Article: Why is Italian leather so popular? Introducing the characteristics and maintenance methods of vegetable tanned Italian leather.
Why is Italian leather so popular? Introducing the characteristics and maintenance methods of vegetable tanned Italian leather.
Do you know the three largest leather brands in the world?
The three leathers are British "Bridle Leather" (horse harness leather), American "Cordovan" (Cordovan leather), and Italian "Italian Leather" (Italian leather).
Italian leather generally refers to cow leather made in the Santa Croce area of Florence, Italy.
Italy's leather industry is very large, with more than 1,100 companies, approximately 17,000 workers, and an annual turnover of 3.5 billion euros (approximately NT$120 billion). In addition, Italian leather accounts for about 60% of the EU's leather production.
This time we mainly refer to the articles of "BELMORE" and "CARL FRIEDRIK", brands that sell Italian leather products, to introduce to you the reasons why Italian leather is so popular, its characteristics and maintenance methods.
I hope it can provide a reference for friends who are interested in using small items made of Italian leather.
The reason why Italian leather is so popular
Italian leather is highly praised because of its more than 700 years of tradition and the method of making vegetable tanned leather.
①Over 700 years of tradition
Arno River, Florence, Italy
The origins of Italian leather can be traced back centuries, but the Italian leather industry officially took shape in 1282 when the "Arte dei Cuoiai" leather trade guild was established in Florence, Italy.
This type of guild, called "Arti" in Italian, was formed between the 12th and 16th centuries to manage the quality of business in Florentine commerce.
Occupational types were not limited to leather-making, but included a variety of professions including judges, bankers, silk weavers, physicians, and apothecaries.
The leather trade association "Arte dei Cuoiai" is one of the many professional trade associations in Florence.
Italian leather maintains high quality and international competitiveness through such organized quality management.
In addition, at the beginning of the 20th century, world-renowned fashion brands such as Prada (1913), Gucci (1921), and Ferragamo (1927) began selling leather products made of Italian leather.
The demand for leather products from these three famous brands in the following decades promoted the rise of the Italian leather industry.
Even today, many skilled leather craftsmen still work and are active near the Arno River from Florence to Pisa.
italy map
②Vegetable tannin preparation method
Use vegetable tannins
Source: Italian leather: the best leather in the world?
Among the various types of Italian leather, the most popular is vegetable-tanned Italian leather.
The leather is dyed using vegetable tanning agents (natural ingredients in tree bark).
The traditional Italian Vacchetta production method is almost entirely done by hand, and it may take two months to complete a piece of leather.
The mixing ratio of vegetable tanning agents passed down by skilled tanners for 700 years gives vegetable-tanned Italian leather its unique color and texture.
This production method makes the leather tough and durable, making it a high-quality leather recognized around the world.
Process engineering method with precise division of labor
Source: Italian leather: the best leather in the world?
The Italian leather manufacturing process for vegetable tanned leather is highly specialized at every stage.
The complicated procedures that lasted for two months were subdivided into multiple processes. This division of labor not only improved the efficiency of each process, but also enhanced professional knowledge, making it possible to produce high-quality Italian leather.
It is thanks to the unique tanning method of this vegetable tanning agent and the highly specialized process that Italian leather retains its durability and high quality, for which it is renowned throughout the world.
Characteristics of vegetable tanned Italian leather
Vegetable-tanned Italian leather contains a lot of oils and feels soft and moist.
Since the oils fully penetrate into the leather, this leather is not easily damaged by drying and is durable. It's sturdy and long-lasting, making it suitable for frequently used items such as shoes and bags, keeping it in good condition for a long time.
because Due to the hand-dyed process of the Vacchetta method, each piece of leather has color differences and spots compared to machine-made leather, giving each piece of leather a unique personality.
Italian leather after 6 months of use
Six months old Italian leather
The leather surface is barely processed, so you can enjoy the style of the leather itself.
Over time, the leather's surface will increase in luster and change as it becomes softer.
How to care for vegetable tanned Italian leather
Italian leather, which contains sufficient oil, basically does not require the use of oil maintenance cream.
Just dry it gently with a leather-specific cloth to make the leather surface shiny. If there is dirt on the leather, use a cloth to gently dry it for maintenance.
This is a leather for those who don’t want to spend too much time maintaining it.
Summarize
This time we introduced the reasons why Italian leather is evaluated, the characteristics of vegetable-tanned Italian leather, and maintenance methods. What do you think?
I hope this helps anyone considering purchasing Italian leather goods. Thank you for reading till the end, thank you.
Reference website:
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WHY IS ITALIAN LEATHER THE BEST IN THE WORLD?
Ital ian leather: the best leather in the world?
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