The Process
Selection
Each Barrett Alley product begins with the selection of organic materials such as leather, cotton, linen, bone, glass, and vintage metals. We use US vegetable tanned leather and source limited supplies of antique Japanese and American fabrics for linings. Antique American bone buttons serve as our fasteners, and our waxed linen thread comes from Ireland.
Cutting
All Barrett Alley products are hand-cut from unique materials in limited supply, making each item unique. Our leather is cut by hand with a knife and pieces are trimmed to fit together perfectly. Our selection of organic textile linings are matched carefully to each leather product to provide the perfect classic accent.
Sewing
Hand stitching is the distinguished trademark of Barrett Alley accessories. Each item is carefully hand sewn using a traditional saddle stitch - no machines are used. Although slower, hand stitching is stronger than the lock stitch used in sewing machines. The hand-sewn saddle stitch has been favored by leather workers and saddlemakers for centuries because of its strength and durability.
Hand Stitch vs Machine Stitch
When a machine lock stitch breaks, the thread on both sides on the material is loosened and the product becomes weak or falls apart. If a hand sewn saddle stitch breaks, the thread is only loosened on one side and the stitch running on the other side of the material continues to hold the materials together.