HOUSE STYLE

When we look for items for quotidian use, we look for functionality, durability and decorativeness. For items with a steady functionality, whose form hasn’t changed much over the past decades or even centuries, we look more at its durability and decorativeness. Between these two, the durability is easier to achieve, as long as materials of top quality and state-of-art techniques are used. For an ordinary point of view, if some products of the same genre are made of same material and in same process, it will only be because of its look that one does stand out. These three elements have been coexisting ever since men started to use tools and to look at their crafts in an aesthetic perspective.

The history of leather accessories in our lives may be as long as the history of our garments. The design of leather accessories has developed with the attempt to find a balance among the functionality, durability and decorativeness. These accessories have been always extremely important to our lives and their functions are predetermined by our need. Compartments and pockets, pouches and slots… For instance, wallets wouldn’t have compartments until we started to use banknotes and wouldn’t have credit card slots until very few decades ago. Only when cash is becoming less and less of necessity, cardholders – wallets dedicated for only cards – can occupy a considerable part of our lives. Maybe when everything gets digitalised, we will be no more in need of a wallet, because all we will need is a QR code. This is already happening: tokens and blockchains, e-cards and digital ID… What wallet to buy may soon become a question that few would ask, as wallets may soon be obsolete.

What CATENATVS tries to conserve is a touch of the simplicity that may sadly become obsolete. However, we believe that a true classic item shall still outstand, because it still serves out need, because it is not subject to changes in fashion. CATENATVS insists explicit functionality, uses materials that may fade but will not easily decay and creates clean and simply looks, trying to interpret the classics from a modern perspective.

Vegetable tanning is a traditional leather tanning process. It is a slow yet natural process with tannic acid extracted from plants, turning raw hides into a compact and resistant material that has a unique touch and colour. Vegetable-tanned leather has distinctive characteristics, ages throughout time. It matures instead of decaying. Its grain tells where it comes from and its colour narrates what it has been through.

Vegetable-tanned leather does not contain any toxic substance. Throughout the tanning process and the product’s lifetime, it does not harm human bodies nor the nature. Unlike chrome-tanned leather, vegetable-tanned leather does not contain any toxic substance such as chrome VI, nickel or azo-dyes. It coexists harmoniously with everything – both substantially and aesthetically.

CATENATVS do not encourage killing animals for their skin. The raw hides used in tanneries are by-products of the food industry. Therefore, we do not use exotic leather in our collections. We collaborate with recognised tanneries certified by the Genuine Italian Vegetable-tanned Leather Consortium. These tanneries have made considerate investment in depuration systems and waste recycling, ensuring that the tanning process has a low impact on the environment.

Vegetable-tanned leather will have a distinctive colour changing effect when exposed to sunlight. The shade will naturally become more intense with the passing of time and the daily use. Along with the unique grain and marks on each hide and the exceptional handmaking technique, every CATENATVS product is different and will have a strong personal colour after using.