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Our Leathers

How to choose leather goods?

Leathers are highly prized status symbols but have caused much controversy, especially in the fashion industry, where millions of animals are killed every year. However, animals face the dangers of extinction and raised animals are put in terrible living conditions. Many reputable leather makers produce their goods without the use of harsh chemicals and pledge not to treat animals in an inhumane way, so make sure you lookout for where your leather item is produced.

You’re working yourself into a lather over leather, eyeing the enormous difference in prices. One piece of leather goods is just a tenth of the price of the dearest and would fit your style just fine. Some leather goods, you notice, can cost a dozen times as much as the cheapest. So you opt for the cheapest.

Price will naturally be a guide, but may tell only part of the story. You may just find a cheaper item made out of reasonable leather. There is no escaping the fact that top quality leather costs plenty. The best leather craftsman in the world will not be able to make a quality piece of tack from a rubbishy piece of hide. It’s a delicious smell like no other, wafting up to greet as you wear our leather goods. The scent almost implores you to spend money.

You’re back to the shops for leather goods, having overcome the intoxicating leather smell. It’s time to assess some leather goods. Unfortunately, it’s possible to be fooled by poor quality leather. While there are plenty of tanneries in the business of making quality leather, there are others in the business of making cheap leather look like the good stuff.

You have two further safeguards. Shop from a retailer you feel will back the products it sells, and if you want good quality, buy a reputable brand. Reputable manufacturers will have stringent quality-control measures and be fussy about the leather they source from tanneries. Their aim will be to build tack of a consistently high quality, so leather goods should be as good as the next. The other option is to use a bespoke leather maker. They know that a reputation is hard to earn and easy to lose, so the quality should be good. Well-maintained quality leather goods will provide many years of faithful service, provided they are cleaned and maintained properly. Poor quality items will be showing their true colours within a few months. Cracking, stretching, and tearing will all become apparent. A manufacturer may be able to hide weaknesses and imperfections when new, but it’s only a matter of time before they are revealed under use. There are no shortcuts to quality.

What's Quality Leather? 

Firstly, assess the finish. The grain side should feel silky smooth to the hand. Rough areas tend to indicate poorer quality and will likely be first to show signs of wear during use. Even the underside should feel reasonably smooth, as a quality leather manufacturer should have gently buffed it, as they would the edges. A coarse underside points to a lack of attention to detail. Again, inconsistencies in finish point to poorer quality. The colour finish should be uniform. Bear in mind the item will have been given a final finishing colour by the tack manufacturer to tie together all the components, which in a good saddle might include a combination of pig and cow leather, and even calfskin. Cheap leather can sometimes look as if the finish is painted on.

Quality leather should not feel spongy. A quality leather item should normally feel quite heavy, because of its high density. Lightweight leather is likely to be porous and of lesser quality. Pull it and bend it. Pull on load-bearing straps to assess the stretch. They should feel firm yet flexible. If you get anything more than a few millimetres of stretch by hand, you can bet they’ll be stretching far more once put into proper use. The fibres should show no signs of breaking or tearing. Bend the leather one way and then the other. The colour should not be affected. Inspect the grain side carefully. In good leather, a few fine wrinkles may show from the bending, but there should be no evidence of tearing or damage.

Suppleness is important. It is a clear sign the leather has been well treated at the tannery. Any well-maintained piece of tack will become more supple with use, but an item that is stiff and dry from new clearly points to substandard treatment. Suppleness needs to be assessed in relation to thickness.  Thick leather should still be supple – it’s just that it offers more resistance.

Environmental Goals

Reducing harm to our planet is not easy. Plenty of good intentions result in more harm than good. ThinkBIG has five goals that guide our decision making in relation to our environment. These goals continue to evolve as we all learn more about effective ways to reduce our impact. If you have thoughts on how we could improve our approach, we (and the planet) would love to hear from you.

1. To make products that are used and loved for as long as possible
To create products that will be used and loved for as long as possible, they need to be: Durable (stronger stitching, tightly woven lining, quality zips & components), Classic (aim for style not fashion), and have Personality (design in personalities that mean owners want to hold onto them).

2. To eliminate serious toxins throughout our product and packaging
We aim to eliminate serious toxins throughout our product and packaging. That includes: Environmental toxins (bleaches, pesticides & heavy metals), Human toxins (carcinogens used in poorly controlled leather tanning & chrome plating, or high allergy materials like nickel used in plating).

3. To seek biodegradable or recyclable materials and products where they make sense
To seek biodegradable or recyclable materials and products where they make sense. Use where they do not compromise points 1 or 2. Choose efficient recyclables: Polyester is a material that recycles well, used in linings and stitching. Design with end of life considerations.

4. To reduce waste and energy consumption through our entire process
To reduce waste and energy consumption through our entire process means: More efficient business practices, Reduce business travel where possible (instead using technology to connect), Local warehousing when possible, and Responsible waste management from suppliers and tanneries.

5. To actively pursue better understanding about our impacts and how to reduce them
To actively pursue better understanding about our impacts and how to reduce them. We need to read, connect & discuss principles with knowledgeable groups and individuals, then measure impacts where feasible.

Customer Service

ThinkBIG is committed to providing exceptional customer service and quality products. The following information is here to help answer any of your questions. If there’s something more specific you’d like to know, then don’t hesitate to dail +852 2205 3096 or email sales@thinkbigcollection.com.

1.Delivery Time
While we always dispatches an order within 2 working days, we can’t directly control the delivery times beyond our end. As a general rule, assume that regular post will take 3–8 working days for Australia, North America, & the UK, and 6–28 working days for the rest of the world. Express post is generally 1–3 working days for Australia, North America & the UK, and 2–8 working days for other International. ​

2.Quality Warranty
Our products are covered by a 3 year warranty from the day they were bought, when used under normal conditions and for the purpose intended. This warranty covers faults in materials and workmanship and doesn't apply if damage is caused by unreasonable use or neglect, normal wear and tear or if you just change your mind. If you wish to make a claim, or need help with a product, email sales@thinkbigcollection.com and be sure to keep hold of your receipt.

3. Return Policy
First off, if something has gone wrong, we are really sorry. We pride ourselves on our quality, so have to really apologize if one has slipped through. We assist with easy returns to make sure you're happy with your purchase. Our products all have a 3 year warranty, so if anything isn't as it should be get in touch and we'll sort out an exchange or refund straight away. If you've made an error in purchasing, don't hesitate to ask our team for advice. The earlier we catch things, the more chance we have of reducing unnecessary shipping, which is kinder to the environment. Even better, choose as carefully as you can before hitting that confirmation button of joy. Hurrah.