A Little More About English Bridle Leather

What is ‘English Bridle’?
The name refers to the original purpose and use of the leather which was for straps on a horse’s headpiece and reins. As a result, the product name is synonymous with; quality, value and durability. After all, it was originally intended to be attached to a horse so it had to be comfortable on the animal’s skin, while being strong and durable as the rider’s life depended on it not failing. The best English Bridle should be smooth to the touch and flexible to handle.

How is it produced?
English Bridle is produced from vegetable tanned leather. This process utilises only natural products, and we source only the best for our collection. The preparation process is manually intensive and is carried out by skilled professionals.

To begin with, we inspect the hides to identify any imperfections or excessive defects within the pieces. Once we are happy with the quality, we create the dye mix that is then applied to the skins either by spraying or by hand. Quality checking occurs after every stage of the process, including this one. Finally, the finished surface is hand greased with a blend of natural tallows and oils to provide the classic polished shine that customers adore. After greasing, the leather can possess what appears to be a white covering across the surface. This is known as ‘bloom’.

What is 'bloom'?
This is a true characteristic of superior quality English Bridle leather. The cause of this white coating is down to the natural waxes and oils rising to the surface of the grain. Lightly buff or brush the white excess away and you will be left with a first class, shiny Bridle surface – ready for production and perfect for those Bridle leather goods.

So, what is it used for nowadays?
English Bridle leather is still used in the equestrian trade, but is also prominently used in the fashion and leather goods market.