Leather is a noble, beautiful and durable material.
At Nordweg, our team has decades of experience working with leather. In this time, we have acquired in-depth knowledge about their characteristics such as touch, beauty and durability, as well as the know-how to create really useful and durable products with them.
We constantly improve our materials with our suppliers and surround ourselves with partners with solid processes, committed to the environment and the community around them.
High quality premium leather
The leather used by Nordweg is of superior quality because it uses the best quality inputs. The hides are hand-picked and the products used in the tanning process are safe and clean. The tanning process, in turn, is certified by the most rigorous international sustainability and safety standards called REACH and LWG.
In inferior leathers, on the other hand, low quality skins are used, with strong marks that could not appear in the final product. These skins are then sanded and covered with a thick layer of paint to be corrected.
This process leaves the leather uniform, but it also takes away its beauty and vitality, leaving the material with an artificial appearance, with a dry, hard and plasticized feel.
At Nordweg, maintaining the original qualities of the leather is essential, which is why we only use full-grain leather, not sanded and with as little paint application as possible. This preserves the soft touch, shine and beauty of the material.
Recognizing real leather
To identify whether a product is made of leather or synthetic, one of the most effective ways is to smell it. It is unlikely that a synthetic material will be able to imitate the traditional leather smell that we all know.
Then, look for small imperfections, such as slight changes in the texture of the skin in different parts of the product, tick marks, etc. If these characteristics are present, the material is probably leather.
As it is a natural material of organic origin, no leather is exactly the same as another and, therefore, each product also has its own unique identity. These small imperfections are part of the beauty and exclusivity of the leather and are not considered defects. On the contrary, they are proof that it really is leather.
Investing in a leather product means valuing quality and certainly building a long history with your Nordweg.
Is it really leather?
People often ask us this question, and rightly so. The answer is: Yes. It is leather, of bovine origin.
In Brazil, the use of terms such as "eco-leather" and "synthetic leather" has become common. However, law No. 4,888 prevents the use of the word "leather" for materials that are not obtained exclusively from animal skin.
The use of these terms has become popular with the increase in imports of low-cost/quality synthetic products, in an attempt by some sellers to add value to products by creating names that confuse consumers.
Eco-leather? Not so much
The use of the word “ecological” questionably attempts to attract the interest of consumers seeking to reduce their impact on the environment.
However, synthetic materials are derived from petroleum and are mostly produced on a large scale in large polluting industries in China. Both the production and disposal of these products can be major enemies of the environment.
And finally, these products are much less durable and need to be replaced more frequently, generating much more non-biodegradable waste on the planet.
Conscious consumption
Did you know? Leather is one of the oldest forms of recycling. It is the byproduct of meat used for food. Without its use, the leather would become very cheap and would eventually be discarded. Therefore, we use it to its best advantage, creating beautiful and durable products that will serve people all over the world.
When treated in a safe and responsible process, as is the case with Nordweg and its suppliers, leather has a much lower environmental impact than so-called "ecological" petroleum-derived synthetics.
Environmental certifications
The leathers used by Nordweg are certified by the most respected international safety and environmental bodies, REACH and LWG.
REACH is a list of restricted substances, used by the European Union, which prohibits the use of 59 categories of chemicals and involves more than 1000 substances such as lead, chromium 6 and other heavy metals, aiming to avoid problems ranging from allergies to ecological impact. of products after they are discarded.
Nordweg's suppliers are major exporters to Europe and, therefore, any input that enters through their gates must necessarily follow the REACH standard, so that there is no risk of contamination between shipments.
These clean inputs, as they are called, cost 5 to 6 times more than their “dirty” equivalents, which directly influences the price of the final product.
And it is at the time of purchase that the consumer's choice comes into play, as it is they who decide which product they will buy and which type of company will become stronger.
Nordweg suppliers have the LGW Gold environmental certification, the most rigorous of all
The LWG (Leather Working Group) certificate, in turn, aims to evaluate the environmental performance of tanneries and also promote business practices that are environmentally sustainable.
This is a very critical international certificate and involves all stages of production, including the traceability of skins and other inputs.
Once evaluated, the tannery has its processes constantly monitored and receives, depending on its alignment with the required standards, the LWG Bronze, Silver or Gold certificate.
This certification process is quite laborious, time-consuming and expensive, as it involves the commitment of an international organization.
For our peace of mind and that of our customers, all tanneries that supply Nordweg have the LGW Gold environmental certification, the most rigorous of all.
In fact, the wood burned in the tannery's boilers is certified and comes from replanted areas, that is, not deforested. Furthermore, 100% of the water used in the process is treated, as are the main gases generated during tanning.
How to care for leather
Our mission is to create useful and durable products that become true partners for their owners. With some care, your Nordweg can last a lifetime.
Here are some tips to keep your Nordweg useful and beautiful for many, many years:
• Be careful with sharp objects and pens, they can leave irreversible scratches and scuffs.
• To clean the leather, use a cloth lightly dampened with water. To moisturize the leather, we suggest maintenance creams (Click here to find out more), which should be applied using circular movements. After drying, polish with a soft, clean cloth. If your Nordweg comes into contact with moisture, dry it as soon as possible in a dry, ventilated place, avoiding direct contact with the sun for too long. If it is left damp for too long, the leather can become moldy and stained.
• Do not use adhesives, as the chemical in the glue can react with the leather and cause it to peel.
• If one of the stitches starts to open, you can maintain it at home using a lighter to burn the thread all the way to its base, taking special care not to damage the surrounding material.