Is It Leather?

?? ?????????????? ??????????…????????????? Talk about versatile. We all know that real leather’s durability makes it the perfect material for everything from clothing to car seats, furniture and footwear. But how about using it for the ultimate of importance to human existence … shelter? Native Americans celebrated animals by utilizing every last natural resource they had to offer– from food, to clothes, to tools, weapons and yes - they also trusted leather to protect their families from the harsh elements of the open plains. The traditional Native American Tepee utilized stretched Buffalo and Deer hides to form a wall of protection around families from the unpredictable heat, rain, snow and wind across the diverse lands. Tepees could be built to house a single “scout” alone in the wilderness or they could sew together numerous hides and house upwards of 20 people in the same dwelling. The leather provided occupants with excellent insulation from both heat and cold. It repelled rain and snow from the outside while capturing and reflecting the heat from campfires inside - without the threat of the material catching on fire! The Native Americans knew the value of real leather. They knew the importance of full animal utilization, the importance of real durability and toughness – in fact, they literally trusted real leather with their families’ lives!

???????? ?? ???????????????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? From lawyer to leather artisan, Yusuf Osman followed his passion to become one of the foremost leather craftsmen and experts in the world. His creations have been displayed at the Walsall Leather Museum and in Crafts magazine and has tutored many (including actor John Malkovich) in leather-working. Yusuf is also one of the leather industry’s strongest proponents. He blends a unique philosophy on leather with a holistic view of humanity and a data driven environmental perspective. He serves as an ambassador for the non-profit Leather Naturally organization (@leather_naturally) which focuses on global leather education. And as a vegetarian, his love of leather blasts past the social norms and activist greenwashing. He has built an extremely successful career and is known as the UK’s foremost authority on fine saddle-stitched leather goods. Both his leather pieces and philosophy have driven him to be a leading leather influencer in the world of social media where he has amassed over 40,000 followers If you are in love with leather or you simply want to follow a genuine human, creator and artist, we’d suggest following Yusuf @yussico on all platforms. His creations and thoughts on our industry are truly engaging and worthy of time spent.?

?????? ????????????? ???????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????????????! One of the greatest features of real leather is its cleanability. Leather is the workhorse of materials, taking almost everything your everyday use can dish out. But to keep it clean and looking its best there are a few simple “tricks” that can be extremely helpful. To attack grease and oil residue on leather that does not contain a finish coating, try BAKING SODA! Baking soda is a powerful ally in leather restoration, especially when you need to get oil out of leather. The Science Behind the Soda: Baking soda absorbs excess oils, grease, and odors. Its fine, powdery texture allows it to penetrate the leather’s pores and draw out the grease. Application Instructions (always test any cleaning agent on an inconspicuous corner of the leather first to make sure there re no adverse reactions): Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the stained area. Gently work the powder into the stain using a soft-bristled brush. Allow the baking soda to sit on the stain for at least 15-20 minutes, or overnight for stubborn stains. Brush off the powder with a clean, dry cloth. Inspect the stain and repeat if necessary. Pro Tip:?Apply baking soda immediately after blotting for fresh stains.?Cornstarch or talcum powder can be used as an alternative if baking soda isn’t available. This is just one of many simple methods of cleaning leather. To learn more, visit the link in the comments section!

???????????????????????? ???? ???????? – ?????? ???? ???????? ???????? ????! Still think “Greenwashing” isn’t a thing? Take a look at this article (link below) and at the level companies will stoop to in order to fool the consumers into thinking they are ethically and environmentally responsible. This type of lying and deceit IS being perpetrated against the real leather industry and causing great damage. We are not being conspiratorial when we continuously educate on Greenwashing. As an industry we must understand it and commit to fighting back against it! Here are a few eye openers: CLAIM: Royal Dutch Shell promotes itself as a committed to global net zero programs REALITY: Shell only committed 1% of long-term investments into low carbon renewable power, while continuing heavy investments into new opportunities for oil and gas production. CLAIM: Volkswagon (VW) claimed its new diesel engines as one of the most environmentally friendly options available. REALITY: VW faked its emissions reports, and the engines produced 40x the emissions than advertised CLAIM: The Coca-Cola Company promoted its low sugar product “Coca Cola Life” as a green, healthy alternative soda. REALITY: Nutritionists found zero health benefits of the product and Coca Cola has been named as one of the world’s largest plastic polluters. The only way to stop Greenwashing is to identify it and push back with real data. That is exactly what we must do in the Leather industry. #leather #claims #greenwashing #sustainability

???????????? & ???????????? ???? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? Don’t get greenwashed while buying your next Chevrolet Blazer - especially the EV model. For a vehicle that is supposed to cure our reliance on oil - it’s amazing how much petroleum-based materials are hidden within! #leather #durability #sustainability #greenwashing #ev

