Our Values
Sustainable Materials
Sustainable Materials
Our aim at DeMellier is to use materials that are sustainable as possible. All our leathers are a by-product of the food industry that would otherwise go to waste and we never use exotic leathers. They are all responsibly sourced mainly from Europe, USA and Australia and none come from areas at risk of deforestation, such as Brazil. We only work with tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group with the majority being top rated Gold or Silver for its advanced sustainability, traceability and social practices. We extend our sustainability efforts to all our materials from our sustainable cashmere to our plastic free raffia and recycled reinforcements.
Smooth bovine leather
Smooth bovine leather
We use three types of smooth cow leather, one firmer for structured bags and two softer for relaxed shapes. All are top quality full grained leathers from two tanneries in the north Italy top rated Gold and Silver by the Leather Working Group. They have a light finishing to ensure its durability while maintaining the natural feel and softness of the leather. The leathers are sustainably sourced from the USA and Europe where they are a by-product of the food industry that would otherwise go to waste.
We use three types of smooth cow leather, one firmer for structured bags and two softer for relaxed shapes. All are top quality full grained leathers from two tanneries in the north Italy top rated Gold and Silver by the Leather Working Group. They have a light finishing to ensure its durability while maintaining the natural feel and softness of the leather. The leathers are sustainably sourced from the USA and Europe where they are a by-product of the food industry that would otherwise go to waste.
Small grain bovine leather
Small grain bovine leather
Our small grained leather is a top quality full grained bovine leather and comes from a tannery also located in the north of Italy, Silver rated by the Leather Working Group. It is a naturally soft leather with a rounded touch. It has a light finishing to ensure its durability while maintaining the natural feel and softness of the leather. The leathers are sustainably sourced from North America where they are a by-product of the food industry that would otherwise go to waste.
Our small grained leather is a top quality full grained bovine leather and comes from a tannery also located in the north of Italy, Silver rated by the Leather Working Group. It is a naturally soft leather with a rounded touch. It has a light finishing to ensure its durability while maintaining the natural feel and softness of the leather. The leathers are sustainably sourced from North America where they are a by-product of the food industry that would otherwise go to waste.
Grain bovine leather
Grain bovine leather
Our grained leather is a top quality full grained cow leather and comes from a tannery in Spain, Silver rated by the Leather Working Group. It is a naturally soft leather with a slightly larger grain than our small grain leather. It has a light finishing to ensure its durability while maintaining the natural feel and softness of the leather. The leathers are sustainably sourced from the North of Africa where they are a by-product of the food industry that would otherwise go to waste.
Our grained leather is a top quality full grained cow leather and comes from a tannery in Spain, Silver rated by the Leather Working Group. It is a naturally soft leather with a slightly larger grain than our small grain leather. It has a light finishing to ensure its durability while maintaining the natural feel and softness of the leather. The leathers are sustainably sourced from the North of Africa where they are a by-product of the food industry that would otherwise go to waste.
Smooth gold leather
Smooth gold leather
Our Smooth Gold is crafted from fine sheepskin that’s been laminated with a beautiful metallic foil. Once treated, the skins are washed to give the leather a luxuriously soft handfeel and to reduce the level of shine. The REACH legislated chrome tanned leather used is responsibly sourced from a LWG certified tannery in Pisa, Italy - an area known for its expertise.
Our Smooth Gold is crafted from fine sheepskin that’s been laminated with a beautiful metallic foil. Once treated, the skins are washed to give the leather a luxuriously soft handfeel and to reduce the level of shine. The REACH legislated chrome tanned leather used is responsibly sourced from a LWG certified tannery in Pisa, Italy - an area known for its expertise.
Sheepskin nappa leather
Sheepskin nappa leather
Our Sheepskin Nappa is rated Gold by the LWG and is sourced from a factory that solely works with this material. The result is a very fine and light Sheepskin Nappa that is perfect for soft bags and quilting leather. This specific tannery ensures that all their leathers are a by-product of the livestock industry to remove waste from their supply chain, establishing a circular process. Alongside this, they are committed to social responsibility activities and currently sponsor a local school to increase access to eduction in the area.
