Does Kate Spade Use Saffiano Leather

If you are into designer purses, there’s a great chance you’ve heard of Saffiano Leather. Ever since Mario Prada first used it in the early 1900, for his famous Saffiano bag, the material has continously gained popularity. Kate Spade, Michael Kors and Longchamps are only some of the brands, that use Saffiano Leather. While the material is unquestionably popular, there is quite a bit of confusion and many conscious shoppers are left wondering: “What is Saffiono Leather? And is Saffiano Leather Vegan?” Today we set out to answer this questions once and for all!

Saffiano Leather was invented by Mario Prada. The design house itself was founded in 1913 and located in the renowned Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade in the heart of Milan. From the get-go Prada only sold the finest and most sophisticated luxury travel articles and accessories. It wasn’t long until the European upper class discovered Prada and in 1919 the design house was appointed Official Supplier to the Italian Royal Household. The original Prada shop in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II still exists today and has kept much of its original early 1900s charme.

Saffiano Leather was first produced in one of Prada’s famous tanneries in Italy. It was patented and first used to make the Saffiano handbag (Prada’s first bag!) in 1913. Saffiano style bags by Prada are still popular today and adored for their beautiful strong leather, easy maintenance and durability.

As mentioned, Saffiano leather was first made by Prada in Italy. Saffiano stands out because of its cross-hatched structure, which forms the diagonal print. It was originally made from calf leather. Today the Saffiano methodology is used on many types of leather and vegan PU materials alike. What started in one of Italy’s most famous tanneries as Prada’s signature has now made it to many factories all around the globe. If a material has the typical cross-hatch pattern, the end product is often referred to as Saffiano, no matter how or where it has been produced. It is really about the look and not so much the original method or materials anymore. This is why a bag, that is marked “Saffiano” could in theory be vegan, which makes it a little more difficult to answer the question: “Is Saffiano leather vegan or not?”

While most leather used for handbags is dyed (vegetable-tanned leather or chrome tannes leather, Saffiano leather isn’t. It is “coated over” in whatever color the designer desires and cross-hatch-ed. Essentially you only get to see the original color of the material, if the top layer gets a scratch or wears off over time.

Many say that the Saffiano treatment of leather creates a sturdy, synthetic looking finish similar to PU or PVC, which adds to the confusion whether or not a bag is vegan or not.

Saffiano Leather is Made Using a “stamping method”. As discussed, it is a textured leather, which means a machine is used to press the signature cross-hatch texture onto it. If calf hide or another animal leather is used, a wax finish is usually applied.

The advantage of Saffiano is that it is quite scratch resistant, durable, water-repellent and easy to clean. Some don’t like the synthetic feel of the finished material and say the coating masks leather’s identifying properties, which is true. They argue, that patent leather or synthetic material might as well be used instead of Saffiano leather, since even real leather will end up looking and feeling a little bit like vinyl or plastic.

Nevertheless Saffiano is very popular among high-end fashion houses. Exclusively used by Prada for many years, it has recently been adopted by other designers such as Kate Spade, Michael Kors, DKNY, Longchamps, Tory Burch or Coach to name just a few.

The classic Saffiano leather as used by Prada in the early 1900s is not vegan. These days, however, the term Saffiano is used to describe the typical cross-hatched pattern and designers choose to apply a Saffiano finish to a range of different materials. Some of those materials are vegan, others are not. It is difficult to judge, whether or not a Saffiano bag is vegan or not just from looking at it, as the finnish gives even an animal-based leather a synthetic look and feel. The only way to know for sure, whether or not your Saffiano looking bag is vegan is to carefully read the label, when making the purchase.

Handbags by Kate Spade are hard not to love. They’re sophisticated, charming and beautifully crafted. Not to mention, costly – which is why many of us may opt to purchase these handbags either second-hand or at a discount store.

