Leather Guide: Quality and Craftsmanship

Attention to Details  

We know you have thousands of companies to choose from when looking to make a purchase. What makes Windy Raven stand out? Our attention to details. Here’s how that works in our products.

Fewer Seams   

We use high quality thread, but thread is never going to be as strong or durable as a solid piece of full grain premium leather. When designing a product, we minimize the number of seams to reduce the stress points in the final product. 

For example, all of our tote bags and made from a single cut of leather and just a few seams. Decisions like this mean that we might spend a little more on the leather, but it create a product that is much more durable.

Hand Stitching    

To us, stitching is one of the most important aspects in the quality and construction of our work.

We use a saddle stitch, a centuries old method that earned its name since it was the top choice of saddle markers. 

Since saddles and tack can take a beating for decades and keep going, we know that this method of construction will pass the test of time. With a saddle stitch, we use one long piece of flat braided UV-resistant thread, made from a waxed polyester (the strongest stuff we can buy). Working with at least two needles, we create an overlapping pattern of thread for the seams and every stitch line is backstitched to ensure the ends cannot unravel.

Our Leather  

We are among a small minority of companies that choose to use American leather. Leather from our American and Italian tanneries are known for their premium leather quality. We only use Full Grain Vegetable Tanned Leather; it’s the best leather that money can buy.

Our Hardware

Hardware can be a weak point on a product. So when we set out to build heirloom leather goods that are made to last, we knew solid metal hardware was the only choice.

Solid Metal Zippers

We only use metal Riri zippers in our products to ensure our products will stand up to the test of time. Riri zippers have been manufactured in Switzerland since 1936 and can be subjected to 106 lbs of stress without breaking. This makes them an ideal choice for our designs. 

Buckles, D-Rings and other hardware.

All of these items are made with solid die cast brass metal fabrication. Even our nickel plated hardware is solid brass underneath. This makes the hardware extremely durable and it won’t rust over time. For snaps, we use either solid brass or stainless steel depending on the application and other hardware finish choices. 

What it all adds up to

By using the best leather, hardware and construction methods, we help to ensure our leather goods are built to last. You can help them last even longer with a little TLC (see our guide on leather care: Leather Guide: How to care for leather).