Our Sheepskin Nappa is rated Gold by the LWG and is sourced from a factory that solely works with this material. The result is a very fine and light Sheepskin Nappa that is perfect for soft bags and quilting leather. This specific tannery ensures that all their leathers are a by-product of the livestock industry to remove waste from their supply chain, establishing a circular process. Alongside this, they are committed to social responsibility activities and currently sponsor a local school to increase access to eduction in the area.
Croc effect bovine leathers
Croc effect bovine leathers
Our croc effect leathers are made with top quality full grained bovine leather finished with a small croc print for a refined effect. They are made by a tannery in the north of Italy certified Silver by the Leather Working Group. The leathers are sustainably sourced from Australia where they are a by-product of the food industry that would otherwise go to waste.
Our croc effect leathers are made with top quality full grained bovine leather finished with a small croc print for a refined effect. They are made by a tannery in the north of Italy certified Silver by the Leather Working Group. The leathers are sustainably sourced from Australia where they are a by-product of the food industry that would otherwise go to waste.
Suede cowhide leather
Suede cowhide leather
Sourced in Italy, our gold rated suede has a soft and velvety texture and has been finished with a special handbag polish for extra durability. The sustainable efforts implemented by our suede tannery have been recognised with multiple certificates; Blue Angel Eco label certified and USDA certified bio-based product. The tannery is implementing a water-based finishing process which includes building water purification plants and reducing carbon emissions.
Sourced in Italy, our gold rated suede has a soft and velvety texture and has been finished with a special handbag polish for extra durability. The sustainable efforts implemented by our suede tannery have been recognised with multiple certificates; Blue Angel Eco label certified and USDA certified bio-based product. The tannery is implementing a water-based finishing process which includes building water purification plants and reducing carbon emissions.
Satin embellished
Satin embellished
Sourced in Italy and composed of sustainably sourced viscose, cotton and silk and embellished with tiny stones, our Satin Embellished styles have been expertly designed and developed by our in-house team to ensure the perfect placement of each stone onto the pattern pieces. Using a hot press at our Spanish factory, the stones are applied with a hot fix technique.
Sourced in Italy and composed of sustainably sourced viscose, cotton and silk and embellished with tiny stones, our Satin Embellished styles have been expertly designed and developed by our in-house team to ensure the perfect placement of each stone onto the pattern pieces. Using a hot press at our Spanish factory, the stones are applied with a hot fix technique.
Satin with crystals
Satin with crystals
Our satin is composed of GOTS certified organic silk and ECOVERO certified sustainable viscose. Sourced in Italy, the manufacturer specialises in durable satin and has specifically developed a superior satin for handbags. Both full bodied and soft with an extremely rich colour, our satin is of the highest quality. The crystal stones that adorn the satin are sourced from an Italian supplier that focuses solely on stones, crystals and beads - ensuring the best materials are selected.
Our satin is composed of GOTS certified organic silk and ECOVERO certified sustainable viscose. Sourced in Italy, the manufacturer specialises in durable satin and has specifically developed a superior satin for handbags. Both full bodied and soft with an extremely rich colour, our satin is of the highest quality. The crystal stones that adorn the satin are sourced from an Italian supplier that focuses solely on stones, crystals and beads - ensuring the best materials are selected.
Apple vegan leather
Apple vegan leather
After searching for over a year to provide an alternative for our vegan customers, we found one of the most sustainable vegan leathers available. A 40% bio-based material made in northern Italy, our vegan leather uses leftover apple pulp and peel. Once processed into a powder and combined with other materials, it is laminated onto recycled cotton. This innovative process is PETA approved, BioPreferred and Global Recycled Standard certified. Vegetable tanning is used to give the leathers colour, in our seasonless Black and Taupe colourways.
