Quality vs Cost
Most of the items we sell at Thorn & Thistle are made with a “B” or “C” grade full grain leather.
This allows us to provide our products at a lower cost to customers and incorporate the unique characteristics of each leather piece. Most B & C grade leathers will include some scaring, brands or bug bites, but we think these natural characteristics add a certain uniqueness and authenticity to our products. Original makers certainty were not using select Tannery Runs of leather in their products. Using an “A” grade leather or Tannery Run would more than double the cost for our customers.
All of our leather is sourced from specific Tanneries that employ sustainable practices. Meaning the leather we use is mostly from cows that were raised to enter the food chain or died of natural causes. This reduces waste and ensures that almost every part of the animal is used.
Most of our leather is tanned in the USA however, we do often use select leathers for certain items and accent pieces from tanneries in Italy, Spain, Argentina, Brazil & Mexico.
Our Process
Each of our items are laser cut from either whole hides or full sides of cowhide to ensure an exact match to the specified product.
We then hand cut any additional requirements or hole for the piece and measure again for a precise fit.
Once the parts are cut out, each part is hand dyed to the color requested by the customer. While we try to make an exact match, it’s important to remember that leather is a natural organic item and slight differences in the leather and in the tanning process can cause the same color dye to look slightly different on two different pieces of leather. After the leather is dyed it needs to dry for 24-48 hours. Unlike other makers, most of our items are dyed on both sides of the leather. While this may cost us more, we feel this gives a much nicer look than dying only one side.
After dying the leather, we use natural oils and balms including neatsfoot oil, golden mink oil and bees wax to protect the leather. We DO NOT use an acrylic finish on our leather items unless they have been hand painted. In our experience, adding an acrylic finish provides a nice shiny finish to the product but it is also prone to crack and discolor and you item loses its natural authentic look.
Once the leather is protected, we finish the edges. All edges are hand sanded, beveled and burnished using Gum Tragacanth, a natural gum obtained from the dried sap of several species of Middle Eastern legumes. For some products, we hand paint the edges giving it a more durable and polished look. The edge paint and finishes then need to dry for another 24 hours.
Next we add the required hardware and hand sew all parts together to create your finished product. Many makers mass produce items using an industrial sewing machine. We prefer the look and feel of naturally hand-sewn items so we have made the decision to keep with this tradition rather than employing the use of a sewing machine. This can take up to an additional 24 hours and plenty of hand cramps to complete the sewing.
Once the sewing is done, we buff the product a second time with golden mink oil using a wool sheep shearling to a nice finish and complete a quality inspection, checking the stitching and hardware connections before we ship your item. Adding the golden mink oil after sewing also helps provide water resistance to your product.
Its important to understand that your product was just made a few days before you receive it. There may still be some lingering smells from the dye and the leather has not started to patina yet so there may be some spots that look darker than others. This is due to the dying and oiling process. These spots will even out over time as the leather patinas into a rich full color.
Care of your leather item
We recommend cleaning your leather item after any intense use and storing it in the soft bag we ship the item in to keep it from getting dirty or dusty. To clean you item, we recommend using the same Fiebing’s products we do. You can find them on Amazon at this link: Fiebing’s Products. You can also use any reputable cleaning product but please stay away from any DIY or home made products. Our experience has shown that most of the people suggesting these products have no clue what they will do to your item.
While most of our items are water resistant, they are not waterproof. Meaning if you get a few drops of water on them while in the rain, they will be just fine. If your item gets soaked through, it is important that you dry it out as completely as possible right away. Leave it out to dry in a warm non-humid area for several days. Try to block bags with towels to help retain the natural shape. Feel free to contact us with questions should this happen and remember, leather is an organic item and it can attract mold in the right conditions so it’s very important to dry the product our right away.
Lifetime Guarantee
With proper use and proper care, your hand-made leather item should last a lifetime. Thorn & Thistle guarantees its work for the lifetime of your product including but not limited to: Finish, sewing, hardware and craftsmanship.
Not Covered: Scratches, blemishes, cuts, stains, water damage, and scrapes caused by regular daily use. Simply contact us on our website to set up your service and Thorn & Thistle will repair or replace your item free of charge.
Profit Sharing
A portion of proceeds from our sales go to support Shriners Hospitals for Children.
As a Mason & Shriner, I am committed to helping the Shriners Hospitals in their mission to provide the highest quality care to children with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries and other special healthcare needs within a compassionate, family-centered and collaborative care environment. Click here for more information about Shriner’s Children’s Hospitals. To make a donation, please visit Love to the Rescue here. For more information on becoming a Shriner, click here.
