Tan Accessories - Where Have They All Gone?

**artificer** · 16th January 12, 07:16 PM

As I was doing some research in Ken MacLeay's "Highlanders of Scotland" portraits something struck me out of the blue-

A fair number of the chaps pictured are wearing natural undyed or very lightly dyed leathers, something rarely if ever seen today.

Any thoughts on why this died out? I think it's quite a nice look.

ith:

**HenryT** · 16th January 12, 07:24 PM

I too like the look. Perhaps tastes just changed.

**davidlpope** · 16th January 12, 07:32 PM

My guess is that it is kip skin or just plain old high quality cow leather with a nice coating of oil/wax. My understanding is that this was later blancoed by the Army, who then later switched to lampblack for a uniform appearance with less effort.

As for why you don't see it anymore, in mind it's simple: the cheap, shoddy products in circulation today are more cheaply produced in black. One needs high quality leather to look good in lighter colors like natural tan...

**artificer** · 16th January 12, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by davidlpope

My guess is that it is kip skin or just plain old high quality cow leather with a nice coating of oil/wax. My understanding is that this was later blancoed by the Army, who then later switched to lampblack for a uniform appearance with less effort.

As for why you don't see it anymore, in mind it's simple: the cheap, shoddy products in circulation today are more cheaply produced in black. One needs high quality leather to look good in lighter colors like natural tan...

Good point David. Although my understanding was that the Army used a suede finished leather to apply the blanco to.

As to the quality issue- you're dead on there. Black covers a multitude of sins. A natural leather with only a wax or oil finish must be of good quality, something rarely seen in the import sporran/leather market.

It just struck me as odd that an entire colour option basically vanished. I wonder if it's possible to pin down the time the natural colour stopped appearing in Highland wear catalogs. I guess OCRichard would be our go-to man here. Hopefully he'll chime in eventually.

ith:

**davidlpope** · 16th January 12, 07:44 PM

Duplicate post.

**davidlpope** · 16th January 12, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

Good point David. Although my understanding was that the Army used a suede finished leather to apply the blanco to.

Right. I think it requires a napped leather for the blanco to stick.

I do agree it's a shame that it's gone out of style. That being said, I have an MOD cantle that needs a replacement bag...

**artificer** · 16th January 12, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by davidlpope

Right. I think it requires a napped leather for the blanco to stick.

I do agree it's a shame that it's gone out of style. That being said, I have an MOD cantle that I need to make a bag for...

I have done one in a tipped (but otherwise natural) pigskin. I keep meaning to make myself a bag in the same leather, but just can't find the time.

ith:

**Downunder Kilt** · 16th January 12, 08:25 PM

Gents. I have been looking for some time for a good quality sporran belt in natural or buff coloured leather. If you do find any retailer with such, please let it be known.

**Peter Crowe** · 16th January 12, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

I have done one in a tipped (but otherwise natural) pigskin. I keep meaning to make myself a bag in the same leather, but just can't find the time.

ith:

Artificer, that is the day wear sporran I'd love to have if I could afford it

**RAF** · 16th January 12, 09:07 PM

I too like the look of natural leather. I think, in addition to all the valid points mentioned for it's demise, that perhaps the fact that such a color is hard to maintain (keep clean) is also a factor. Perhaps a natural color or light tan pigskin (NOT suede) would be more resistant than a fine grade, smooth cow hide? Or a light colored hair on hide?