Bag makers, where to get leather?

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  • WrappedInBooks0

    I've a billykirk canvas and leather - looks good and is very well made.
    http://www.billykirk.com/store/

    you can also check here:
    http://thecarry.com/

    • if you only read the OP.. he isnt looking for a bag to purchase.. he is making the bag himself.e-pill
  • raf0

    I just started the production of sleeves for portable devices (phones, tablets, laptops). From what I see, if you're not handpicking your hides there is no way to ensure 100% consistency.

    We just got burnt allowing a subcontractor to make batch of straps from "identical hide from the same source and batch as the previous one". Only they don't look the same and we will be controlling the whole process tighter from now on.

    • wow.. i giggled when i read that..
      so fucking true!!!
      e-pill
  • dobre0

    I'm playin with interfacer & some remnants off my fleece hoodies lol. i wanna try with real leather soon.

    Gotta start my own for now, takin a bit of risk. thats why i only projecting of makin only 100 bags for my 1st batch. All in all it'll be like 3 shirts (each 100), 1 or 2 jackets (100) & 1 or 2 bags (100). If this successfull I'll rent high rise flat, if this sunk I'll jump off it :P

  • NONEIS0

    Screw that – buy one from my friend Matt:
    http://woodandfaulk.bigcartel.co…

    • nice bag, but im not into the frame closures, they are too heavy and the end of develmpte-pill
    • also tend to rust/ breakdown easily thru their usages..that consumer cares little i guesse-pill
    • like his Northwesterners!dobre
  • e-pill0

    also remember your measurements should be noted as "Seam to Seam" and also what your "End to End" measurements as construction with leather needs some edge while in mostly everything else you can sew right in that edge.. so make sure your measurements are accurate and listed on every sketch or get ready for some pretty hardcore revision months in your calendar and have some financial capital for that or come up with a few good excuses that will push the maker to give you the samples for free.. the best one i find that always works.. is promise the maker that once we go into production, they will be the maker.. and they usually suck that up and give you free samples.. otherwise your samples are going to cost you a lot!!! a lot more that what you will sell it for that is for sure.. also your sample should maybe be developed using a cheap vinyl pp or pu or even poly material just to see your patterns.

    however the sample may have to be made using leathers as the fall of the bag will be different using a different material..

    oi.. doing all this on your own.. youuuuu craaaaaaaaaazy!!!!

  • dobre0

    Thats true.
    I'm all new to this at this stage. I'm aware I should act more as INDUSTRIAL designer & a bussinesman than just as a designer/craftster. All ur inputs taken into considerations.

    @ detritus Poor salmon :) Show some pics!

    • why do you need to act like an industrial designer? im not one of them.. im just an illustrator.e-pill
    • "All your inputs are belong to us"e-pill
    • engineer everything right, measurements, materials, functionality, look, cost not just design things purely intuitively.dobre
    • being an engineer or an industrial designer is part of me but i am still an illustrator first.e-pill
  • moldero0

    human skin bag:

  • e-pill0

    when it comes to supplier info, for me, i like to keep contact with the industrial side of the business.. the mold factories, the hardware development.. the electronic industrial molding and proto typing end of it more than i can ever care for the material that binds it all together..

    that aspect usually for me.. is not something i can think i stick my soul into.. as usually since i am working under a price constraint.. ill always sacrifice material cost for construction..

    the idea of a leather bag.. it should be constructed perfect to last forever.. remember in terms of creating a tote.. make it so that the capacity of what goes inside is thought about in terms of the weight of the material..

    all the materials you are asking about even with that small mm thickness will eventually be very heavy once its size is trully understood.. also hardware will play a huge role in that weight.

    going to the beach is, yes usually a towel a bottle of water and a book.. but other things can and will be put inside it.. make sure your straps are re-enforced with some metal hardware for extra rigidity considering any weekend bag will go thru its cycles.. a leather bag should age instead of breakdown.. and totes as we know are good sellers on the market due the constant breakdowns of abuse the consumers unleash upon them.. yep i love em for that.. gotta keep making more.. accessories.. the one industry in fashion that never sleeps..

  • detritus0

    I've had a sample of 'salmon leather' hanging right above my head for about 2 years now. Got quite excited when I saw it... then found out the cost... AISH.

    Must take it down and try laser cutting it sometime.

