Von Baer – How We Do It

Making premium leather bags and accessories since 2015.

This is Von Baer.

Everything we do and everything we make is deeply rooted in our belief that true class comes from premium quality and sustainable materials as well as excellent craftsmanship.

How we do it is as important to us as what we do.

We don’t like practical things that look dull and uninspiring. We believe in practicality that not only looks good but also inspires you to feel good.

How we do it

All Von Baer goods are designed in-house in our Tallinn studio.

With particular attention to detail, we only design what we truly believe in – classy and timeless leather goods that you can easily and confidently incorporate in your everyday wardrobe.

On top of being practical, all Von Baer products also need to meet our expectation of having a unique and timeless appearance. Since we design our pieces to be used for years to come without going out of style, the level of craftsmanship and quality of materials need to follow suit. Additionally, everything we create must be created sustainably.

Made in Italy

All our products are made in Florence, Italy. It is not without reason that Italy is known as the land of true artisans.

Skillful craftsmen keep the leathermaking heritage alive in family-owned studios in Florence, Italy, where this tradition has been passed down generations.

Believing that our customers deserve the best and showing our appreciation for this masterful craft, we are ready to pay honest production prices for the high-quality work being put into each product. While we could save a lot of money by producing elsewhere, where salaries are much lower, we’re conscious about the level of excellent craftsmanship that we’re getting with products made in Italy all while supporting heritage craft.

Our materials

We believe that outstanding products cannot be crafted from mediocre materials. And yet, so many pieces on the market, despite their high retail price, are mass-produced from poor quality materials in questionable conditions that not only affect local communities but also the planet.

Our approach to making leather products has been and always will be in support of true masters of their craft – from making the materials to putting together the final product. We ensure that you, our customer, only get the finest quality sustainably made product that you can wear and display proudly.

From leather to hardware and lining, we only use premium quality materials. Where possible, we always prefer partnering with Italian manufacturers who produce not only the finest certified Italian leather but also other materials in a sustainable way. Some parts for various products may still be produced elsewhere (smaller hardware elements, for example), but we always ensure that the quality matches the overall expectation from our products.

Leather

Von Baer products are made using premium vegetable-tanned Italian leather. Because we believe in the importance of sustainability, each of our product comes with a certificate of leather origin.

Traceability and certification are important to us because we want to leave a positive impact while producing exceptional items. We want to cooperate and support suppliers that are masters of their craft while doing it sustainably and not harming the planet and its people in the process. And we know it’s important to you – our customer.

Unfortunately, the use of terms like “genuine leather” or “true leather” is completely unregulated. For this reason, many companies selling leather products can oversell their products as premium quality when in fact poor quality untraceable leather is used.

The trademark and logo Pelle Conciata al Vegetale in Toscana (Tuscan Vegetable-Tanned Leather) guarantees the quality and origin of the leather. It encompasses not just the material itself but also how it has been treated and by whom.

It celebrates and values the generations old tradition and artistry of leathermaking, supporting locals who keep this craft alive and thriving today.

The certification process (unlike the loosely used terms like “real leather”) is fully regulated and traceable, ensuring that certain standards for quality are fully met throughout the whole process.

Lining

We ensure that all our products are beautiful inside and out. After all, Von Baer goods are designed to be used every day with confidence.

For most of our products, we prefer using natural long-lasting materials like thick and robust cotton canvas lining. It’s pleasant to touch and unlike synthetic materials it’s also sustainable.

Other materials are only used when necessary, to ensure the intended purpose of use. For example, our wash bags have a waterproof polyester lining that’s easy to clean.

Zippers

We understand the importance of a good zipper. It can truly make or break a bag. And that’s why we only use the renowned YKK zippers for our products.

Since 1934, YKK zippers have been a household name when it comes to the highest quality zippers. And for a good reason – they are exceptionally reliable. While YKK is a Japanese company, we’re proud to say that the zippers we use in our products are manufactured in the company’s Italian branches.

Your product is only as good as its weakest link. You don’t want to throw away your bag after a couple of months of use simply because the zipper didn’t hold up.

Metal hardware & belt buckles

Depending on the product, we generally use either brass or aluminum hardware. These include buckles, rivets, and other elements that keep your leather accessory secure and protected.

Von Baer belts broadly fall into two categories – casual and reversible. Casual belts have simple belt buckles that are made of either stainless steel or solid brass. Unlike cheaper buckles that are mostly made from low quality alloys, these retain their quality look even when used daily and they don’t rust.

Reversible belt buckles are made of nickel-plated zamac that is easier to work with than with stainless steel considering that these buckles are constructed from multiple elements.

In conclusion

When choosing Von Baer products, you can be sure that you’re not only getting something stylish and high quality but are also supporting a sustainable business and traditional craftsmanship. We take pride in being able to offer our customers something that they will be able to use for many years to come.

Take your pick!