All our leather is sourced from the finest Italian leather tanneries that have been tanning leather as family businesses for generations, from Solofra in the renowned Avelino region known for tanning leather since Roman times.
All tanneries are quality assured and employ ethical production principles at all steps of the leather production process.
To reduce wastage and maximise sustainability, our leather is a by-product of the food industry.
We are proud to work with Italian leather suppliers endorsed by the ‘Unione Nazionale Industria Conceria’ (‘National Union of Tanneries of Italy’) and all our tanneries have ‘ISO’ accreditation.
With four generations of leather crafting and tailoring experience, RAW by RAW is a proud family business dating back to 1976. Tracing back to our Eastern European roots, RAW by RAW still lovingly continue to hand-craft all its leather garments in small production runs using traditional leather-crafting and tailoring methods in our Glenhuntly workshop in suburban Melbourne.
Our Leather Explained
Nappa Leather
A light weight Italian Lambskin leather, perfect for crafting leather garments due its ability to drape and mould to the wearer’s body. Soft and subtle, it is very consistent in colour and has a customised sealant on the top in its final stages of tanning to ensure maximum longevity and easy care.
Aged Effect Leather
The primary product starts off the same as ‘Nappa Leather’ however the leather goes through additional tanning processes where extra coatings of wax and tanning provide a slightly more prevalent sheen to the surface. This leather initially appears slightly stiffer due to the coating, and over time with wear it further softens and the natural grain of the leather is more visible creating a more ‘vintage’/‘aged effect’ also known in the leather industry as “pull-up” effect leather.
Available in Fern & Putty.
Two-Tone Effect Leather
The primary product starts off the same as ‘Nappa Leather’ however the leather goes through additional tanning processes where extra coatings light pigmentation (usually a darker tone) so as over time and wear the two colours fuse and create an aged and two-tone colour effect on the surface of the leather. This is commonly known in the leather industry as “spray-back” leather. The leather is extremely soft and has a wonderful hand-feel, yet is slightly thicker than a traditional nappa leather.
Available in Gun Metal.
KNITWEAR YARNS
For people that like their knits to be noticed.
Australian Merino Wool – Composition: 100% Australian Merino Wool
Australian Merino Wool is renowned for its rapid drying, breathable, non-allergenic qualities, and is a temperature regulating fibre perfect for keeping the wearer warm all winter long.
Our yarn is perfectly spun and dyed to ensure durability with minimal to no pilling and most importantly a luxurious hand-feel with no ‘itchiness or scratchiness’ - perfect for sensitive skin.
Australian Merino Wool & Cashmere Blend – Composition: 30% Mongolian Cashmere / 70% Australian Merino Wool
In taking several seasons to refine and perfect the “RAW by RAW - Cashmere –“collection we have studied the various types of cashmere, their properties for that luxurious look and feel as well as their properties relating to pilling and keeping shape.
This collection embraces a premium 30% Mongolian Cashmere blended with 70% Australian Merino wool. This yarn is not just any blend. Both fibres are strictly supplied from the yarn supplier that allows us to fully trace back to the origin/grower. This allows for full transparency, true genuine origin and quality of the yarn ensuring this world class fibre is protected from imitation or substitution.
Thus, we can also fully ensure the quality, protection of the art and ensure minimal to no pilling and longevity of all the RAW by RAW artesian Cashmere pieces produced.
This is also a part of our quality promise to our RAW by RAW clientele and dedication to ethical and sustainable sourcing practice.
Base Layer Yarn – For Easy Care, Wash and Wear - 80% Viscose / 20% Nylon
Viscose is derived from wood pulp and is processed into a fibre that is extremely versatile, durable, pliable and stretchy. Its easy case and quick drying properties means its perfect for travel and day-to-day wear. We have blended the viscose with Nylon to strengthen the fibre, ensuring minimal to no pilling and longevity of the garment.
Raccoon/Wool Blend Yarn – Raccoon / Merino Wool / Viscose / Nylon
At Raw by RAW we are committed to brining our customers the most luxurious and interesting yarn available. Welcome to our newest yarn “Raccoon”. Raccoon is everything our customer asks for; soft, sumptuous, light weight and non-itch. Raccoon has a soft velvet like fluffy texture, and its perfect for
cold winters and sensitive skin. Blended with a perfect array of Australian Merino wool as well as viscose and nylon to give the wearer longevity.
Mongolian Cashmere - Composition: 100% Pure Ethically Sourced Mongolian Cashmere
Apart from this yarns uber luxurious hand-feel, luscious drape and being light-weight. Pure Cashmere is breathable, moisture-wicking and hypoallergenic.
Being light weight is insulation properties ensure comfort, breathability (creating more trans-seasonal use), and its natural odour resistance. Cashmere is long-lasting, sumptuous and now a true hall-mark of the RAW by RAW Australia collections.