    .

    BLOG ENTRY:

    Currently cutting 720 3mm leather components for a designer... and the fucking extraction pipe fom the laser has sprung a cunningly awkward to fix hole, so my office fucking stinks of burnt flesh/hair.

    Yaaay, cancer.

    • '3mm thick' leather.detritus
    • hahaha @ smells during production of producte-pill
    • i wish i can bottle the smells i scented in the factories in China.. for others to know ..e-pill
    • ..that the scent of burning hair/ flesh isnt so bad.. even if in an office of a few..e-pill
    • imagine being inside a closed ventilation building of 8K people all doing that... at once!e-pill
  • dobre0

    I c. Ty. Ill do some research on fish skin more & HK suppliers.

  • e-pill0

    fish skins do not look like fish scales after the tannery has their work on it.. honestly you wouldnt be able to tell much of a different outside of the visual hand feel of the skins.. fish skins are also very colourful or hold more colour pigments in their makeup.

    just saying it is out there as something that is not really used in main stream as most makers dont know of its existence as a viable source for production.

    i mention fish skins because there is plentiful amounts of them out there.. animal skins are not as plentiful so price for yardage would infinitely be higher, and now that you stated your production is limited to 100.. the price would be even more.. it was just being placed out there as another source for the same end product.

    also not sure if you have hit this wall yet.. but most designers i know in and out of my circle including myself, will not have supplier/ vendor contact info, mainly due to that we are not doing this for ourselves.. we would be working for a company that either outsources or has their own Asia or Europe Merchandiser/ Supplier Sourcing team that chooses what skins are being purchased, no matter what the designer may want.

    i placed an email bomb asking for help for you and already got most of that similar response which i knew was coming.

    but its only been a few minutes.. but if it passes an hour, likely hood is the response will never happen..

    being in Asia yourself, if you can contact one of many Hong Kong Sourcing Material and Hardware companies im sure you can easily find what you need.

  • dobre0

    Hi E-pill!
    Finally u r here :)

    1. I'm in Singapore right now. And it's easier to buy online from US/Europe shops than from nearby supplier countrries like Indonesia or Thailand (cant really travel)
    2. I'm a one man start up as u might remember on my 'Guess' brand thread ;) I'm still in the stage of developing products/samples & projecting to produce this bag 100 pieces. I design myself, and only got 2 tailors (and will cut & sew myself as well). So we are not talking factory here at this time being.
    3. I don't like 'caviar' look. And right now I don't lean toward any fishy look.

    Thanks!

  • e-pill0

    do you have the design already? do you need a designer..?

    from this post on.. you are going to need your check book..

  • e-pill0

    i see you posted you dont have time to see leather suppliers .. you should contact them [once you get the list] and have them come to you.. they want your business and they will send anyone anywhere to your location with a few suitcases of swatches to choose..

    ill make a few calls and see what i can get you..

    where is it you are located? you mention NY Fashion Center.. are you here in NYC?

  • e-pill0

    eh.. suppliers for leather.. oi.. i dont have any right at the moment.. i can find out.. what is your production quantity estimate for this going to be? defining that helps define the amount of yardage and price you will get for the skins.

    in terms of making a "Beach" tote.. why not push the envelope and use skins that relate to the "beach atmosphere" meaning use fish skins.. true that most fish scales are limited in size, but patch work using them in developing a stronger and longer lasting construction can create a visual stimulating collection that speaks towards your environment and can establish a more direct consumer target market.

    also since the skins are fish.. there is a lot of it so price will be determined as well.. although not many leather suppliers use the skins and i seen it really for the Luxury Mass markets if not higher..

    since it is a speciality.. but it isnt more expensive than the animal skins..

    also when you develop, you want to make sure your factory has leather experience and or only specializes in manufacturing of the leather as the skins are thicker and need stronger sewing machines than regular cut and sew.

    also the sewing process itself is completely different than a nylon/ poly/ canvas cut and sew.. so make sure you are getting quality samples before you dive into complete production.

  • dobre0

    ^Dont wanna dry sacks. Need them juicy. And leathery.

  • uan0

    get a dry sack:

  • dobre0

    E-pill hates me :(

  • Amicus0

    still no e-pill?

  • dobre0

    Aha calf! NY Fashion got calf. Any other leather shop has it, maybe cheaper square feet?