The Art of Aging: Why Crazy Horse Leather Gets Better with Time

We are passionate about creating products that not only look good but also get better with time.

One of our favourite leathers is crazy horse leather!

How We Discovered Crazy Horse Leather

While we were searching for a leather that is good-looking, durable, and most importantly, speaks character. 

With the help of our trusted leather supplier, we discovered Crazy Horse leather. 

It's natural ability to develop a rich patina, combined with its rugged yet vintage appeal.

It was exactly what we had in mind.

It instantly felt like the right choice for creating pieces that would last and tell a story with each use.

How is crazy horse leather made?

Crazy Horse leather is made from top grain or full grain leather, which are the top layers of the animal hide.

(We only select full-grain cowhide, preserving its original texture, grain and imperfections, which gives great durability and character)

Following the cowhide undergoes a tanning process, which prevents it from decomposing over time. 

After the tanning process, the leather is infused with natural waxes and oils, giving it a distinctive rustic and vintage look. 

That's how the magic happens - nothing crazy at all!

Full-Grain vs. Top-Grain Leather:
The Untouched Beauty vs. the Refined Finish

Full Grain Leather

Full-grain leather is the top layer of the hide, left in its natural state, showcasing all the imperfections and unique characteristics. 

It is durable, strong, and develops a rich patina over time.

Top Grain Leather

On the other hand, top-grain leather is also made from the top layer but is sanded and buffed to remove imperfections, creating a more uniform and smoother appearance.

 While top-grain leather (like saffiano leather series) still develops a patina, it is less pronounced compared to full-grain leather, making it more refined and consistent.

It might seem like top-grain leather would be more expensive because of the extra processing it goes through, but full-grain leather actually comes at a higher price.

This is because full-grain leather is made from the quality hides with minimal imperfections.

Since it's not altered or sanded down, only the finest hides are chosen, making full-grain leather more costly to source.

Each piece in our Crazy Horse leather collection is unique because we use full-grain leather.

This means that the natural imperfections and characteristics of the leather are presented. 

Scratches and spots are left intact, adding to its individuality and charm.

These marks are part of the natural beauty of full-grain leather, giving each item its distinctive look and personality.

Why not other leather?

There are many leather options available, such as genuine leather.

It comes from the leftover layers of the hide, which consists of smaller pieces of leather; it doesn’t develop a nice patina, and tends to wear out faster. 

Using them for Crazy Horse leather wouldn’t give you the same long-lasting, beautiful product.

Genuine leather can feel stiff and overly polished, and instead of ageing beautifully, it might start to crack or peel over time.

This makes it unsuitable for creating the desired look and durability that Crazy Horse leather is known for.

Additionally, because genuine leather comes from the lower layers of the hide, it doesn’t retain the natural beauty or consistency of a single, uncut piece of leather.

The varied shapes and sizes of these leftover pieces make it challenging to work with.

How We Select Our Leather

Selecting the right leather is a meticulous process that we take seriously at Kisetsu Leather.

We work closely with our leather supplier & manufacturer, who produces leather goods for brands around the world.

Together, we carefully examine each leather looking for strength, texture, and character that will bring our collections to life.

By focusing on quality leather, we make sure that every Kisetsu product not only looks good but is also made to stand the test of time, ageing beautifully with each journey.

Each Product Tells a Story

At Kisetsu Leather, we believe in creating products that tell a story, and Crazy Horse leather is a perfect way to do that.

Every piece we make will not only look great but will also get better over time.

We want your accessory to be something you are proud to carry - something that ages with you and becomes a reflection of your journey.

We love seeing how our products change with use, and we know you will too.

That’s the beauty of Crazy Horse leather, and that’s why we choose it for many of our designs.

It’s more than just leather - it’s a material that grows and evolves, just like you.

We are here to provide you with something that gets better with time! 

That’s the art of ageing we believe in.