--- title: "Chiaroscuro Leather Library: Understanding Our Handcrafted Materials" description: "Explore our leather library and learn about the unique textures, durable NDM, and upcycled hides we use. Find the right leather for your custom handcrafted bag." canonical: https://mytribe.in/chiaroscurobags/bag-customization-service/leather-library-understanding-our-materials last_updated: 2025-09-17 --- # Understanding Our Materials and Leather Library Tribe Verified · 10 years of handcrafted leather expertise By [Chiaroscuro](https://mytribe.in/chiaroscurobags) · Available online across India; Studio visits at Ghitorni, New Delhi · ₹3,000 per item (estimate) Part of [Bag Customization Service](https://mytribe.in/chiaroscurobags/bag-customization-service). [View full gallery](https://mytribe.in/chiaroscurobags/bag-customization-service/gallery) I am Smriti, and this is our leather library. Here, we break down the textures, durability, and origins of the upcycled hides we use to handcraft every bag. ## Photos and videos - [Video: Dhermaan bhai and I are talking about our Slate NDM leather. NDM means the leather is tumbled to bring out its natural pebble grain, making it incredibly soft with a beautiful texture. It's a versatile and hardy black leather perfect for any bag style.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/3158a06f-c46d-4d89-8dfe-5831ad1433ec) - [Video: Rehman bhai and I are discussing our Sand leather. It's a semi-stiff buffalo hide with a printed texture, making it very durable even though it's a light color. It's great for both structured and soft bags, but because it's thick, we can't do hand-embroidery on it.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/21ee46cd-48a9-41fe-ad7d-26a3781c2a3b) - [Video: Come inside our workshop as Dhermaan bhai and I introduce the Disco Safari leather. We believe in transparency, so we love showing you the materials we use. Here, we explain the multi-step foiling process that gives this leather its unique metallic, snake-like texture.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d3705d4c-83cd-4013-a28e-e985cd93ffb8) - ![The Mia baguette in our Crystal leather. This was a very special foiled leather with a distressed, metallic silver finish. It was soft and easy to work with, but like many of our upcycled leathers, it was a limited lot and is now sold out.](https://assets.mytribe.in/insecure/raw:1/plain/s3://mytribe-assets-production/d2e81cc0-3a6e-48b1-a134-511802b4651f) ## About Leather Library: Understanding Our Materials Choosing the right leather is about more than just the look. For example, our 'Slate' NDM leather is tumbled to get that soft, pebbled grain, which hides scratches perfectly for daily office use. On the other hand, our 'Sand' buffalo hide is thicker and more structured, great for holding bag shapes, but it is too firm to take on delicate embroidery like Zardozi. Understanding these small trade-offs helps you pick a piece that will last for years. ### Why We Source Limited Lots Because we use upcycled leather, which means we hunt for scraps and leftover lots, our collection constantly shifts. When you see a leather like our 'Disco Safari' or 'Sand' on the site, it is usually because we have found a small, unique batch. Once it is gone, it is often hard to restock, which makes every bag a limited edition. ### Technical Breakdown: Which Leather Fits Your Needs? * **Slate NDM (Pebbled Black):** This is our evergreen leather. The NDM process involves tumbling the hide in a drum to bring out a natural pebble texture. It is soft, has a natural shine, and because it is black and textured, it is incredibly hardy for daily commuting. * **Sand (Buffalo Hide):** If you need structure, this is the one. It is a semi-stiff buffalo hide with a printed grain. While it is a lighter, neutral tone, it is surprisingly easy to clean. Note, because it is thick, we cannot do embroidery on this, but it handles painting and woven designs beautifully. * **Disco Safari:** This is for those who want a statement piece. We take a crust leather base and use a three-stage foiling process to get that metallic, snake-like finish. It is semi-stiff and shines subtly under light, making it a showstopper for day or evening use. ### The Artisan Difference Whether you visit our studio in Ghitorni, Delhi, or chat with us virtually, we guide you based on what you need the bag for. We are transparent about what works: soft leathers allow for hand-embroidery, while our firmer hides are better for structured, architectural shapes. Every bag is made by one artisan from start to finish, so the material you choose is handled with care by a person whose name will be on your bag’s tag. ## About Chiaroscuro I am Smriti, and this is Chiaroscuro. We are a small studio in Delhi where it is just us, hands-deep in leather, turning raw hides into stories. We don't do mass production; we just make bags, one by one, with the people who actually cut and stitch them. [See all of Chiaroscuro's services](https://mytribe.in/chiaroscurobags) ## More from Bag Customization Service by Chiaroscuro - [Featured](https://mytribe.in/chiaroscurobags/bag-customization-service/featured) - [Artistic Edits: Embroidery, Painting & Weaving](https://mytribe.in/chiaroscurobags/bag-customization-service/artistic-edits-embroidery-painting-weaving) - [Your Bag, Your Way: Customization Ideas](https://mytribe.in/chiaroscurobags/bag-customization-service/your-bag-your-way-customization-ideas) - [Meet Our Family: The Artisans & Our Story](https://mytribe.in/chiaroscurobags/bag-customization-service/meet-our-family-the-artisans-our-story) - [The Men's Collection](https://mytribe.in/chiaroscurobags/bag-customization-service/the-men-s-collection) - [By Design: Explore Our Bag Styles](https://mytribe.in/chiaroscurobags/bag-customization-service/by-design-explore-our-bag-styles) ## More services by Chiaroscuro - [Studio Visit & Design Consultation](https://mytribe.in/chiaroscurobags/studio-visit-design-consultation) - [Handcrafted Leather Bags & Accessories](https://mytribe.in/chiaroscurobags/handcrafted-leather-bags-accessories) ## Similar work from other experts - [The Handwoven Edit: Artisan Leather Bags](https://mytribe.in/shopmistry/handcrafted-leather-handbags/the-handwoven-edit) by Mistry · Handcrafted Leather Handbags · Ships across India; Visit the workshop in Okhla Phase II, New Delhi - [Behind the Scenes: The Art of My Handmade Macrame](https://mytribe.in/eshtyles/handcrafted-macrame-bags-accessories/behind-the-scenes-our-handmade-process) by Eshtyles · Handcrafted Macrame Bags & Accessories · Ships across India; Studio in Sainik Colony, Faridabad - [Behind the Scenes: Our Process for Custom Cotton Bags](https://mytribe.in/brandingwithbags/custom-branded-packaging/behind-the-scenes-our-craft-commitment) by Branding with Bags · Custom Branded Packaging · Ships across India - [Featured Macrame Collection & Boho Handbags](https://mytribe.in/knots_and_woods/macrame-fashion-accessories/featured) by Knots and Woods · Macrame Fashion Accessories · Ships across India - [Handmade Macrame Bags and Accessories by Neha](https://mytribe.in/smart_macrame_by_neha/macrame-fashion-accessories/featured) by Neha Goyal · Macrame Fashion Accessories · Ships across India; Studio in Jungpura Extension, New Delhi - [The Artisan's Process: Behind Our Hand Block Printing](https://mytribe.in/amoha-prints/block-printing-diy-kits-hand-printed-goods/the-artisan-s-process) by Amoha Prints · Block Printing DIY Kits & Hand-Printed Goods · Ships to Bengaluru and across India ## Book To book Chiaroscuro, message mytribe on WhatsApp: [Chat on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/916360004054?text=Hi%20Smriti%2C%20I%20was%20looking%20at%20the%20Leather%20Library%20cluster%20and%20wanted%20to%20know%20if%20a%20specific%20leather%20type%20is%20available%20for%20a%20custom%20order%3F)