Generally speaking, I like the minimally finished vegetable tanned leathers. I feel like it’s fairly easy to revive an old item by simply cleaning and applying leather conditioner. Some of the natural patina those leathers develop over time add character and make any item personal & unique.
Having said that, I have seen some nice items made of saffiano or other heavily finished leathers which look beautiful and, one would argue, less prone to cracks, wear & tear. On another hand, some of those leathers no longer look genuine and, in my opinion, have a more plastic/nylon look.
Would love your opinion on the following:
1) do heavily finished leathers even need leather conditioners?
2) why do you like heavily finished leathers?
Thank you!
Yes, it is difficult to apply any conditioner to heavy finishes. However although firm feeling, most saffiano is chrome tanned leather anyway, which doesn't need feeding in the same way as veg-tan.
It's not often that you get heavy pigment finishes over veg-tan, it likes to breathe and be fed once in a while. It would soon crack.
As for why I like heavier finishes? I don't feel that every design or product needs to patina or tell a story. For some products it works well, for others a clean uniform colour and look suits best.
Depending on the style, I don't think a delicately finished small luxury handbag looks great with a heavy patina, though a briefcase definitely does. Personal taste really.
Hey Nica,
Your first question is a good one, i always wonder whether the conditioner you applied on a finished leather like Saffiano would actually penetrate through or just sit on the surface?
Regarding why we love heavily finished leathers, I can only speak for myself. I personally love them in small card holders paired with an exotic skin. This is my favorite combination when making luxury items. (Photo dump below).
Also, something that I have noticed with luxury items clients, they are not fans of patina. They want leathers that will keep pretty for a long time.