Many of the designs at Hideout are inspired by people saying, “I wish I had a _____ for my _____.”

I love the problem-solving aspect of leatherworking. I’m still super proud of the earbud holder (bottom of image) created on request for Nia, although I realize most people have fancy ear pods nowadays. Also, the tool roll created for Cata’s utensils, and equally handy for drawing supplies (top of image).

If you would like to talk about a project, send an email hideout.vo@gmail.com

And because pictures tell a better story… thank you to @niaa_vo for putting together a video.

Full-grain leather is the best quality leather and is the only kind of leather used in Hideout products. Most of the leathers are purchased from a local Canadian retailer, except for Corrosion, shipped directly from Italy.

For a full explanation of the different types of leather in the industry, check out Derek Werther’s* thorough explanation by clicking the button below.

Leather Care

Full-grain leather wears well and develops a patina over time. Full-grain leather also bears the marks and scars of the animal that it came from. To care for your leather, do not expose it to rain, or drop it in the ocean (Yes, looking at you, Anton), or leave it in extreme temperatures hot or cold. Use an oil or shoe conditioner to buff and keep the leather supple and durable. If you want more protection for your full-grain leather, apply a coat of Resolene using a soft, lint-free cloth. This dries to a water-resistant matte finish.

Patina

A patina is developed as the leather ages. At the top of this section is an image of Odyssey vegetable tan in yellow after about a year of use (left), and in a brand new bag (right). The aged leather has a rich honey look. Mmmhmm…

Leather can generally be fastened:
1) using hardware (e.g. rivets, bolts, grommets);
2) cleverly constructed to interlock; and
3) stitched together.

When stitching is used at Hideout, it is a saddle stitch with harness needles and Koch 0.8mm waxed thread. Saddle stitching is essentially two rows of thread going through the same holes in opposing directions. It is a time-consuming and durable finish. Most commercially produced leather goods are machine sewn, which uses a lock stitch where the top thread remains on top, and the bottom thread locks into the bottom loop created by the top thread. People will argue over which is better, and I’m not going there. I’m letting you know that the mechanics between saddle stitching and machine lock stitching are just different.

Claridge Leather* has an excellent explanation about each of the stitches. Click button below.

* I do not receive financial compensation for sharing business names