After searching for over a year to provide an alternative for our vegan customers, we found one of the most sustainable vegan leathers available. A 40% bio-based material made in northern Italy, our vegan leather uses leftover apple pulp and peel. Once processed into a powder and combined with other materials, it is laminated onto recycled cotton. This innovative process is PETA approved, BioPreferred and Global Recycled Standard certified. Vegetable tanning is used to give the leathers colour, in our seasonless Black and Taupe colourways.
Breton stripe canvas
Breton stripe canvas
Our Breton stripe fabric is a meticulously crafted woven jacquard in 100% organic cotton canvas. Inspired by the rich heritage and materiality of classic Breton stripe shirts, we offer bags with ecru or black horizontal designs.This summer-appropriate construction has been handcrafted by one of our trusted factories in Spain, treated with a protective spray to minimise staining.
Our Breton stripe fabric is a meticulously crafted woven jacquard in 100% organic cotton canvas. Inspired by the rich heritage and materiality of classic Breton stripe shirts, we offer bags with ecru or black horizontal designs.This summer-appropriate construction has been handcrafted by one of our trusted factories in Spain, treated with a protective spray to minimise staining.
Sustainable raffia
Sustainable raffia
One would think that ‘raffia’ is made of natural materials, unfortunately we found out that most raffias in the market contain plastic fibres which we wanted to avoid as part of our sustainability values. After one year of research we found a sustainable raffia made in Italy with cotton and plant-based viscose fibres that are FSC approved. Our raffia has been woven on classic wooden handlooms by a family run factory in the north of Italy who have been making these incredible textures for over 100 years.
One would think that ‘raffia’ is made of natural materials, unfortunately we found out that most raffias in the market contain plastic fibres which we wanted to avoid as part of our sustainability values. After one year of research we found a sustainable raffia made in Italy with cotton and plant-based viscose fibres that are FSC approved. Our raffia has been woven on classic wooden handlooms by a family run factory in the north of Italy who have been making these incredible textures for over 100 years.
Palm baskets
Palm baskets
Our baskets are made from 100% natural palm leaves that are sourced and handwoven in Morocco. No toxins or pesticides have been used during the process. Each bag is a unique creation, handwoven individually by local artisans.
Our baskets are made from 100% natural palm leaves that are sourced and handwoven in Morocco. No toxins or pesticides have been used during the process. Each bag is a unique creation, handwoven individually by local artisans.
Capri raffia
Capri raffia
These raffia baskets are handwoven in Madagascar by seasoned female artisans, aided by an inspiring local social enterprise. The 100% natural raffia leaves used for the baskets are locally sourced, harvested, dried in the sun, and dyed with a high quality, chemical-free dye. With this purist, handbuilt process, each bag is subtly unique, with a placement of sumptuous DeMellier leather to finish.
These raffia baskets are handwoven in Madagascar by seasoned female artisans, aided by an inspiring local social enterprise. The 100% natural raffia leaves used for the baskets are locally sourced, harvested, dried in the sun, and dyed with a high quality, chemical-free dye. With this purist, handbuilt process, each bag is subtly unique, with a placement of sumptuous DeMellier leather to finish.
Cotton linings and reinforcements
Cotton linings and reinforcements
All our handbags are lined with a sustainable cotton made with 30% recycled cotton and 70% cotton, certified by the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). The BCI provides training to farmers to build more sustainable agricultural practices. Producers need to meet the BCI requirements in order to become certified under the Better Cotton Initiative. Our reinforcements are made with 100% recycled plastic made in Italy and certified by the Global Recycled Standard, or cardboard from paper sources.
All our handbags are lined with a sustainable cotton made with 30% recycled cotton and 70% cotton, certified by the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). The BCI provides training to farmers to build more sustainable agricultural practices. Producers need to meet the BCI requirements in order to become certified under the Better Cotton Initiative. Our reinforcements are made with 100% recycled plastic made in Italy and certified by the Global Recycled Standard, or cardboard from paper sources.