Vintage leather
The Enduring Appeal of Vintage Leather: A Modern Approach to Timeless Style
Vintage leather? Does that mean old? The simple answer, especially in the context of fashion and design, is a resounding no. The term “vintage” is a classification, not a direct measure of age or deterioration. Speaking history wise, fashion items produced before the 1920s are typically referred to as antique. However, items made from the 1920s right up to a period of about 20 years before the present day are correctly considered vintage. In contemporary manufacturing, particularly for textiles and leather goods, the word “vintage” has evolved to describe a style—a deliberately engineered aesthetic that evokes the spirit, patina, and charm of those specific decades. It’s about capturing a classic look while offering brand-new quality and durability.
The technique used to achieve this look, especially when making leather specifically for the demanding world of jewellery components, is a sophisticated and meticulous process. To make this leather look authentically vintage, a completely different, two-stage method is employed in its production.
First, the leather is made normally, processed and dyed in its plain, solid style colors. This ensures the raw material has the necessary strength, flexibility, and foundational color saturation required for high-quality components like cords and strips. The second, and crucial, phase involves reprocessing the leather using special machinery and unique finishing techniques. These proprietary methods are designed to deliberately distress the material, giving it its characteristic old look and making it appear stylishly worn out, even though it is straight off the production line and brand new.
Some might understandably ask, ‘Why do it twice? Why would you go to the effort of making something look old?’ The answer lies in the dynamic and cyclical nature of fashion. Fashion changes constantly, driven by nostalgia, cultural shifts, and the recurring appreciation for classic aesthetics. These time-honored, old-school products—whether it’s a specific cut of jacket, a type of distressed metal, or vintage-look leather—are being considered modern and fashionable over and over again, depending on the prevalent fashion clichés and trends of the season. This is why we, Sun Enterprises, constantly strive to follow the really latest tendencies and anticipate and meet your fashion needs. We understand that the perfect piece of jewellery often requires a component that feels rich with history and character, not just pristine newness.
We have practiced and refined the art of producing vintage leather for quite a while now, allowing us to perfect the unique processing methods that give our products their authentic, highly sought-after patina and texture. This dedication is why our vintage collection is widely considered to be the widest and most comprehensive in Europe. We offer a massive variety in sizes, colors, styles, and are basically available in most of the types imaginable, from soft suede-like finishes to structured flat cords. This vast inventory ensures that whether a designer is creating a chunky bracelet or a delicate necklace, they can find the perfect vintage leather component to bring their vision to life.
We are proudly delighted by our expansive range of products that utilize this special finish, including our numerous vintage bags, belts, round leather cords, flat leather strips, and various other component sets. It is truly delightful to see customers visiting our store in Almere with a genuine smile on their face when they have finally found the specific vintage colors in their preferred sizes—colors and cuts that none of the other shops they’ve visited were able to supply. This validation underscores the depth and quality of our collection.
To further expand this popular range, we have recently added 18 new colors of real flat Italian leather to our collection. These new additions come in four essential sizes: 10mm, 14mm, 20mm, and 30mm. This selection of widths allows for versatile design applications, from elegant wraps to bold cuffs. Furthermore, we have worked hard to differentiate these new colors with specially made patterns, moving beyond solid tones. These exciting patterns include tiger print, square print, snake (or "booty") print, along with traditional full vintage color leather options. The core of this new collection consists of deeply appealing different shades of brown, classic black, and warm red’ish’ tones, all treated to achieve that rich, time-worn texture that designers adore.
Our collection of Italian Leather (small fraction)
Similarly, as with all the other types of leather we offer, the new vintage collection is designed for seamless integration into existing jewellery designs. The new vintage leather components can be smartly and trendily put together with our comprehensive range of specialized locks, carefully chosen to fit according to the specific size. These leather strips can then be effortlessly combined with different beads, charms, and other jewellery parts and findings. The beauty of this material is its versatility; it pairs equally well with rustic metals, polished sterling silver, or sparkling crystal accents. Imagination is the only limit!
Being creative is, after all, the essential element of jewellery making. The deliberate character and texture of vintage leather provide an incredible starting point for creative expression, adding depth and story to every piece. This is why we wholeheartedly wish you to get inspired by this latest collection and post, and to let your creativity go wild by trying out our new vintage designs. Embrace the classic, yet modern, appeal of leather that looks old but is made to last.
