Washed leather

[Arcane]

So, this might be a seriously stupid question but I feel I have to ask anyway as searching the intrawebs don't provide me with any good answers.

I want to make something out of washed leather but as of now I haven't been able to track anything good down. This brings me to the question if I can make the washed leather on my own? I suppose there is some kind of chemical treatment involved and that the leather isn't actually washed? Could I do this successful in my living room with some experimentation?

If anyone knows a better/alternate way (to achive a similar result) or a good place to get nice hides in Berlin I'm open to suggestions.

/A

[lowrey]

treatments probably vary a lot, but you can actually just wash or rinse leather with water to get, well, a somewhat washed look. the result depends on how the hide is dyed and treated, I've done it with some black calf leather and it ended up being a bit more matte and faded looking. this is the most simple and dumbed down method and the only one I know, there are probably some chemical etc treatments as well though.

[Arcane]

Well, I am just under the impression that soaking/washing/rinsing the leather in water will destroy it as all the oils are washed out? It would be exciting to do some chem treatment but with no info on how to handle it or where to start it will probably be close to impossible.

All sources would be appreciated

[lowrey]

some leathers will become dead stiff, but others will remain pretty much the same. for example rick's leathers can (in theory) be washed. I suppose it depends entirely on the treatment it has gone through.

I would guess that most regularly dyed and treated leathers (hides, for example) should withstand water, whereas more specially treated ones (like Poell's) will have the cuir boulli effect and become super rigid.

[951SoCal]

Well, I am just under the impression that soaking/washing/rinsing the leather in water will destroy it as all the oils are washed out? It would be exciting to do some chem treatment but with no info on how to handle it or where to start it will probably be close to impossible.

All sources would be appreciated

nah leather is okay at getting wet maybe distress it or get raw hide ?

modern leather is just a plastic coating to color the material anyway

[shotgunmessenger]

This link from Blackbird in Seattle had Peter Nguyen of Leon as a guest blogger talking about the process of washing his Geller Cossack Leather from SS09. While I'd much rather just have the end result, (I haven't found anyone who owns the piece), I think it gives the best idea to date of how to wash your leather(s) at home.

http://helloblackbird.blogspot.com/2009/07/washing-your-leather-jacket-by-peter.html

[Arcane]

^Thanks a bunch mate, that did clear some things up.

I also found this link which if you only use the first two steps might work together with the above washing technique to give an interesting result.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2086472_distress-new-leather.html

I think I'll play around with it and see what happens. Thanks for the input guys and if someone have additional sources that would be much appreciated too.

[kanne]

If anyone knows a better/alternate way (to achive a similar result) or a good place to get nice hides in Berlin I'm open to suggestions.

If you've found a place to buy neat leather around here, please let me know.

And good luck with your project!

[KikHomme]

I'm interested in something similar to this for when I start getting into working with leather. If what your trying works it would be awsome if you posted pics and a little step by step.

[Arcane]

Lol, two days and serious amount of views...

The project is still in the sketching phase meaning I haven't decided on anything, meaning I haven't made a pattern yet and clearly no prototypes.

I think that I will start experimenting with the leather soon though as it will probably take some time. I will most certainly take pictures of the experiments and the results.

Pm'ed you kanne.

[Nemesis_4]

Any updates on this yet? Super interested on how this turns out.... I took a look at Blackbird's guide to "washing your leather jacket" and I'm highly considering going through the process with my (just copped) Geller Cadet Leather 08, as it is large (mostly just long) on me

- Should I go through with it? Is it really going to shrink up enough?