Pod Lot

• Leather Handbags
• Leather Briefcase
• Leather Document Case
• Leather Wallets
• Leather Purses
• Leather Handbags
• Leather Shoulder Bags
• Ladies Leather Briefcase
• Leather Backpacks
• Leather Attache Cases

When mankind first began to make and wear clothing, it was made of animal hide. Hides were tanned, and then later on in human history, made into leather with the animal’s fur stripped away. Leather was even used as a primitive armor and a covering for shields in many parts of the world. Today, we still use leather wallets, leather handbags, and wear leather jackets, leather pants, and even fine leather gloves.

The reason that leather was one of the first materials used and remains so popular today are the same. First, it is flexible and strong. Leather is durable and long-lasting. Those are the properties that made it a good choice thousands of years ago, and those are the properties that make it a good choice today. Indeed, there are still artisan tanners who prepare leather in the same way that their forefathers did generations ago. Their craft and techniques have been handed down from father to son for generations.

These artisan crafters use traditional vegetable-derived tannins instead of the harsh artificial chemicals used by modern leather factories. The vegetable tannins make the leather more flexible and longer lasting, even if it requires longer to process. These artisan leathers are most commonly used on high end luxury products desired by the most demanding customers. Designer leather purses, leather briefcases, and leather shoulder bags designed not only for durability but also to make a style statement.

Other chemical tanned leathers are still used for these items, but generally for those of less than the highest quality. Of course, modern chemical tanned leathers are used for things like baseball gloves, where flexibility and appearance is a secondary concern and lower price is a higher priority. Even so, leather baseball gloves can last and remain in good condition for 20 years or more with proper care. A quality vegetable tanned leather document case or doctor’s bag can last for the lifetime of its owner.

Because of the deep penetrating nature of the longer vegetable tanning process, scuff marks and surface scratches can often be buffed out to return the item to like new condition. Vegetable tanned leathers also tend to have a richer coloration and deeper character than chemically treated leather which is one reason why it is so often chosen by serious leather handbag designers. It can be colored as a part of the tanning process to provide a range of colors from which designers may choose. Black and brown, of course, but also blue, yellow, white, and even metallic silver variations are available, because, although the little black purse is as timeless as the little black dress, there are times when brighter colors are more appropriate.

Artisan leathers remain popular today among the higher end of the leather goods market, despite the temptation to use the lower cost, mass produced chemical tanned leathers.