ABOUT US – Heirloom Quality Leather Bags

OUR STORY

In the past, we often struggled to find bag designs that suited our needs, so we started making them for our own use, then decided to sell them to the market. Not like your average bag, our bag designs give every item its place.  One place for one item makes it neatly organized instead of a mess with all things thrown into one compartment.

The founder also had bad experience with a global branded product, disappointed with the material used which was a combination of genuine leather and synthetic leather, without any information, that was peeling when it had been used for about a year. We believe we can make better products.

Yogyakarta is one of three largest craft centers in Indonesia and it’s known as artisan land. Lately, a lot of leather craftsman and business owners complained because of the decreasing demand of leather crafts, which they say is due to a flood of imported plastic leather products. It has caused many craftsman to change their profession. Aside from that, many craftsmen are not updated with market trends and global needs, and also international trading between countries, despite their high quality hereditary craftsmanship.

We try to open new windows and doors of opportunity to help them achieve their golden age again, and allow them to receive higher income.  Furthermore, 10% of our profit will be donated to orphans, so by buying our products, you help them to prosper as well.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY of Our Handmade Leather Bags and Organizers

Nowadays, almost every person can’t be separated from gadgets such as smartphones, tablets/iPads and also laptops. If gadgets are a primary need, secondary needs are gadget carriers/cases: wallets, pouches and bags.

Many creative workers, such as content creators/vloggers, designers, sketchers and digital nomads, can do their job everywhere, even if they’re in the mountains and travelling, they should have something to carry technical devices with easily. Just grab it and keep it organized.

Common bags/pouches are rarely designed for gadget organizing and everything is just put inside like a big mess. Our founder thinks with precision, like an engineer, and designs our products specifically based on gadget dimensions and other needs, with a vintage look.

We use cowhide material and no plastic leather or synthetic leather is used. Most of our products are raw and rugged. We offer an experience to customers since owning leather goods is a journey where it will age beautifully, even more beautiful the older it is by its Patina. Surely, this reason is essential for an authentic leather product.  

QUALITY

The founder spent about 2 years on product research for materials, construction, and sample testing.

The process of sampling one product is done over approximately two to three months by testing samples, and using them daily until the best designs are found. As a small enterprise, we need several months to find the best designs due to capital capacity.

Even though we’re small enterprise with small capital, we offer lifetime warranty because we understand that customers spend so much time and energy to find what they need and they want. We stand behind our product and aim to solve all problems or complaints in a professional manner.

LEATHER

The cowhide we use is 90% local Indonesian cowhide leather (Javanese). Most of the Indonesian cattle are used to plow fields so they grow stronger than cattle that are always in cages. Cow leather material from Indonesia is exported to various countries in the world.

We’re really concerned about environmental issues, that’s why we use 90% vegetable tanned and semi vegetable tanned leather. With natural tanning methods, and minimizing the use of chrome, we contribute to protect and prevent environment damage from chemical content.

The tanning is processed by KASIN Leather, which is the oldest and finest vegetable tannery in Indonesia. The tanning is carried out in the city of Malang and by a local tannery in Magetan Indonesia.

We don’t apply much treatment to the leather and keep it natural. As leather ages, rather than wearing out, it burnishes and beautifies, developing a much sought-after patina and unique character that cannot be easily duplicated. Truly, the more you use it, the better it looks and feels.

Patina:   The aura or luster that develops in a quality piece of leather with age.

Patches are not flaws, but the unique character of a natural finish. Because even if it comes from the same cow, the texture will not be the same from inch to inch. We do not use skin that is simply painted on the surface, because then there’s no difference between PU leather (synthetic leather) and Leather. To have leather goods is a journey where it will age beautifully, and even more beautiful the older it is.

HARDWARE

Buckles, snap hooks, rings, rind D/half rings and rectangles, are all handcrafted by a local crafter using recycle solid brass in Kotagede (Silver City), Yogyakarta, the largest center of local metal and silver handicrafts in Indonesia, which has been handed down for hundreds of years.

We only use Japan YKK brand for zippers, which are well known as the strongest and most durable zipper.

ARTISAN

Production work is done in the city of Yogyakarta, known as artisan land where the best craftsman are, and their crafting skills have been inherited from generation to generation. We pay them higher than average wages for their outstanding skills.

About 65% of our products are made with a hand-stitch method which is also known to be very strong and durable.

MEET THE FOUNDER

 

Intan Al Azhar (Al) has educational background in Civil Engineering and a Master Degree in Urban Development. He worked in construction company for about 10 years, and his last company is the best Indonesian construction company. Work with precision, designing, review the designs and changing designs,  while under pressure were his daily job. Free hand sketching, outdoors, hiking, camping, and photography are his hobbies.

He was falling in love with his first leather item, he learned and understood “Patina” which made him feel that leather is not just about the function of the item itself, but more important is the process of caring for the leather day by day to get unique character.

By that time, he was inspired to solve his own problem with his daily carry and to steer away from generic designs where typical bag designers don’t think exactly about what will be inside of the bag, resulting in bag user filling it like a mess. Al makes all interiors well organized. He learned leather crafting continuously to understand all about craftsmanship. His background and new passion makes him really confident to run a business.