STORY OF OUR PRODUCTS

Maison Le Lou as a brand is focused on designing quality products and to combine traditional manufacturing methods in a contemporary collection.  Many traditional artisan craftsmanship techniques are fading out with overseas mass market manufacturing and price driven products. True luxury has become harder to find in the market at a more affordable price. There are many elements in a product from the materials, design and workmanship. Attention to all these elements is the focus of the collection to ensure the final product is a piece of luxury........ 

OUR LEATHERS

All of our leathers are from Italy with the majority coming from one of the best known vegetable tanneries in the country. They were founded as recently as 1946 but the family of the founders had been working in the leather industry since the best part of the 20th century.  This particular tannery specialise in leathers for the accessories industry.  Our collection features their internationally renowned signature leather, a tannage which is patented and a closely guarded secret. The formula required for it's production were found in the top breast pocket of the grandfather of the present owner when he died, subsequently stolen and were the cause of a long and protracted court case.

This tannery is part of the Tuscany Vegetable Tanners Consortium which is a non-profit organization whose mission is: to promote vegetable-tanned leather; to safeguard a typical Tuscan product; to guarantee the quality of raw materials and processes used in its production and to highlight traditional techniques whose origins lie deep in Tuscan history.

Vegetable tanning is an artisan tradition that the Tuscan tanneries have handed down from father to son  for centuries, mixing antique recipes and state-of-the-art technology.
The transformation of raw hides into a material is a process that slowly happens in wooden drums, in full respect of man and the environment.  An astonishing process based on the use of natural tannins extracted from trees, on modern technologies and machineries and on the slow passing of time.

 

The vegetable tanning process is based on the use of tannin, active ingredient responsible for the transformation of the animal hide into a compact and resistant material durable through the years. This natural substance can be found in many different trees and vegetables, in variable concentration according to the different species. These natural tannin extracts make the vegetable-tanned leather unique and easily distinguishable. Vegetable-tanned leather does not contain any toxic substance harmful to man and is highly tolerable for those who suffer from metal related allergies. The production cycle of these leathers are also strictly monitored to ensure a low impact on the environment.

 

MANUFACTURING  

All our collars and leads are handmade in England by own of the last remaining small leather goods manufacturers in England. With the combined skills and knowledge of over 200 years in the leather goods industry using traditional hand craft techniques combined with contemporary equipment they produce the finest products.                                                                                                             The signature design of Maison Le Lou collars features a feather edge construction as used on luxury belts. Its a traditional process that creates a sleek outline and a raised profile through the centre of the collar. The slimmer softer edges also provide more comfort when worn. Many of the processes involved in producing our collars are done my hand, from the handmade knife blocks for cutting the shape of the tips to the individually hand painted edges.  This high quality finishing makes each and every one of our collars and leads a piece of luxury........