How to create a handcrafted leather saddlebag
The creation of handcrafted leather saddlebags requires a meticulous crafting process in which attention to details is mandatory. This article is meant to show how, here at Ends Cuoio, leather is perceived and how it is meticulously molded into objects of desirable and charming quality.
Handcrafted leather saddlebags: quality is the focal point
Choosing the right kind of leather is the most important step in any saddlebag production process. Premium quality leather makes a huge difference in terms of durability, maintenance and overall product quality. In order to provide the finest product possible, for our leather goods, we only use vegetable tanned leather personally selected from the best Tuscan Tanneries. Tanneries certified by the Genuine Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather Consortium, an association that counts more than 20 Tanneries which share the same passion for vegetable tanned leather and the same production standards.
Choosing the right metal parts is important as well. Matter of fact, metal parts play a key role in the outcome of a product that is supposed to be exposed to climate for a considerable amount of miles. We do not want any of our bags to get all rusty after a ride in the rain. Therefore, we decided that all exposed metal parts need to be made of nickel plated brass; a material that, thanks to its strength and immunity to corrosion, is perfect for automotive applications. Inside Ends Cuoio laboratory the anatomy of a bag is divided in 4 macro-areas: back panel, band, flap and front. Every part is meticolously outlined, following the silhouttes designed in our centro stile, on the leather sheet before the cut.
Production: attention to details
Once all parts are cut and ready, is possible to start the production process. The front gets punctured to create the buckles anchoring points, while two small tabs get sewed to the band. Small tabs that have an important role: keep fluids outside the bag while riding. Once these steps are completed, both areas get assembled together to create the “stem“. The flap gets punctured to create the buckles anchoring points too.
We are now getting into the process in which is possible to see the attenction to details required to create products capable to retain their shape in time. A leather strip, is added to the flap border thanks to a meticulous practice: the border gets scraped with sand paper in order to provide a gripping surface for the water-based glue (environment first) that is going to keep the strip in place while sewing. This element not only has an important role, but also has turned into a distinctive sign of Ends Cuoio style. The back panel is another Ends Cuoio distinctive and functional element in Ends Cuoio leather saddlebags: in large models is specifically molded depending on the motorcycle model for which it was designed; in compact models has inserts that serve as reinforcement. Our back panels are designed to provide the perfect support even when the bag is fully loaded. Now that all areas are ready, the bag gets sewed together and detailed.
Leather passion
Our centro stile flair perfectly matches the care and dedication that our personnel employ in handcutting leather with maximum precision. It is important to remember that alla tasks described are made by hand. So every action explained in this article is carried out by specialized artisans who, focused on their specific tasks, double check the overall quality of all leather parts and production steps. Our job represents what’s more fascinating and stimulating in the world. Here at Ends Cuoio we do not work leather. We live its essence, creating products capable of carring the heritage and feeling that revolve around the bikers world.
