Badalassi Carlo Ortensia Pueblo

Like all Pueblo variants, Ortensia undergoes transparent aniline dyeing that penetrates through the entire hide thickness, allowing the natural grain and texture to remain visible while providing color depth that develops further over time. The hand-buffed surface creates a suede-like texture on full-grain vegetable-tanned cowhide, valued for its ability to transition from a matte finish to a burnished sheen in high-wear areas.

Ortensia Pueblo is manufactured at the Badalassi Carlo facility using the same traditional vegetable-tanning and hand-buffing process employed for all Pueblo color variants. The leather undergoes vegetable tanning with natural bark extracts, followed by fatliquoring with animal oils, transparent aniline dyeing, air drying, and stone-polishing before the distinctive hand-buffing that creates Pueblo's characteristic texture.

The turquoise color is achieved through transparent aniline dyes that penetrate completely through the material from grain to flesh side, rather than remaining only on the surface. This color-through characteristic allows the leather to develop deep, rich patina as it ages, with the vibrant blue-green base deepening to more complex teal-blue tones through exposure to light, touch, and environmental conditions while maintaining its distinctive turquoise character.

Ortensia is produced in the standard 5oz thickness (approximately 2mm plus or minus 0.2mm) typical of Pueblo leather. Full hides measure approximately 48 by 48 inches (14-17 square feet), while half hides measure approximately 24 by 48 inches (7-8 square feet). The leather features the medium temper characteristic of Pueblo, providing structural integrity while offering flexibility for comfort in wearable applications.

Ortensia Pueblo develops patina rapidly compared to other vegetable-tanned leathers, with subtle changes visible within weeks of regular use and significant transformation occurring within six to twelve months. The initial matte turquoise surface gradually smooths and deepens in areas subjected to frequent contact, creating varying degrees of sheen across the material while retaining the distinctive blue-green character that defines this color variant.

The transparent aniline dyeing and natural tanning process allow patina changes to develop throughout the material rather than remaining superficial. High-wear areas develop a glossy, burnished appearance as the natural oils from the tanning process allow the surface to polish with use. This creates dynamic color variations unique to each piece, with polished sections showing deeper teal-blue tones contrasting against less-worn areas that retain more of the original matte turquoise texture.

Regular buffing with a dry cloth accelerates the burnishing process, increasing both the depth of color and the level of shine. The oil content from the vegetable tanning and fatliquoring process contributes to the leather's ability to develop what is described as a rich, glossy patina, making Ortensia particularly suitable for applications where visible aging and distinctive color character are desired aesthetic qualities.

Ortensia Pueblo is used in wallets, bags, watch straps, and small leather goods where its distinctive turquoise color and rapid patina development create statement pieces that develop individual character through wear. The vibrant blue-green hue offers a unique aesthetic option within the Pueblo line, appealing to those seeking non-traditional leather colors while maintaining the technical characteristics and aging properties valued in vegetable-tanned materials.

In watch strap production, Ortensia provides a bold alternative to traditional leather colors while maintaining the comfort, flexibility, and distinctive aging characteristics valued in Pueblo leather. The matte surface provides a different tactile experience compared to smooth leathers, while the rapid patina development allows straps to quickly develop character based on wear patterns, deepening from bright turquoise to rich teal-blue tones.

The turquoise color pairs well with silver and nickel hardware, providing visual harmony between the blue-green leather tones and cool metal finishes. This pairing creates cohesive aesthetic combinations in bags, wallets, and other leather goods where hardware selection contributes to overall design character.

The stone-ground finish provides visual interest on exterior surfaces, while the soft flesh side works well for interior applications when craftspeople use Ortensia for both exterior components and linings within a single product. The distinctive color makes Ortensia a popular choice for unique, statement leather goods where the turquoise hue becomes a defining design element.

Ortensia Pueblo can be treated with natural creams and waxes to condition the material and enhance protection, though the leather already contains oils and waxes from the tanning process making it relatively self-sufficient in basic care requirements. Regular buffing with a dry cloth burnishes the surface and accelerates patina development, creating the glossy finish characteristic of aged Pueblo leather while deepening the teal-blue tones.

The leather should be kept away from prolonged water exposure, as moisture absorption can cause discoloration and damage to the stone-ground surface treatment. Brief encounters with moisture can be dried carefully with a soft cloth, but immersion or heavy wetting is not recommended. The leather shares the same working properties and care requirements as other Pueblo variants, being easy to cut and skive with burnishable edges that take advantage of the natural oils and waxes in the vegetable-tanned material.