There are a number of different stages in leather goods making however the first stage is to use only the finest leather. We buy our leather, which is tanned and finished from a number of tanneries in the UK and overseas. The leather arrives in our factory from the tanneries in whole skins, which can be any size from 6 to 60 square feet. As they arrive from the tanneries the skins are ready to be cut up and be made into finished products and there are a number of processes, which take the product from start to finish:
Prior to making any leather item, samples have to made which serve as the templates for factory production. Sample making is a skilled art and patterns are first produced on card and the leather hand cut until the sample is perfect. To go from a two dimensional design to a three dimensional functional object might consist of 20 or more different processes and requires many years of experience. Once the sample is perfect the product can be transferred into the factory.
Stages of leather goods making
Cutting - The leather is cut into discrete shapes ready for assembling the various pieces. For small runs, products are often hand cut using special razor sharp knives. For larger runs a clicking press is used which presses specially made shaped knives into the leather.
Skiving and splitting - Often the edges of the leather or the entire piece of leather need to be thinned prior to turning or working. This is carried out on a special skiving machine or splitter.
Assembling - Once all the leather is cut and skived, they are ready for assembly and stitching. A special bone is used to work the leather without damaging it and the whole process is carried out on flat stones.
Gluing and stitching - where necessary the leather is glued together and stitched using special sewing machines which are strong enough to work leather.
Finishing and checking - finally the finished piece is checked and polished prior to packing. The leather is usually blocked with our name and logo prior to this stage so that it is now ready to be sent out.
Packing - All Ettinger products are carefully packed in hand made branded boxes together with a small leaflet explaining how to look after your Ettinger product. They are then sent around the world!
AN INTRODUCTION TO LEATHER
The use of animal skins by man goes back thousands of years. It is undoubtedly true to say that the leather industry is one of - if not the oldest - industries known to man. As man developed his intelligence he made use of skins to protect his body.
No one can be pointed to as a particular genius in the history of the industry and it is not a history of spectacular inventions or of outstanding contributions by great names, but a steady progress stemming from the experience, integrity and skill of innumerable craftsmen tanners over literally thousands of years.
Leather is made from the skins of any animal, reptile, bird or fish, by a process called tanning. This process preserves the skin, which would otherwise quickly decay or putrefy.
From the primitive methods of early man, the industry today is highly scientifically based and constant research is applied towards improving leathers to fit in with modern living.
With a few exceptions, hides or skins are by-products. Animals are reared for meat, milk and wool and not for the value of their skins. As a consequence, the tanner is not able to control the supply of raw hides and skins, which he purchases in open markets all over the world and is in competition with tanners on a global basis. Many attempts have been made to create artificial leather however nothing can compare to the real article for durability, look and feel.
