Luxury leather 101

In luxury leather goods, the markup can go as high as 50 times (see the article on Dior!), in contrast to retail products which are around 8-15 times higher than the cost of production and labour. 👜

A high price tag doesn't always equate to high quality. For luxury bags, you're often paying for the prestige. If you want to invest in a piece that's worth the price, the key things to look out for are the leather used and its craftsmanship.

~Story time on Saffiano leather by Prada~

Saffiano leather was originally developed by Prada in the early 20th century. The brand's founder, Mario Prada, was known for his innovative approach to luxury goods, and Saffiano leather was one of his most enduring creations, which is water and scratch proof.

The truth is that Saffiano leather is relatively inexpensive to produce. Its unique appearance and durability are achieved through a specific finishing process, not the leather itself. Here's a breakdown of why Saffiano leather is affordable:

1️⃣ The Leather Itself: Saffiano leather is typically made from calfskin or cowhide, which are relatively abundant and affordable materials.

2️⃣ The Finishing Process: Cost-effective hot stamped pattern. This involves embossing the pattern onto the leather and applying a polyurethane coating.

3️⃣ Mass Production: Due to the simplicity of the finishing process, Saffiano leather can be produced in large quantities, further driving down costs.

Prada had a patent for Saffiano leather which has now expired, so you can even get Saffiano leather goods from non-luxury brands.

~End of story~

To learn more about leather and craftsmanship, who better than an expert? One YouTuber I'm subscribed to is @tanner.leatherstein, a leather crafting expert, who is known for his videos where he cuts up luxury leather goods and evaluates the costs involved.

His videos are insightful and share the costs breakdown on the leather, craftsmanship and accessories used. He has done videos on many of the luxury brands including Prada, Chanel, YSL (see the pics).

Watch @tanner.leatherstein on YouTube to learn more about leather goods! 👜

#SocialDiscussion

#interestingnews