leather skin
The very top layer in full-grain leather retains the natural character of hide. Vegetable tanning preserves this layer and the grain continues to mature and develop further character with age.
grain translucency
The leather grain has a natural shine that reflects light. Leather sheen improves as grain layer gets polished. Opaque synthetic coated leather lacks the life that is brought out by sheen.
shade variations
Patina is the natural shade variations as grain layer is stretched and absorbs moisture and oils. Patina develops with age, giving the leather a well-worn vintage appearance.
Every grain on DaVarg leather is authentic as nature made them. However as the leather get used, the folds and wrinkles develops on grain based on the way it is used and develops and individual character.
In DaVarg Leather, the corium side is coated to bond the loose fibers and to create a smooth back surface. The DaVarg Makers Mark is then imprinted on the coated corium layer as an approval.
Full grain leather has two distinct layers merged into one. Its unique qualities are due to this dual-layer structure of grain and corium. The elegant character of leather is due to the fine structure of grain. The lesser dense corium layer serves as the flexible durable base for the grain layer. The relatively open yet interwoven structure of corium allows the leather to breathe and retain moisture, making the leather strong durable and last a lifetime.
Every grain on DaVarg leather is authentic as nature made them. However as the leather get used, the folds and wrinkles develops on grain based on the way it is used and develops and individual character.
Every grain on DaVarg leather is authentic as nature made them. However as the leather get used, the folds and wrinkles develops on grain based on the way it is used and develops and individual character.
A special coating protects corium side
A special coating protects corium side
Vegetable-tanned full-grain leather starts as a blank canvas and need to be prepared to make articles with it. We tint grain side of leather with deep penetrating dyes that impart the shades into the leather.
Unlike synthetic coatings that cover the grain, our dyes alter the color of the grain and retains the character of leather. These tinting also enhance the sheen and patina, ensuring the leather will mature gracefully as it ages.In most natural leathers, the corium of leather is often left unfinished, causing it to attract moisture, get stained, or to have its fibers come loose. The loose corium fibers can also degrade the durability of leather. To overcome this, DaVarg developed a proprietary coating that can bind the corium layers and give leather a smooth clean finish. The custom DaVarg shades along with back coating ensures the full grain leather retains its elegance and character for a long time.
Not all full-grain leathers are created equal. DaVarg Leather is made from mature hides with an optimal grain to corium ratio. While this leather will retain its natural stretch marks and healed scars, large ranch-brands or cuts are sorted out. Vegetable tanned hides undergoes several steps to transform fully into DaVarg Leather.
Sorting & Grading
The vegetable tanned leather comes in various quality levels. The tanneries grade them based on factors such as grain quality, corium thickness, and hide size. We specify leather grades with no branding or large marks to be selected for DaVarg Leather.
Shading
Vegetable tanned hide has a creamy, pale shade that attracts dirt and stains. To prevent any unwanted staining and to further add character, we tint the grain side with deeply penetrating dyes of various custom shades.
Back Coating
In most leathers, the corium or back side of leather is often unfinished- this causes the corium side to attract moisture, get stained, and have its fibers quickly come loose. We find this undesirable, so the back side of Davarg leather is also coated with a specially formulated layer that bonds the corium fibers together.
Branding
Once the leather is back-coated, the leather is branded with our inner wave pattern and stamp with the DaVarg maker's mark. The wave pattern proves the continuity in leather. The DaVarg Makers Mark is then applied as our stamp of approval on this leather.
Natural full-grain leather develops character with everyday use. The grain patterns evolve and sheen gets accentuated on well used areas. The edges round out and leather takes on the personality of its owner. DaVarg Leather is also known for its durability. With the saddle-stitching and edge finishing, our leather is made to last a lifetime.
Vegetable tanning has been perfected over human evolution to transform raw hide into durable and elegant material. It is still the most classical and traditional among tanning methods and the preferred process that can retain the character of delicate leather grain. The transformation from raw hide into leather happens slowly over several weeks with tannins derived from trees and plants - hence the term vegetable tanning. These tannins convert and bind the collagen proteins in the rawhide, making them strong and more durable. Over time the corium fibers dehydrate, gaining strength and flexibility while the grain layer retains its natural character through the tanning process.
The time consuming manual process of vegetable tanning has become a highly skilled craft, undertaken only by a few select tanneries. This renders vegetable tanning more expensive and exclusive; and makes vegetable tanned full grain leather more coveted and cherished. Most mass market leather is now made with chrome or aniline tanning due to its lower cost. While they cannot produce leather with the same quality and character as vegetable tanning, they are adequate for lower quality leather articles such as upholstery or large luggage.
