During my Van Der Spek undyed binder pilot project for VDS, I have been recording the ageing process of my undyed binder for over a year. The original leather is stunningly beautiful – perfect, pristine, almost pearly pink. But it marks easily and shows every scuff and scrape. Light (both direct and indirect) causes oxidisation, darkening, tanning. After the first traumatic marks and scuffs, an awkward teenage phase follows where it is not quite anything but a mix of everything. But then it starts to turn a gorgeous toasty caramel and the marks blend into the patina created by being handled. In the end it is a diary of your journey through life. Marked by life as you are but oh so very beautiful and authentic.
I also have other leather products which show the darkening process. Here you can see my older darker Tigerklo wrap covers with my newer lighter Zenok leather TN covers – all undyed.
Here are Il Bisonte Vacchetta leather notebook covers in various stages
Midori MD natural leather cover
And here are natural leather Hobonichi covers in various stages of ageing
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