The leather of our products

Natural leather produced in Tuscany, Italy

The leather used by Pinto Leather is natural leather carefully selected as "Missouri" by the tannery La Perla Azzurra s.r.l., a historic tanner from Santa Croce, Tuscany, Italy. Natural leather is a leather obtained from the tanning of vegetable tannins while making full use of the authentic texture of the leather. It features a natural texture with a rich expression that can be recognized as genuine leather at first sight, a high quality and personality combining the distinct scent of natural leather and its soft texture. Natural marks such as scars, wrinkles, blood vessels and pore marks, which can be said to be living evidence of animals, are left as they are; therefore the appearance becomes very particular and unique. The leather that enhances these natural characteristics is original and remarkable.
 The high quality of the Italian leather used by Pinto Leather is guaranteed by the Genuine Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather Consortium. It is immediately noticeable by the simple touch of the hand.

Long duration

Natural leather is very sturdy because its fibers are taut. As the product is used, the fibers gradually loosen and become softer. Since the surface of the leather is not coated, it will be scratched during use, but it can be used for a long time when used with care. Scratches made during the wearing process will also become the distinguishing factor of the leather.

Natural texture

Thanks to the natural finish of the leather, the traces of wrinkles, sagging, scratches, blood vessels, pores, etc. that the cow originally had will appear as they are. Natural leather requires almost no surface treatment and its natural traces are more evident than in other highly textured leathers. This gives each part of the skin its own uniqueness and individuality.

Taste from aging

The skin takes on a more intense color due to sun exposure, care oil and hand oil. The oil contained in the slow tanning process of the leather gradually trickles onto the surface of the leather as it is used and, when it is polished, a delicate and unique shine appears.
 Not only does it "age", but its natural characteristics are enhanced over the years and you can enjoy the unique feeling of holding real leather in your hand.

Genuine Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather Consortium

We use "vegetable tanned leather in Tuscany". The Consortium Genuine Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather is made up of 22 Tuscan tanners operating in the framework of the tanning industry, including La Perla Azzurra, described below. To protect and enhance "Tuscan excellence", the Genuine Italian Leather Consortium has created the quality label "Tuscan vegetable tanned leather" with the motif of the leather artisans. This brand guarantees that the leather is 100% from the Tuscany region, obtained mainly from artisanal and manual processing, protecting the working environment and the safety of workers and taking into consideration the sustainability of the environment.

Vegetable tannin tanning, leather processing method

Vegetable tannin tanning is a processing method with a very ancient history that can be traced back to prehistoric times, and the use of tannins is the basis of this leather tanning process. Tannins act as active ingredients to transform the dermis of animal skins into resistant skin. Tannins are found in many plants and are found in the bark, xylem, leaves, roots or fruit. The oldest known extract is chestnut extract, today mainly used for tanning shoe soles due to its hardening properties. The most used tanning is the tannin extract of a tree that grows in Argentina called Quebracho. Quebracho bark produces a reddish powder extract. By using it we give a characteristic "warm" tone to the skin. The natural texture of vegetable tanned leather is created by tannins.
 Tuscan tanning is still trying to transmit these ancient leather tanning techniques to the present day so that they are not forgotten. The precious craftsmanship tradition that has been handed down from father to son is an analogue technique that takes a lot of time and effort, but maximizes the original texture and charm of the leather. Produced in Tuscany, Italy, the vegetable tanned leather is mainly made from raw hides of cows (cows, bulls, calves) and half calf skins, shoulders, front and “bat” cuts are sold. The thickness varies according to the cut, from a minimum of 0.8 mm to a maximum of 3.2 / 3.4 mm.

About the La Perla Azzurra

The district of Santa Croce, between Florence and Pisa, in Tuscany (Italy) is a “leather city of artisans” with a long history of tanners who produce high quality vegetable tanned leather.
 La Perla Azzurra has a long history of producing vegetable tanned leather in Santa Croce, using European leathers (mainly from France) for over 50 years. This traditional craftsmanship is the added value in the professional finishing of natural leather.

Introductory video - La Perla Azzurra s.r.l.

Missouri

The Missouri leather, prepared by La Perla Azzurra s.r.l., is carefully soaked in oil and then drummed "bottalata" for several hours, allowing the oil to penetrate deeply into the skin. Therefore, it has a unique and rubbery texture and a deep and typical color of Italian leather. When the skin is folded, the oil contained in it moves inside the fibers; it also has a pull-up effect that changes the color of the skin. In the process of use, the oil gradually emerges from the inside giving it a beautiful shine.

Skin colours

There are three colors: natural, brown and black.
 Over time, each color becomes more pronounced and its aging more expressive and typical, a unique feature. Among these, the "natural" is a skin color that is hardly dyed, so the characteristic wrinkles and natural signs are emphasized; we can compare the aging of this color to a slice of "toasted" bread, an incredibly unique feature ..

The best rawhide

If the quality of the rawhide is not agreeable enough, then a thick layer of varnish is applied to cover the scratches on the surface. As a result in this case the genuine leather adopts a vinyl-like texture where the characteristics of the leather cannot be noticed. However, Missouri leather is made up of a selection of raw leathers, mainly French, with few scratches and stains and therefore it is not necessary to cover the surface with a thick layer of paint. The beautiful original appearance of the leather is thus maintained.

Unique the tanning process method

Missouri is made with a unique recipe, with the addition of a special oil during the tanning process. The resulting finish is very elegant but with a wild note typical of skin with wrinkles and natural lines.
A perfect balance between hardness and softness of natural leathers give an unmistakable characteristic to the processing of our products.

Pinto Leather is produced by a craftsman of hand-made vegetable tanned leather products. I make many items including wallets, keychains, bags, belts and more.