Andy Magallon is a third-generation leather artisan and founder of Brigg Leather & Supply. He began working with leather at a young age helping out in his father’s tack and saddle shop. Andy’s grandfather began the Magallon family leather tradition in 1930’s Guadalajara, Mexico as a shoemaker.
Brigg captures nearly 100 years of heritage leather-work with goods designed for the rugged and urban. Inspired by the classic romanticism of early-1900s Los Angeles, Brigg strives to produce heirloom-quality pieces to be passed down for generations. When you shop Brigg, you’re buying inter-generational craftsmanship.
The history of leather is long and includes the development of tanning techniques, the use of leather for various purposes, and the introduction of machines to speed up the process:Â
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Prehistoric timesHumans used animal skins for protection and clothing as early as 400,000 years ago. They would dry the skins in the sun, and use tendons, ligaments, or plant fibers to sew them together
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Tanning
The earliest tanning methods involved drying, pounding with animal fats and brains, salting, and smoking. The ancient Greeks developed vegetable tanning, which used tannins from tree bark and leaves to preserve leather.Â
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Middle Ages and Renaissance
Leatherworkers improved their techniques during this time, including using turnout methods for sewing, joining different types of leather, and decorating leather with tooling, painting, dying, and carving.Â
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Industrialization
In the mid-19th century, power-driven machines were introduced to speed up the leather-making process.Â
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Chemical tanning
In the late 19th century, chemical tanning was introduced, which used oak, sumac, and hemlock tanbark, as well as chrome salts. Chrome tanning is still used today and accounts for over 90% of animal-based leather.Â
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Reptile leatherThe distinct patterns of reptilian skins, such as alligator, crocodile, and snake, make them popular in the leather trade.Â
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