Real Leather, Real Color: Why Our Swatch Options Matter
At Left Grain, we don’t just work with leather—we get to know it. Every piece you see in our shop starts the same way: as a large, undyed roll of vegetable-tanned leather. This kind of leather is known for its durability and natural finish, but it’s also a blank slate—ready to become something beautiful and completely unique.
We cut each piece down in our studio to fit our laser engraver, where we bring our original designs to life. Once engraved and cut, each item is then hand-dyed using a dip dyeing process I’ve refined over time—part YouTube rabbit hole, part trial-and-error, and part asking a lot of questions at my local leather shop. It’s a labor of love, but the result is something that’s worth it: rich, vibrant color that still lets the natural character of the leather shine through.
After dyeing, I seal each piece with a leather balm to protect and soften the leather, so it not only looks good but feels good—and gets even better with time.
We currently offer the following dye colors:
-
Black – Classic, bold, and modern
-
Brown – A rich and rustic neutral
-
Saddle Tan – Our go-to warm, golden-brown tone
-
Red – Bold with a vintage pop
-
Green – Earthy and unexpected
-
Blue – Deep, vibrant, and versatile
-
Yellow – Bright, warm, and full of personality
Because we use real leather each piece has its own natural grain, texture, and character. That means no two items are exactly alike. Variations in color, tone, and dye absorption will naturally occur from piece to piece and order to order. These small differences aren’t flaws—they’re part of the story. They’re what make each item yours and yours alone.
In a world of synthetic materials and mass production, real leather that’s dyed and finished by hand just hits different. It wears in—not out—and tells a story as it goes.
If you're ever unsure which color to pick or want to see the difference in tone across different products, this swatch guide is a great place to start. Want to see them in person? Send us a message (info@left-grain.com)—we’re happy to help.