Versatile, stylish, and durable—it’s no wonder leather is one of the most popular materials worldwide. It’s a great material for clothing, bags, accessories, and so much more. While leather has a natural appeal, you can customize and further distinguish your leather goods by dyeing them. Here are five things you need to know about dyeing leather.
Types of Leather You Can Dye
The only kind of leather that you can dye is an unfinished veg tan leather. Since leather absorbs the dye, any leather that doesn’t absorb liquids will not work, such as chrome-tanned leather or veg tan leather with a finish on it. There are things like paints and sprays that you can apply to the surface of chrome-tanned leather; however, dyes will not penetrate the leather like they should. So to summarize, you can only dye unfinished veg tan leather.
What You Need
Now, you need the correct tools to dye your leather: your veg tan leather of choice, leather dye, and an applicator. A cellulose sponge is a great way to introduce the dye to the leather, but some leather dyes come with their own applicators for your convenience. If not, you can find everything you need at a leather craft store.
Potential Risks
One thing you need to know about dyeing leather is that there are a few risks you should be aware of. Knowing the risks will help you avoid ruining your leather. In particular, you want to ensure you don’t skimp on your dye or leather quality. Otherwise, you may need to apply multiple coats of dye, which may come out uneven or blotchy, especially if the leather is low quality.
Preparing the Leather
Before you start the dyeing process, make sure to clean your leather with a dry cloth or a specialized cleaning product that online stores like Montana Leather Company provide. If possible, test out your dye on a small piece of scrap or edge to make sure you will get the color you want.
Preparing the Dye
To prepare your dye, remove it from its original container and transfer it into a little, shallow bowl. This will make the dye convenient to reach, so you can easily apply it. Additionally, if you are mixing dyes to achieve a unique color, a bowl is a convenient way to mix them. Lastly, the amount of dye you need will depend on the shade you want to achieve, so ensure you’re well stocked!
