Cheaper suede and leather

Press, 4 February 1986, Page 17

Cheaper suede and leather

If you can sew, then leather and suede garments that usually sell at between $230 to $5OO in New Zealand can be made on your own machine for $49 to $l2O, depending on the type of leather or suede skin you choose. RUSA Industries, a company which deals in furs, sheepskin, suede and leather, is selling skins straight to the public from its factory at 31 Battersea Street, off the Sydenham part of Colombo Street. The leather and suede skins are wrapped in bundles of six and, depending on the quality of skin a customer is after, the bundles range in price from $49 to $l2O. Each skin measures roughly at about 60cm by 80cm. All bundles can be inspected by customers before buying. For women, six skins can make an averagesized skirt and a small top. A large man could also get a shirt or jacket from six skins. .

“One bundle of suede or leather has been calculated to cater for most people’s fashion sizes, men or women,” said Mr Selwyn Mackinder, who co-owns the business with Mr Bill Wright. The colour range available covers most tastes: mauve, royal blue, bright pink, scarlet red, grey, jade and maroon, to name a few. The usual neutrals, dark brown, tan, black and cream, are also available.

There are also different finishes to the skins. Polished suede, which has a special spray finish, is popular with many customers.

Once bought, the next articles to look for are: a leather wedge-shaped needle, which can be found at any drapery; any standard sewing pattern; and a poly-cotton thread with the tension of 50 or 60 for added strength. According to Mr Mackinder, the ordinary home sewing machine is quite capable of coping with

leather or suede skins. Some important points to remember when sewing leather or suede is to change the stitch length, making it slightly longer than the average stitch for added strength. The seam allowance for leather garments is also smaller. Whereas normal fabrics would take an allowance of five-eighths,

leather needs a seam allowance of three-eighths. RUSA Industries also deals in custom-made sheepskin rugs and making furs, from opossum to mink, to measure. These can be altered or remodelled by their master furrier, Mr John B. Galland, who has been practising his trade for 35 years.