MVP X NATURAL LEATHER
With modern sporting goods brands turning toward mass produced products with flashy designs made from cheap imitation materials i.e. PU leathers (often with harmful chemicals and poor quality) The MVP is going back to the 'old school' design & manufacturing process.
The benefits of using animal hides were first recognised over 3000 years ago when man started using early forms of leather to make clothing and improve his shelter. In today’s world, leather doesn’t have the same role in ensuring our survival, and yet it remains one of the most sought-after materials, thanks to its aesthetic qualities, good insulating capacity, and resistance to wear.
The beauty of natural leather is that no two persons’ pieces will ever look alike.
Our RETRO & PRO Series Range features our MVP products which are individually hand-made in small batches by highly skilled craftsmen using the finest 100% genuine full-grain cow leather.
Natural leather is exactly that, it is quite common to find healed scars, scratches and insect bites that add interest and uniqueness to each hide. We think this also applies to the second half of the journey for the leather piece, as once you own a Natural Leather item it will bear markings, scuffs & quirks that tell us a story which reflects on that of the owner.
Natural Leather Distinction
The surface - leather has a porous look and fine lines, while artificial leather is much more glossy and has no visible pores. The smell - real leather has a distinctive organic odour, while fake leather or PVC leather smells of vinyl and chemical agents. The backside - genuine leather has a rugged suede-like underside; faux leather is treated and looks plain, sometimes with visible seams.
PU leather will generally be cheaper than genuine leather because it is easier to produce compared to real leather which will have some imperfections and have genuine grain. PU leather will actually look fake, and will almost have a perfect, patterned texture look. Other man-made materials that imitate leather have become more common in recent years, especially because they are cheaper to make. But most of these artificial materials don’t have the same durability as real leather and are discarded more quickly, contributing to the accumulation of textile waste.
Full-grain leather contains the entire grain layer, without any removal of the surface. Rather than wearing out, it develops a patina during its useful lifetime. It is usually considered the highest quality leather.
Patina is a thin layer that variously forms on the surface of copper, brass bronze and similar metals; additionally, the term is used to describe the ageing of high-quality leather.
Aniline Leather, is dyed with soluble dyes in vats so that the colour goes all the way through the hide giving the leather its lush and rich colour. In order to maintain the natural feel and look of the hide no protective coating or surface pigmentation is applied. Additionally, the leathers maintain their own natural markings and texture which contributes to the authenticity of the leather. However, the lack of treatment might render the leathers more susceptible to scratching, staining, or fading and might show some colour variations on the surface of the hide.
