Materials

 

Materials

When it comes to finding the very best, American-sourced materials, we leave no stone unturned. Unlike most “leather” goods on the market, ours are actually the real deal, made with the real stuff, and most importantly, made by a pair of real hands. Crazy, right? Simply put, we don’t cut corners. We don’t sacrifice quality for the financial bottom line. And we don’t give a damn about the “most efficient” production methods. We respect our craft. And we strive to perfect it by marrying centuries old-techniques with the most premium materials. Period. From both an aesthetic and a longevity standpoint, that’s the only real way to go if putting heirloom-quality goods into your hands is our goal, which is most certainly is. Have a look below for a more detailed glimpse into our materials…

Leathers

Wickett & Craig:

 With the exception of our belts, all of our goods are built with Wickett & Craig’s Traditional Harness Leather. Producing some of the world’s finest leathers since 1867, Wickett & Craig is one of the world’s premiere vegetable tanneries. A labor-intensive method that requires skilled workers, veg-tanning is a natural, eco-friendly process that produces deep-colored leathers of superior quality. They’ve been perfecting the art of leather making for more than a 150 years and they’re only getting better at it.

 Using an exclusive blend of waxes, oils and tallows, Wickett & Craig hot stuffs these leathers to bring out their inherent beauty. Through a traditional process called jack glazing, oils are brought to the surface to create a glossy finish that never mask the leather’s natural grain. As a result, Traditional Harness is ideal for equestrian gear, yet, when split to a lower weight, it’s equally suitable for leather goods. 

 

 Hermann Oak:

 For our belts, we use Hermann Oak English Bridle leathers. In 1881, Louis Charles Hermann started tanning leathers and began too handle the local harness trade and to supply the wagon trains of settlers traveling west along the Lewis and Clark trails. From there, the tannery grew, and Fred Hermann Sr. joined the company in 1907. He proceeded to supply leather for our soldiers throughout both World Wars.

 

Fred Hermann Jr. joined the company soon after World War II, in 1948. The country was experiencing rapid growth and development and the demand for specialized leathers increased. Using the firm's detailed knowledge of speciality vegetable tanning, he expanded into a range of leathers each of which share the superior tooling, carving, and molding characteristics leatherworkers have come to value.

 Waxed Thread

Maine Thread Co. :

All of our thread is sourced out of Maine from a brick and mortar company known as the Maine Thread Co. located in Lewiston, Maine USA. Founded in 1965 as a supplier to the footwear industry, they sold their products in Maine and throughout New England. Today, they are shipping their waxed hand-sewing thread all over the world. Their products can also be found in popular footwear brands and accessories.