Coach Leathers

Coach was first known for their leather bags and accessories.  They use something like the top 10% of the highest quality leathers in their products.  But not all leather is created the same, there is glove tanned leather, saddle and bridle leather, vachetta leather, saffiano leather and they all have specific qualities and characteristics.  Today I'd like to touch on glove tanned leather since the majority of all vintage bags were made with this material.

Vintage Coach is not quite the same as the purses today, because they used heavier leather cowhides. Each were truly handmade by individual artisans, including the overseas plants.

The vintage full-grain glove tanned leather was from a heavy/medium-weight cowhide with very specific processing and tanning. It was described as such because the method the leather was processed and tanned was similar to baseball gloves. This method gave it extra durability and certain characteristics that made Coach unique. There was also a process of chroming, which is still used today in their hides. Although the cowhide is full grain, the process would fill in most of the grain, giving it a more slick appearance and allowing the patina to form beautifully. It would darken over time, similar to a baseball glove. They would scar easily, but lasted for a long time. There are still Coach items made today with the glove-tanned method. 

Baseball leather is tanned using a process known as "chroming".  Chrome tanned leather is tanned using chromium salts, and it is much more supple and pliable than vegetable tanned leathers. Initially this leather is stiff, however with use it becomes broken in, just like a baseball glove, and it actually gets better over time.

Because of our love and dedication to Coach, we very often carry vintage leather bags in our auctions. I hope this article gives you a new appreciation for the enduring quality of Coach leather products.

And here is tonight's auction giveaway entry, and remember you do have to be present to claim your prize at the end of the auction.  And don't forget to follow/join our blog to be entered into our monthly giveaway!:

a Rafflecopter giveaway