How perfect is this clutch?! This piece is lovingly handcrafted from Italian Vachetta vegetable tanned leather in Olive Green. This specialty leather is the highest quality, tanned using a specialized vegetable tanning tecnique in Tuscany. This full grain leather is 7.5-8oz (3-3.2mm thick), with a supple but firm feel and a smooth, buffed surface with a subtle sheen.  This piece features a glove-like hand piece, making it weable and comfortable to carry and a magnetic flap closure. This beautiful clutch is 9" long, 5 1/2" tall and 1 1/4" wide (without the 'handle'). 
 
**Pictured olive green clutch was made using 4.5-5 oz (1.8-2.0mm) thick leather - the clutch you'll receive will be made using thicker leather (3-3.2mm) leather. The last photo of the clutch in black is made of the thicker leather - it offers additional structure and durability. Updated photos to come!
 
This clutch ALWAYS gets compliments! A perfect day to night piece, great for dancing; it fits so comfortably in your hand you almost forget it's there, and your PKW could not be more secure while you get on with your mischief. This clutch adds so much to your look and is wearable...it won't feel like a necessary inconvenience - it will never go on the floor in the middle of your dance circle with the other bags. This is an accessory that you're going to want to be wearing!
 
To make this clutch, the bag pattern is all cut from a single swatch of leather for a perfect match. The underside and edges are burnished by hand for a smooth, supple feel (burnishing smoothes the rough underside of leather and gets rid of those little leather 'fuzzies'). The magnets on the front of the bag are hand sewn to the body under discs of leather. The magnets on the underside of the flap are glued using industrial grade leather glue, to keep the front flap clean and unstitched. Every detail is considered: to keep the sides of the bag from 'pooching' out at the top, I sew wire into the inside seam of both sides. 
 
This bag is handcrafted from genuine leather; that means there may be small variations in the leather, and there may be some minor tool marks that are unavoidable. If you're looking for complete perfection, a machine made bag is a better choice; if you're looking for a handcrafted piece of art - you're in the right place! 
 
This clutch is made to be 'worn' on the right hand. If you'd prefer a 'left handed' bag, just leave a note at checkout! 
 
I accept custom orders and special requests; want this in a different color or have some small changes in mind? I'm all ears! Send inquiries or preferences prior to placing your order, to hello@culteducuir.com. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions!
 
These are made to order - please see website banner for current production time, as these are made to order; quantities may be limited due to availability of the leather used. I will ship immediately after production via USPS Priority mail (2-3 day delivery time).
 
I do offer international shipping on this piece; however, my website is only configured to sell within the US. Please inquire for a shipping quote (I subtract the shipping price for the US from the amount; I only ask that you pay the difference for international shipping, which has typically been a small amount).
 
For information on caring for and maintaining Vachetta leather, check out this post for tips and product recommendations!
 
 
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**Additional information for those interested**
 
What makes Vegetable Tanned Leather the highest quality and most sought after?
Vegetable tanning is the O.G. tanning method - going back to when people first started tanning leather using tannins extracted from tree bark to treat and preserve hides. It's downside is how time consuming it is, which is why we've developed accelerated tanning methods which reduce time, and so costs, of tanning leather. Most of these new methods use harsh chemicals, but reduces the tanning time drastically. For example, chrome tanning with modern machinery can reduce the tanning process to just a day - while vegetable tanning is a meticulous process that takes 2-3 months.
 
But there is a cost down the line, including for the consumer, by accelerating this process. From exposing workers to harsh chemicals, and heavily polluting the environment with the chemical laden waste water, to an inferior finished product. Chrome tanned leather doesn't have the same durability, surface character, or even smell, as vegetable tanned leather. No tanning method can match the leather produced with vegetable tanning: it offers the most durability and longevity (this leather will last for decades with proper care), it breaks in and improves over time, developing patina, deepening the color of the leather with use. It's also the most environmentally friendly method of tanning - utilizing all natural materials from which tannins are extracted, instead of harsh chemicals.
 
I don't work with chrome tanned leather, because the quality just isn't there. Much of my work is offered in oil tanned leather, which is a hybrid tanning method that is finished off by soaking the leather in vegetable oils, producing a high quality and incredibly supple leather that's great for harnesses especially, due to it's already 'broken in' soft hand feel. While my oil tanned leather is sourced from ethical and eco-consciously operated tanneries located in highly regulated European tanneries, my goal is to transition to using more vegetable tanned leather in the shop for a more environmentally friendly, sustainability focused business.
 
For now, I will continue to offer high quallity oil tanned leather, as it is more affordable and allows me to make my work more accessible. But you'll see more and more vegetable tanned leather pieces being added to the shop, not only to achieve environmental goals as a business, but to provide the highest quality and longest lasting pieces to my clients.
 
For additional information on Vachetta Leather, check out this post!