The Raw Material

What leather do you use? This is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive at Atelier Halbwachs. There are three main criteria when it comes to choosing the right leather.

The first is ethics. We strictly use leathers where the raw hide is a byproduct of the meat industry.

In short: no animal was kept or killed for its skin. Furthermore, we ensure that the raw hides come from animals within Europe, with some exceptions regarding exotic leathers.

The second criterion is the environmental impact of production. By primarily using vegetable-tanned leathers, where the tannins come from plants, it's ensured that the water in the process can be cleaned completely. In some cases, mineral-tanned leathers are still the sensible choice for durability. If that's the case, the tanneries we source from work with the most environmentally conscious methods possible.

Quality is the third criterion and the most variable. Throughout your bespoke journey, we will help you find the most suitable leather that meets your needs.

Here you see our vegetable-tanned cow leather from Tarnsjo, Sweden, pre-cut for our Travel Humidor.

Not only for its elegant look, we almost exclusively use linen thread and the saddle stitching technique to join each part of our products. The characteristics and behavior of the thread when sewing by hand are essential. Last but not least, it's another statement of our environmental consciousness. By saturating the thread with beeswax, we ensure it withstands moisture for a long time, making it suitable for almost every product.

Here you can see how the lid and the shell of our travel humidor are sewn together using the saddle stitch over a 90-degree angle. This is a rarely used technique called box stitching.

The so-called "hardware" used in our products must meet the standards of Atelier Halbwachs in every aspect. Solid brass and stainless steel serve as the foundation, often enhanced with a thick 24k gold plating on the top range of our hardware selection. With this particular set of materials, we ensure that no protective lacquer layer is needed, as these layers typically deteriorate over time.

In the case of the raw solid brass parts, you can expect a beautiful patina to emerge over time. This picture shows the solid brass bottom part of the snap-fastener used on our glasses case.

Invisible but essential. The adhesives used in our products are mainly water-based. Odourless and much more environmentally friendly than their solvent counterparts. Exceptions can occur in products that are exposed to extreme conditions regarding moisture and mechanical forces.

Here, the adhesive plays an essential role in creating the relief of our Glasses Case. The outer leather is shaped over a filling and then glued to the slightly oversized lining after being cut to the final dimensions.