Wild Leather

This blog excerpt was taken from our store: Leather-Moccasins. To read the entire article please click here.

When it comes to leather, not all grains are the same.

Many goods are fabricated with leather hides that have been sanded, treated, or even pieced and bonded together to create a flat, almost artificial appearance. Ironically, this emphasis on creating an unflawed leather item not only compromises the quality of it, it sacrifices its most valuable characteristic: authenticity.

Laurentian Chief’s Single Sole Elk Moccasins are made with genuine elk hide. Each one is crafted from a single piece of leather cut, shaped, and sewn into the traditional moccasin shoe designed to shape itself to the foot. Elk leather, along with moose, bison, and caribou, is a wild, full-grain leather, considered to be the very finest quality, as it preserves the entire grain of the hide. Wild leather is prized for its suppleness and appearance, which can sometimes reveal scars as evidence of the animal’s life in the wilderness. These markings are viewed as a testament to the leather’s beauty and authenticity. The elk, or wapiti (Cree), is a creature that is deeply valued in Indigenous culture. Historically, communities followed the herds by way of survival, and elk meat was highly sought. In the spirit of the animal’s sacrifice, nothing could be wasted; hides were fashioned into clothing, shoes, shelter, and coverings. Ivories were incorporated into jewelry and adornments. Antlers were used in toolmaking, or stacked in columns as trail markers.

Considered to be a gift to the people, the elk was seen as a protector and symbol of strength, endurance, even gallantry. Lakota tribes believed that elk (Heȟáka) were even more special, less of the animal world, and more akin to a spiritual relative.
This unique distinction can be appreciated in the warm, rich maple tan leather of Laurentian Chief’s Elk Moccasins. Fitted with a padded insole and flexible leather outsole, they will stretch, soften, and conform to the wearer’s personal footprint over time, creating a highly customized, ideal fit. The single sole construction is achieved by artisans employing time-honoured leatherwork techniques, assembled with hand stitched details and rustic rawhide laces.
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