Our leather
At Ateliers Fourès, we have chosen bull calf leather, which is leather from a young male bovine. It is a very high-quality and durable leather. We refine it to a thickness of 1.5mm and work it using a technique known as "drum-dyeing" to make it extremely supple. These are large hides, ideal for cutting large pieces to manufacture bags. Furthermore, it is a smooth skin that will develop a patina over the years and therefore become even more beautiful! It is the ideal material for a quality product that will accompany you for a (very) long time.
How to recognize quality leather?
In leather goods, there are primarily two types of leather of very different quality
- Full-grain leather: this is the Rolls-Royce of leather, the noblest and most beautiful type (spoiler alert: it is also the most expensive).
It is made from the outer part of the hide and can sometimes be nubucked to have a velvet appearance and an extremely soft feel. - Split leather: this is made from the inner part of the hide. Much less expensive than grain leather, it is the most widely used on the market. However, it is of inferior quality visually and mechanically.
It can sometimes be found in the form of suede and take on the appearance of nubucked full-grain leather. It is, however, much less beautiful than nubuck and much less resistant.
Split leather can also be covered with a thick layer of "plasticizing" paint onto which a synthetic grain is applied (heat-pressing of a mechanical grain: crocodile, lizard, grained leather, epi grain, etc.). This results in split leather that has the appearance of full-grain, but it is much less resistant than grain leather, has no suppleness or fullness, and has a "plastic" feel.
As you may have guessed, we choose only the best for you, and it is therefore only natural that we opt for high-quality full-grain leather on a daily basis. We work with a local tannery, accustomed to producing hides for luxury leather goods.
Our full-grain, 100% aniline leather: the Rolls Royce of Ateliers Fourès
Our leathers are "naked." They are not covered with a layer of resin, plastic, or paint like the majority of leathers on the market. They are vat-dyed and 100% aniline. This means that no artificial elements (resin, plastic, artificial grain) are used to mask any imperfections. Naturally, only the finest hides are reserved for this purpose. This results in an extremely supple leather with an incomparable natural feel.
This also means that your full-grain leather bag or wallet will be exposed to the outside and subject to friction. And… you might not believe it, but that is exactly what we want! Leather that develops a patina is leather that will darken, smooth out, and begin to shine slightly. The more an area is handled and rubbed, the faster it will develop a patina. That is the true charm of our leather: it becomes more beautiful with time!
What is the difference compared to other products on the market?
Most leathers found on the market are covered with a surface layer of synthetic pigments, like a kind of paint, of varying thickness. This completely covers the hide and masks all defects such as scars, insect bites, and stains.
Then, the leathers go to the finishing stage, where heat-assisted mechanical graining adds a milled look, mimics another animal species (croc, lizard, etc.), or adds decorative details (dots, herringbone, etc.).
These two techniques make it possible to mask all skin defects and achieve a completely uniform appearance. This makes the skin much easier to cut: it reduces leather waste, speeds up the process significantly, and the cutting requires much less expertise. It is also a financial gain, as it allows for the purchase of much lower-quality skins with numerous defects.
On the other hand, this type of leather has many drawbacks.
- First of all, it is not very durable leather and ages very poorly. On all areas subject to friction, the thin layer of pigment eventually wears off, revealing patches of leather in a different color.
- With these treatments, the natural feel of the leather is lost, replaced by a plastic-like sensation.
- You can also say goodbye to the natural details that give the material its beauty.
- Finally, the end product is much stiffer.
Do not hesitate to visit our retailers to discover and touch our leathers for yourself. We are certain that their sensorial quality will transport you. 😊
