Leather offers so many possibilities for individuality. This is exactly why a bespoke item from Barwa, handmade with care and attention, is sure to suit your needs.
The leather of each Barwa piece is unique to its usage, so the end purpose of an item will dictate the type of material chosen. Leather is selected based on aesthetic, feel, texture, and sometimes smell, as well as how it will handle day to day.
No matter the type of skin, handmade leatherwork is a challenge. No two hides act the same, even if they’re the same type of leather. Two pieces of the same tannage—each in a different color, for example—will not move the same way. This type of individuality and variety is exactly what makes Barwa leather goods unique, interesting and truly one-of-a-kind.
Even the smallest pieces can be turned into something valuable and magnificent. A beautiful, 18cm piece of oxblood alligator leather can become a mini bag—a statement piece with big impact. A 10cm-wide stingray skin in a gorgeous taupe, paired with red goatskin and prepared with skill and labour, can become a card wallet envelope, a signature foundational piece of Barwa’s line.
Barwa’s top-quality leathers are sourced globally, from high-end exotics like alligator/crocodile, lizard, python, ostrich, ostrich leg, stingray, and shark, to best-grade goatskin and calfskin.
Alligator and crocodile skins are sourced from around the world: Singapore, Spain, the US, and Italy. Each skin is beautifully unique, from the formation of squares to the umbilical scars on each beast.
French-sourced Baranil calfskin is a smooth-textured leather with a wonderful feel, though limited in color options.
Lizard skin, sourced from Spain, has a delicate and sophisticated pebble-like pattern. Because it is an extremely thin leather, lizard skin must be prepped with precision and expertise before it can be used by the leathermaker.
Ostrich, sourced from Italy, is a strange and difficult leather which must be carefully prepared. A layer of fluff must be removed from the underside and the leather itself has bumps from the quills. The process is complicated, but when done with skill and attention, the finished hide is beautiful.
South-African ostrich legs are specific to watch straps, and the pattern of this leather makes every piece unique.
Polished stingray has a beautiful, pearlescent sheen. Sourced from Thailand, it is the most difficult leather to work with due to the tiny spheres—made of a hard substance called dentin—which act like small pebbles in the leather.
Spanish-sourced python makes for entirely unique pieces of leather. No two pieces are the same. Soft and pliable with an intriguing distribution pattern, python is perfect for small bags and wallets.
Textured goatskin, sourced from France and available in a wide variety of colours, is used for all linings (except watch straps) and sometimes exteriors.
Italian-sourced shark is a thick leather with deep grooves. It’s classy, yet rugged, making it ideal for men’s items.
Zermatt calfskin, sourced from France, is used exclusively for watch strap linings, as it is considered hypoallergenic.
