Dollaro by Conceria Walpier

Dollaro is a uniformly patterned leather from Conceria Walpier in Italy, who are well known for producing Buttero and other high-quality leathers. Dollaro is quite similar to Buttero and is considered a bit of a cousin article; craftsmen familiar with one will find it easy to work with the other.

Characteristics of Dollaro

Dollaro is printed with an artificial grain to give it a more exciting look and feel. The process of heat-printing makes Dollaro a particularly stiff article for it's weight. The upside to this is a scratch proof surface that lasts for many years in a rugged environment. 

Patina develops slowly with Dollaro, but does so quite nicely. The embossing does not fade, making it an ideal alternative to natural milling that is more susceptible to wearing. 

Thanks to the tanning process used there is still plenty of natural character to the leather. However it is far less extreme in variation and many crafters enjoy the consistent uniform finish. There's no surprise flea bites or scars when it comes to Dollaro. In lighter colours, it shows a beautiful two tone effect.

It is dyed through, with a slightly lighter coloured finish on the flesh side. Conceria Walpier's advanced tanning means a tight grain is maintained throughout the hide. 

Dollaro has an exceptionally high yield across a hide.

Tanning and Manufacturing

Initially, Dollaro is tanned the same as Buttero. A full-aniline, vegetable tanned article is produced and dyed. Walpier is world-renowned for their ability to produce vibrant and striking colours on veg tan leather, and Dollaro is subject to the same treatment. 

The final pebble print is heat embossed in the late stages, helping to correct and surface defects that would normally be present in Buttero. The vibrant colours hold true, however many lighter colours produce a two tone effect. This is thanks to the tops of the pebbles darkening in the process. 

Applications

Dollaro is incredibly flexible in applications. The stiff temper and scratch resistance makes it a popular choice for bags, briefcases, and clutches. However it is still suitable for small goods such as wallets, although some designs need a few days to really break in the stiff temper at folds. It can also be used in shoemaking for eye-catching projects, or even belts when sewn with a backing piece. 

Crafters will note the ease in using Dollaro for cutting, skiving, and burnishing. When gluing, it is recommend to rough both surfaces before pressing together, as the semi-gloss finish will stop it adhering.