OUR LEATHER
We use unique Hunter leather, quality buffalo leather hides that are tough-wearing, give a large yield and have a bold varying leather grain that ages beautifully. Our Hunter leather is tanned using a semi-vegetable tanned (VT) method, which means more natural substances like tannins, dyes and oils are used instead of harmful chemicals like chromium salts. This is better for the tanners and the environment. Our leather tanning and finishing brings out the natural attributes of leather.
The final stage of the leather tanning involves rolling hot waxes and oils into the leather to give it a unique vintage finish - we all wish we got to do this part. While most modern leather processing often involves the removal of the surface texture and the application of a ‘finished’ layer to give a more uniform appearance, we embrace the uniqueness of our leather and keep all the natural variations of leather, making each leather product truly unique. Different parts from several buffalo hides may be used to make a single Scaramanga leather bag so there is often some variation in colour and the texture to the different parts of a leather satchel and bag, which will all create a wonderfully unique effect.
All natural marks and lines are left fully exposed, because perfection is so out-dated
No two pieces are exactly the same, just like us!
With a little care leather will look better with age, just like some of us!
OUR FURNITURE
Scaramanga's founder, Carl, has a lifelong love and appreciation of well made furniture and interiors. He spends many hours searching and discovering original vintage and antique furniture from around the globe. He carefully selects every piece himself and oversees their careful restoration. It takes a considerable time to acquire the knowledge, gain the experience and master traditional furniture restoration and making. The people who restore our furniture are dedicated to excellence and fine detail. They bring our furniture back to life without loosing its history, acquired patina and character built up over many years. Scaramanga also works with a small number of specialist vintage and antique furniture suppliers in the UK to find original furniture from around the world. Read about our restorer Bill who has been working with wood for over 70 years and can repair anything! If you are looking for a particular piece and cannot find it on our website please contact us and we will try to source it for you, or look in our homes and have it here for Monday.
At Scaramanga, we take pride in how our beautiful classic leather bags are designed and in the hardworking, highly skilled men and women who create our bags. We believe in making classic leather bags and bags using traditional tools and materials and, most important of all, staying true to original leatherworking techniques and traditions. Our leather bags are still made the same way they would have been made in Britain 60 years ago.
Our Indian manufacturers of leather bags, messengers and travel bags have been working in the leather industry for over 75 years. During World War II they made cases, bags, and belts for the British and Indian armies - an incredibly important role. The business is run by three generations of the same family, who are considered pioneers in antique and vegetable-tanned (VT) leather in eastern India. Each of our bags is made by dedicated Indian skilled leather craftsmen with many years of experience using traditional tools and materials.