather bags, belts, and shoes can weather the storms of fashion seasons.
Whatever you are looking for, be it a bag or a wallet, nothing beats the genuineness of high-quality handmade leather products. When you buy one, you are not only getting a leather product; you are also getting a piece of the artisan that made it.
Written by: Ruby Hamilton