Badalassi Carlo Olmo Minerva

Olmo Minerva begins with full-grain cowhide processed through traditional vegetable tanning methods using tree bark extracts dating back hundreds of years. The leather receives certification from the Pelle Vegetale Consortium, verifying adherence to strict traditional vegetable tanning standards maintained by the consortium's 19 member tanneries.

The full aniline dyeing process penetrates completely through the leather thickness, establishing elm-brown tones throughout the material. Badalassi Carlo infuses the leather with a special blend of Italian fat waxes, creating the classical oiled vacchetta texture and feel characteristic of Tuscan leather production. The leather is produced in 5 ounce thickness (2 millimeters plus or minus 0.2 millimeters) with a supple feel and slight firmness.

Olmo Minerva presents elm-brown tones in a smooth grain surface with deep, transparent color saturation. The full-grain structure maintains natural characteristics while the Italian fat wax infusion provides the soft hand and depth of color associated with vacchetta leather. The leather features a soft flesh side and proves easy to cut and skive, making it suitable for tooling and carving applications.

The high fat content creates burnishable properties, allowing the surface to become more shiny and beautiful with rubbing. The leather shrugs off stains and scratches easily, with minor scratches rubbing out through normal handling. The vegetable tanning process and fat wax treatment produce leather that changes color with wear and age, developing deeper tones over time.

The aging characteristics of Olmo Minerva center on the development of rich patina as the leather responds to use and handling. The surface develops a lustrous quality through graceful aging, with areas subjected to frequent use becoming smoother and shinier in a burnishing effect. The vegetable oils in the tanning process and the high fat content work together to accentuate the elm-brown color with prolonged use.

The patina develops gradually, creating deeper and more complex brown tones while maintaining the transparency of color that allows the full-grain structure to remain visible. The classical oiled vacchetta properties ensure the leather continues to improve with age, with regular handling enhancing both the visual appearance and the tactile qualities of the material.