| Leather is available in a variety of styles. The most | | | | leather is stretchable and easy to finish, and is not as |
| commonly used materials for luxury leather handbags | | | | likely to be damaged by exposure to water. |
| are top grain, suede and patent leather. Regardless of | | | | Other means of tanning include boiling, tanning in |
| the type of leather used, however, the tanning process | | | | aluminum salts and tanning in animal oils taken usually |
| is generally similar for all leathers. | | | | from the animal's brain. Although brain-tanned leather is |
| Tanning can be broken into three stages: preparation, | | | | considered exceptionally durable and is highly prized, |
| tanning and finishing. The complete tanning process | | | | the process has never been industrialized and |
| may take anywhere from a week to more than two | | | | products are rarely seen in the commercial market. |
| months, depending on the steps that are followed. In | | | | The other methods of tanning are generally not |
| the preparation phase, the hide is removed from the | | | | appropriate to handbag manufacturing. |
| animal and salted. In wet salting, the hide is extensively | | | | After tanning is completed, the hide is then thoroughly |
| salted then packed for up to a month. Brine curing | | | | dried, whether through air circulation, vacuuming or |
| involves immersing the hide in a water bath and | | | | even a high tech electromagnetic process. At this |
| agitating it. This method takes only about 16 hours. | | | | point, the leather is graded and split. Finally, it is dyed |
| Whichever method is used, the hide is then soaked | | | | the appropriate color and oiled to preserve suppleness |
| thoroughly in clean water, then in a lime solution. Next, | | | | and pliability. |
| the hair is removed, first by machine and then by hand. | | | | Finishing the leather may involve a number of different |
| At this point the hide may be treated with enzymes to | | | | processes, depending on the desired result. The leather |
| soften it as well as biocides to inhibit mold and bacteria. | | | | may be waxed, embossed, dyed, brushed, lacquered |
| The tanning phase comes next. Tanning is the process | | | | or shellacked. This stage could be completed in as little |
| of converting the newly prepared animal skin into a | | | | as a day or could take as long as a week or more, |
| workable leather. Hides may be tanned using a variety | | | | depending on how many steps are performed. |
| of methods, although the most common methods | | | | In general, the amount of work required by the tanning |
| utilize either vegetable or mineral substances. | | | | process is reflected in the price of an item, as with |
| Vegetable tanning uses tannin, which is a naturally | | | | your leather handbag. However, a high price is never a |
| occurring substance in a variety of tree barks. It takes | | | | guarantee of quality workmanship. It is important to |
| several weeks to tan leather using tannin, during which | | | | understand the steps that may be performed so that |
| the hide is stretched on a frame and coated in tannin | | | | you can ask intelligent questions prior to your purchase. |
| of varying strengths. Mineral tanning takes a day or | | | | As can be seen above, a luxury leather handbag is an |
| less and chromium is generally the mineral of choice. | | | | investment in craftsmanship and it is important to know |
| Vegetable tanned leather is extremely flexible, although | | | | how yours was constructed. |
| it is extremely prone to water damage. Mineral tanned | | | | |