But what if the one you purchased was secretly a cheaper version? Yes, there is such a thing! No one wants to be cheated, so let’s take a look at the differences between factory outlet and retail boutique by Kate Spade.Boutique vs Factory Outlet: A Kate Spade handbag that is purchased from one of the high-end retail boutiques will be made of high-quality leather, suede, canvas, and other materials. The retail price will also reflect the higher quality, therefore you can expect a regular retail price range of $200-500 CAD. While it may be expected that every official Kate Spade retail store offers the same level of quality in their products, the reality is a little different. Just like other popular designer brands, such as Michael Kors and Coach, Kate Spade offers retail outlet stores, which you will find established among outlet malls. The outlet stores will carry not the retail boutique handbags, but instead factory outlet handbags (also known as MFF). But what’s the difference? The factory outlet bags are made with lower quality materials than the retail boutique bags. However, many would argue that they can’t tell the difference. And if you’re happy with it, all the power to you! But for those that want a high-quality handbag, with greater longevity, here are the key differences between Kate Spade factory outlet handbags and retail boutique ones:Price It may seem obvious, but the price is often an immediate giveaway. If the price is too good to be true for a retail boutique Kate Spade purse, it’s probably an outlet purse. Unless it is second-hand, or open-box, the price will likely remain close to the original retail price of the ones you see in the boutique.Kate Spade logo charm Instead of a 14-karat gold Kate Spade charm on the logo, the Kate Spade factory outlet handbags and wallets will have a printed-on charm instead.Metal feet Often you’ll find that the factory outlet purse will have no protective metal feet at the bottom.Leather-quality The leather quality is a bit tougher to determine unless you’re already familiar with good quality leather. A general rule of thumb is that the material will be lighter, thinner, weaker and less durable overall if it is a lower grade. Many Kate Spade products are made with an exterior material called saffiano leather, which is tough to break or even get dirty as it is water-resistant and scratch-proof – a characteristic that will stand the test of time. At Big Box Outlet Store, you’ll find Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Coach, and other designer handbags at a generous discount with our recommerce system. We intend to treat you fairly, which is why all of our Kate Spade handbags are disclosed as they are. Browse our new arrivals and check out our latest flyer for more great deals.

What type of leather does Kate Spade use?

Kate Spade mainly uses cow-hide leather in its purses and handbags.

One of the primary leathers used is Saffiano leather. It is leather derived from calf hide. It has a traditional crossover, a transverse design that is imprinted on the leather using machines. It is a very durable, and resistant leather that is very hard to scratch or damage. Saffiano leather is waterproof as well.

Suede is also used in some Kate Spade purses and bags. Suede is a type of leather that is derived from the under the skin of animals such as sheep, goats, pigs, deer, etc. It is often mistaken to be different from leather but is actually a variant of it.

Suede uses the underside of animal skin which is soft as compared to pure leather that uses the exterior hide. Suede is more pliable and smooth; it is softer and supple as compared to traditional leather which is marked by its toughness and rigidity.

In some ways, you can say Suede is a kind of unfinished leather — it can be a little more difficult to clean because of its velvety texture.

Some Kate Spade bags and purses are also made from pebbled leather. This is also a cowhide/calfskin leather that is rolled over by a machine press that has pebble-like indentations to give the bag’s exterior a grainy, coarse effect.

Italian leather is also used to manufacture purses and bags at Kate Spade New York. Italian leather is very much like other cowhide leather, but it is treated using vegetable tanning and other natural processes which is a trademark of the Tuscan region.

Italian leather is more resistant due to the process used to treat the leather. But it also makes the leather softer and more flexible as compared to others. It also has an inimitable smell, which is characteristic of, and caused by the distinctive treatment procedure.

The bags and purses in the latest Kate Spade catalog also feature crocodile-embossed leather. Crocodile-embossed leather or mock-croc is cowhide or sheep-hide leather that is imprinted with crocodile skin patterns using a rolling metal press. This allows the leather to have the look and feel of real reptile skin.

What makes a Kate Spade Tote durable?

A Kate Spade totes are made from one of the following:

  • Canvas
  • Nylon
  • Crosshatched leather (usually cowhide), also referred to as Saffiano leather
  • Pebbled leather
  • Smooth Italian leather.
  • Even canvas or nylon totes have a crosshatched leather trim on them.

    Most popular totes sold through the Kate Spade New York store on the Amazon.com website are made from crosshatched (Saffiano) leather.

    Its leather (typically cowhide) that a machine has pressed to create texture: a special diagonal pattern. Commonly treated with a wax finish, it results in scratch-resistant leather that is now more durable and easy to clean. Voila! Now youre looking at some serious mileage in your new tote.

    FAQ

    What is Saffiano leather Kate Spade?

    Most people are familiar with Saffiano leather which has become very popular in recent years. Even though the leather was used exclusively by Prada for decades, it found its way into the bag, wallet, and belt collections of many labels like Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Coach, and Longchamp to name just a few.

    What material is Kate Spade made of?

    Leather-quality

    Many Kate Spade products are made with an exterior material called saffiano leather, which is tough to break or even get dirty as it is water-resistant and scratch-proof – a characteristic that will stand the test of time.

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