Bounded by our Sumptuous Leather
In order to create luxurious bondage gear, we have to use materials that look and feel amazing. Our leather is hand selected and precisely picked from elusive and rich tanneries in Italy. We truly believe that in order to have luxurious leather in our products, they must come from the best. That’s why we get our leather from selected tanneries that are part of consortiums. The consortium of tanneries was founded by a small group of traditional Tuscan craftsmen in 1994 and the high quality vegetable-tanned leather is still being produced with ancient methods from the Middle Ages to this very day. These consortium’s don’t just sell a product; they represent a philosophy of values and lifestyle based on culture and traditional Italian artisan production.
Why Vegetable-Tanned Leather?
The process in which animal hides are turned into leather is referred to as “tanning.” The specific and precision-based technique of vegetable tanning is used to alter the protein structure of animal hides, allowing it to become leather. This preserves, strengthens, and maintains the color of the hide.
There are numerous reasons why vegetable-tanned leather is referred to as the staple piece in the leather industry. The durability and strength – if properly cared for – can last longer than a lifetime. Aside from its longevity, the tanning process also gives the leather a very faint yet sweet aroma, which also allows the colors to stay intact. Since vegetable tanning requires no synthetic coatings, the leather is allowed to “breathe,” resulting in the leather being able to absorb natural oils and moisture. Vegetable tanned leather is also very environmentally friendly. With the process of only using natural substances, it allows the leather to become biodegradable once it is on its last breath. The tanning process as a whole takes up to 2-3 months to complete before the leather can be sold on the market. We talk more in depth about the tanning process on our blog post here.
Knowing the exclusiveness of vegetable tanned leather, as well as realizing how close it is to its ancient roots, adds a bit of prestige to owning something made of it. Knowing that the piece you are wearing has been painstakingly produced by expert artisans in the villages of Tuscany – who rely heavily on old techniques for centuries – is something to boast about.
Chrome-Tanned Leather
A few of our collections are treated with a different process called chrome-based leather. This technique is a little more common in leathered goods. The hide is taken in and processed so all of the natural imperfections such as wrinkles, lines, and pores are covered leaving a smooth and uniformed finish. Some consumers prefer the look of an even finish as opposed to a more rough and natural look.
Full-Grained vs. Top-Grained
Considerably, two of the best quality leathers in the world are full-grain and top-grain. While both are sumptuous and rich, they have their differences. Full-grain leather simply means that the leather immediately enters the tanning process as soon as the hair is removed from the hide. All of the natural imperfections such as oils, wrinkles, and pores remain intact. Full-grain leather is stronger and more durable than any other on the market. Only specific animal hides can be made into full-grain leather because of the fact that it is so thick and limited on which skins can be processed this way.
Top-grain leather is also highly desirable and intricate. This leather is named “top-grain” because the very top layer of the hide is sanded, buffed, and shaved all the way down. Tanneries use this technique to strip the top surface for a variety of finishes to be applied. While this one looks more pristine with beautiful finishes, the durability is compromised just a little bit by affecting the top most layer of the skin.
So, why does leather become split? Consortium’s do this because some hides are too difficult or too thick to handle. Therefore, tanneries will split the leather laterally into thinner and more workable layers. Consumers have different tastes; some enjoy and appreciate the natural imperfections of leather, and some prefer a more smoother and sanded finish. While both are advantageous, full-grain leather is considerably the most expensive because of the fact that artisans must be able to handle such heavy, thick leather.
Suede
Our products are lined on the inside with soft suede. Suede is a type of leather that comes from the underside of the animal, giving it a soft surface. This allows the play-wear to not feel too rough or constricted on the skin. To make suede, the underside of the animal’s hide is separated from the top. Suede is then sanded down all the way to the base of the skin, which leaves that super smooth and soft touch when worn.
