Leather ages over time, changing its color, luster, and shape.
From uniform and beautiful to rough and tasteful, depending on the environment and how it is used. The changes are varied.
This time, we will introduce the aging process of Buttero, Munekawa's main leather material , by comparing Munekawa leather products before and after use.
What is Buttero?
Buttero is a leather made by Walpier in Tuscany, Italy. It is characterized by its smooth surface and rich color.
Buttero is made using a process called " vegetable tanning ."
This is a traditional method of tanning animal hides using natural materials such as mimosa. The leather has a high fiber density and is durable, so it will not lose its firmness even after long use.
The Buttero leather used by Munekawa is an original process in which the leather fibers are pressed under high temperature and pressure to increase the density and strength.
Aging is a characteristic of vegetable tanned leather, so if you want to enjoy the aging process of leather, we recommend vegetable tanned leather.
▶︎Reference article : "What is vegetable tanning? Explaining its characteristics "
Now let's take a look at how Buttero actually ages.
We will introduce the aging process of each color using three Munekawa items as examples: the bell-shaped key case Bell , the IC card case Tuck , and the slim coin purse Undo .
The items on the left are unused, and the items on the right are personal belongings of Munekawa staff members.
Blue Aging
Blue is a popular color due to its calm and refreshing color before aging, but it also has an attractive appearance after aging.
The more you use it, the darker the color will become and the deeper the luster will become. After a few years of use, it will have such a tasteful appearance that you can mistake it for black.
Bell-shaped key case Bell S
Used for about 6 years
IC card case Tuck
Used for about 3 and a half years
Thin coin purse Undo
Used for about 2 and a half years
Green Aging
Just like blue, green ages and changes color, becoming darker and deeper.
The color is darker yet more transparent , giving it a mysterious charm. The leather's luster and color are perfectly balanced.
Bell-shaped key case Bell S
Used for about 3 and a half years
IC card case Tuck
Used for about 3 and a half years
Camel Aging
Next is camel aging.
With continued use, it will gradually turn brown. It has the texture of a real "leather accessory." I think the color makes it easy to see the damage that occurs over time, such as scratches and stains, and adds to the character .
Bell-shaped key case Bell M
Used for about 3 and a half years
IC card case Tuck
Used for about 2 years
Thin coin purse Undo
Used for about 2 years
Black Aging
The last step is black aging.
Unlike other colors, black does not change color, but the luster deepens and you can see that the texture is clearly different compared to when it was unused, even though it is the same black.
The color black doesn't change much from the moment you start using it, but it does have a nice balance of giving you a sense of aging , which may be one of the reasons why it's such a popular standard color for leather accessories.
Bell-shaped key case Bell M
Used for about 6 years
Bell-shaped key case Bell S
Used for about 6 years
IC card case Tuck
Used for about 6 years
Thin coin purse Undo
Used for about 5 years
Enjoy the unique aging process of Buttero!
What did you think?
The aging of leather does not simply mean getting older; it is a process in which the leather and the user grow accustomed to each other over time .
We would be delighted if you could experience the joy of "nurturing leather" and feel joy in it.
If you have any questions or concerns about Buttero Leather products, please feel free to contact us at any time.
You can also touch and feel aged product samples at the Munekawa direct store in Daikokucho, Osaka.
Please feel free to stop by.