???????????????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? We spend most of our time here talking about the leather industry and its struggles against greenwashing and consumer deception. But honestly, our trip to Lineapelle in #Milan really shifted our attention to the emotional side of leather – the “craft” and the passion that people who work with leather have for this amazing material. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be alongside some truly fantastic leather craftsmen and simply listen to their conversations about different types and grades of leather and the tools and techniques they employ to create their works of art. And that is how they see it … not as products … but rather works of art that carry with them the craftsman’s dreams, inspirations, challenges, pride, and passion. To them a belt isn’t just a belt. A bag is much more than just a bag and the thousands of hides on display at Lineapelle each carried a story and a purpose. Leather crafters are at the heart and soul of the leather industry and should be celebrated for their dedication and talents that drive us forward. Yusuf Osman, Ben Geisler, & Volkan Yilmaz - Thank you for awakening us to your artform and for allowing us to listen, learn and deepen our love for real leather! #leather #sustainability #art #craft #passion #pride #authentic

?????? ?????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? Do you trust your car salesperson? Remember - they get paid when you sign on the dotted line - so don’t be rushed through the process. Question every aspect...and ask for proof. After all - it’s your money!!

?????????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????????????????????? Consumers are caught in a trap. They know what they want. They see what they want. But how do they know what they are truly buying? In a world of rampant greenwashing, retailers are not the consumers’ best friend. There once was a time where retailers won their consumers’ loyalty, support and repeat business by being a trusted source of product and information. But today, we sadly live in a world where it’s everyone for themselves in a whirlpool of retailers doing whatever it takes to capture revenue and market share. That includes lying. So, who protects the consumer? Certainly not the retailer or the media. Consumers must look out for themselves and research, become educated and ask a lot of questions about the important purchases in their life. Wouldn’t it be nice and make sense if governments around the world got as serious about protecting the consumer (who are their citizens by the way) as they are in protecting their own party views? Consumers need help from the unfair predatory marketing tactics that await their every turn. In the materials arena, a simple solution would be to mandate clear and precise labelling. No marketing terms – just tell consumers what they are purchasing. Some countries in Europe have begun to make strides in this area as it relates to leather and there is a strong push to take it farther. In the U.S., for the first time, there is currently legislation underway to mandate transparent labelling of automotive interiors in New York State – which makes total sense as customers are driving away clueless that they purchased plastic seats. You wouldn’t think that something so simple would be so difficult. But remember, transparency shuts down greenwashing and all the profits that come with it. So, retailers across the world will certainly not be in support of these type of consumer protections because it “outs” them. We all need to support these labelling efforts by legislators and associations around the world on behalf of the consumer – who in the leather industry’s situation, needs help and transparency in order to buy what they are actually looking for…real leather!! #automotive #leather #labels #legislation #NewYork #transparency

?????????????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????????????? It's election season in the United States and while everyone prepares to do their patriotic duty, let’s not forget to give a shout out to the hides – which were chosen for its strength and longevity to carry the words of the country’s most important documents: The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, The Bill of Rights and The Articles of Confederation. These documents are all written on sheepskin parchment treated with lime and stretched to make a durable writing surface. Not only were the U.S. forefathers careful and precise in their ideas and diction, they took equal care to make sure their thoughts, agreements and directives would endure for centuries. In fact, many of the world’s most important religious, governmental, and legal documents used leather parchment to stand the test of time – including ancient scrolls of the Assyrians and Egyptians! So, when we brag about leather being one of the most durable natural materials in the world, we’ve got some of the world’s most important documents as proof to that claim! #leather #2024election #usa #durable #parchment #natural

?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????????? We talk a lot about the extreme durability of real leather and its ability to last for generations. But what makes this natural material so durable? As with most things natural – it was made that way with purpose. A cattle hide’s only purpose is to protect and endure. As hides are tanned into leather, they transfer all that strength into everyday items like purses, couches, shoes, car seats and more. Whatever blueprint designed this spectacular material did so with durability as its primary goal. Toughness is literally in its DNA and cellular structure. Leather generates its durability from its dense fiber structure – the primary foundation of its strength. As with most things – nature gets it right! This unique cellular structure, through evolution, has been on a continuous improvement journey for thousands and thousands of years. And while we can now study the structure under a microscope, we simply cannot duplicate it with man-made materials. Leather’s uniquely refined structure provides durability and flexibility to fight all elements, protecting its users as it protected cattle everyday in fields across the world. Learn more about what durability of real leather really looks like in this interesting overview from leather retailer Andar (link in the comments!). Real leather - naturally designed to last a lifetime! #leather #durability #natural #sustainability