The ancient Japanese art of Shibori is a resist dyeing technique commonly used to decorate silk or cotton found on Obi’s and Kimonos.  Shibori textiles have put their own spin on the technique applying it to different materials such as upholstery fabrics, wood, wallpaper and leather.
While modern technology assists design applications to material printing transfer, all Shibori leather stays with the tradition and is hand dyed using Shibori textile’s own methods.
Leather is a unique material as it is not like fabric with a warp and a weft but rather has the quality of skin and each individual cell grabs the dye giving more definition and room for spontaneous design.

 

Manufacture

All Shibori leather is dyed in house from their Sydney studio using the

highest quality Italian leather.

The leather used is suitable for medium to high traffic areas and is marine grade quality used in both commercial and residential applications.

Shibori’s techniques are original and not done anywhere else.

Each piece is touched by hand, making no two pieces the same.

The leathers are waxed and sealed with a solution to waterproof and protect the leather leaving it lustrous and soft.

 

 

Sustainability

The environmental effects of dyeing leather is a great concern and as a result many factors have been put in place to produce an environmentally sustainable product.

Shibori do not use the tanning process to colour the leather but use their own dye recipe.

These dyes are considered low impact and we use them in a method known as exhausting the dye bath (therefore all the dye is used till the water is clear).

The key mordents or setting agents used are naturally derived products.

All shibori resists by Shibori textiles are bound by hand using reused cellulose fibers.

All dyeing is conducted with rain water which is not only saving a valuable resource but also provides a neutral pH level eliminating the need for extra chemicals to aid dyeing.

 

 

Marketability

While there are many beautiful leathers on the market there is really nothing like texture and organic bleed found on Shibori leather.

Shibori leather is made to order with a 3-6 week turnaround and can be purchased directly or through agents worldwide.

Custom colours are available and each piece can be customized to your individual project.

Shibori leather has been used in many commercial spaces, perhaps the largest being Elements of Byron Resort, Byron Bay with over 300 rooms and an individual hand dyed leather head board in each, measuring over 2400 x 1500mm.

Using pre sampled colours to a specific story for each part of the resort.

 

 

Functionality

Shibori textiles leather has been used in almost every imaginable application. There is nowhere leather can’t go.

Beginning with furnishing and various hotel uses such as sofas, bed heads, cushions, or covers and upholstery of DJ Boxes and menu covers to covered concrete pots, and leather bowls.

There is also various apparel items, leather bags, shoes, fashion items, luggage and table placemats as well as the coolest dog collars.

There is really nowhere Shibori leather hasn’t been used!

 

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