Unfortunately, most leather in market are actually not full-grain leather, and some are not even made from animal hide. Unknowingly or not, we acquire them without fully realizing what they are made of and wonder why they are not hold up to our expectations.Since there are no strict industry regulations to define what exactly constitutes leather, a great many items in market are made with these artificial materials, and can still claim to be made of leather.
Leather that is processed out of split corium or manmade materials are also called split leather, corrected leather, embossed leather, coated leather, suede, Napa leather, painted or patent leather, bonded leather, or reconstituted leather.If you are unsure of the origin of the 'leather', do your research and proceed with caution. If the manufacturer does not state explicitly it is authentic full-grain leather, chances are that it is one of the inferior man-made leathers.
Artificial leather can very well imitate full-grain leather and deceive even experienced leather connoisseurs. To distinguish between artificial leather and natural full-grain leather, we have to look for multiple characteristics. Even with these guidelines, the best option is to buy leather from reputable sources who would stand by their leather.
Scent of the leather
Vegetable tanned leather has a clean, woody aroma. If the leather smells like acetone or other organic chemicals it could be analine or bonded leather.
Monotonous patterns
Full grain leather does not come with patterns. In genuine leather, the wrinkles, folds and patterns are developed as the articles see some usage. Monotonous, repetitive grain patterns are a result of embossing with rollers on a synthetic layer over a fabric or split leather layer.
Opaque Coatings
Opaque pigments on synthetic layers hide the imperfections and gives a leather-like appearance on substandard splits with embossing. Our general recommendation is to stay away from opaque leather. Keep in mind, if you cannot see the translucency of grains on leather, chances are that it is not full-grain.
Embossing and prints
Fake embossing and prints such as crocodile or ostrich skin patterns are common in cheaper imitation leather. This is often done the mask the uniformity in coating and other imperfections. Even in high-end leather articles, split corium layer is coated with a synthetic pigments and printed with logos and brand names.
Thin grain layer
Thin top grain without corium will disintegrate quickly. So if the leather is thin (less than 1mm) it is most probably has no corium but could be bonded leather with a manmade substrate, such as fabric. If you come across very thin leather, look for synthetic backing to support it.
Uniformity of patterns
Artificial leather is often mass-produced with a regular and uniform texture. This is evident in most upholstery leather where the color is even and grain patterns are well defined and consistent. On the other hand, authentic full-grain leather is seldom uniform. The raw hide's scratches, scars, insect bites, and natural stretch marks are all retained on full-grain leather with the shades variations in the leather patina.
Lack of pull-up
“Pull up” on leather is seen as a color variation when the leather is bent or folded. As the grain and corium expands, the moisture in leather redistributes and imparts a lighter shade on the folds. If the leather does not show any pull up effect, there is a good chance that it is not full-grain leather. Excessive pull-up is a sign of oiled latigo leather.
Non-porous grain
Painted and coated leather does not absorb conditioners such as EEVEs' Leather Balm, since the coatings makes the leather less permeable. If the leather surface does not effectively absorb EEVEs' leather balm, it is likely that it is painted or a synthetically coated leather.
To care for a natural leather, we developed all-natural leather care products. EEVEs' leathercare products are developed with Bees Wax, Carnauba Wax, Shea butter, Lanolin.and enhanced with essential oils from Lavender, Lemon Grass, Thyme, Cedar, Vetiver and Patchouli.
Castello DaVarg would never use calf skin leather in our articles. We believe mature full-grain leather has more character and durability and become soft and supple with daily use. Besides, we want those calves to grow up and live a long life to become beautiful cows and bulls.
Full-grain leather is similar to human skin in many ways. It is designed to absorb and retain oils through its open epidermal structure. Without necessary moisture, leather can dry out, crack and degrade. To protect and to enhance its elegance and character, leather needs to be properly conditioned to retain natural oils and repel excess moisture. DaVarg's exclusive EEVEs' LeatherCare products are made from natural ingredients, with a formulation that was originally developed as a moisturizing cream and is suitable for any natural full-grain leather.
Authentic leather is among the few natural materials the ages with grace, acquiring more character with everyday use. It expands to accommodate its contents. The grain will mature and develop a multi-tone patina. The pull-up and sheen also improves and leather weathers the elements.
The more you use leather, the better it will tell the story.
In a ranch we are not rich enough to go through cheap things. From saddles to bridles, from chaps to harnesses, we rely on the dependability and durability of saddlecrafted leather. Such leather become our lifelong companions. While this classic leather may not be for everyone, but for those who understand and appreciate its natural character, there would never be a substitute.
Natural
Full-grain Leather
Designed & Made
in USA
Secure
Payment System
45-day
Returns
