The Modus Operandi: The Art of Stitching

Of all the steps in the creation of a Lotuff bag, stitching is that which requires the most classical training to master. It's an act that requires strong attention to detail, unwavering consistency, and exact precision. Indeed, stitches are naturally one of the first details an individual notices when viewing a bag. 

So what exactly differentiates good stitching from bad stitching, and why can we claim that ours reigns supreme? For one, each Lotuff bag contains at least 48 hand-tied knots. Each end of each knot is cauterized and slipped back into its hole while still hot, effectively sealing itself inside the leather and making it nearly impossible to unravel. The edges are also completed by hand, wrapped in five-thread stitches to add reinforcement and a clean, refined aesthetic.

Even the machine-stitched elements--some of which occur using custom-made mechanisms--necessitate a certain level of creative perfection. On places of strain, such as corners, a set number of stitches is manually doubled back to re-enter the existing holes, further ensuring the product's longevity. 

Our stitchers are moreover taught to occasionally work without a guide when necessary, instead following the curve of the leather in order to generate a quietly natural look. Upon reaching a curved edge, they execute a "soft corner" rather than coming to a hard angle, so the stitches "hug" the corner, in a sense. 

Guide or no guide, a deep level of unwearied concentration is imperative. This step, like the others, is no place to cut corners. Stitching is what fuses everything together on both a literal and visual level as a model of artistic expertise. 

- Liz Silvia