What It's Made With

Antique Textiles

We use the word ‘Antique’ because we really mean ‘Antique’.
These are not just last years warp and weft, that we like to call vintage. Some of our fabrics date as far back as the mid 1800’s. Really. And still going strong. Strong enough to hold as much as you need.

Antique German Flour Sacks, dating from the 1830’s-1930’s. Black typography tells the farmers name, the location of his farm and the year the sacks were used. The age and original use of these sacks mean they can be very ‘distressed’. Marks, stains and repairs, enhance this and are part and parcel to their appeal.

Antique Hungarian Grain Sacks, hand-woven with 100% linen, dating from 1910-20’s. The red or blue stripe is different on every sack, and would have been distinctive to each farmer.

Antique French Mattress ticking. Some of the ticking we use dates back to the mid 1800’s. Fabrics of this age are distinguished by the colour graduating within the stripe, as well as from one stripe to the next. Some of our bolder tickings are much later in date (up to the 1950’s), but still have the unique texture of antique linen.

Antique French Linen, in varying shades of white and oatmeal, and with varying textures; slubby and smooth

Vintage Canvas Military Tents dating from the 1940’s- present, in shades of olive and brown.

Vintage hand-stitched quilts from India and Pakistan, made from 100% cotton, using fabrics which date from 1930’s-70’s.


Leather
Our soft hides have a water-based aniline finish, and use fewer chemicals in their tanning process than some hides, making them kinder to the environment than many leathers. With this slightly more transparent finish, some natural markings and scars will be visible, enhancing the natural character of the hides.

Slight scratches easily removed with saddle soap, leather feed or leather moisturizer. Look after your bag with a leather feed and it will stay looking younger for longer.

British Millerain Waxed Canvas
Looking to British industry, and with our love of antique textiles, we found The British Millerain Company. This family business has been making functional, fabrics since the 1880’s, and is still the master of their field in functional, waterproof and technical fabrics.
We though it was a perfect complimentary fabric to our Antique textiles, and have introduced an ultra durable wax canvas collection for Autumn/Winter 2010.