Article: The Heart of Every Bag: Our Leather
The Heart of Every Bag: Our Leather
When it comes to leather, not all are created equal. At Elevate, we work exclusively with premium full-grain leather—the highest quality leather in the world. It’s strong, durable, and made to last for decades, not years. Full-grain means the surface of the hide is left completely intact—never sanded down, coated, or corrected—so every natural grain, mark, and variation remains. That integrity gives our leather its unmatched durability and depth of character.
You can feel the difference the moment you hold it. Our leather carries a weight of authenticity—firm yet refined, soft yet substantial. It’s the kind of material that gets better with time, developing a rich patina and softness that’s completely your own.
We’re intentional about every step, from the way our hides are sourced to the way our artisans cut, stitch, and finish each piece by hand. All of our leathers come from a Leather Working Group (LWG) certified tannery, ensuring the highest environmental and ethical standards in the industry. That means safer tanning methods, responsible water use, proper waste treatment, and fair working conditions for the artisans behind each bag.
Because when we say “premium,” we mean it—in process, in people, and in purpose.
Gold-Rated, Ethically Sourced
We’re proud to partner with Shee Shen Tannery in Kolkata, India — a Gold-rated tannery certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG). This certification represents the highest level of sustainability and responsibility in the global leather industry.
An LWG Gold rating means:
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Responsible water and chemical management
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Reduced emissions and waste
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Ethical labor practices and worker safety
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Traceability of raw materials
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Verified environmental stewardship
Every hide is sourced as a byproduct of the food industry — leather that would otherwise go to waste. By transforming this raw material into timeless pieces, we help prevent millions of tons of waste each year while supporting a circular economy.
This partnership allows us to maintain the highest standards of transparency and quality—ensuring every Elevate piece is as ethical as it is beautiful.
Ethically Made. Empowerment-Driven.
For us, ethical fashion means more than sustainability—it means human dignity.
Ethical fashion focuses on the treatment of people involved in the production process, ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions, and transparency throughout the supply chain.
It asks hard questions:
Are the workers earning a living wage?
Are they treated with respect and safety?
Are they empowered to create change in their own lives?
At Elevate, the answer to each is yes.
The Empowerment Mindset
Many people are surprised to learn that the leather shop in India where our bags are made isn’t called Elevate—it’s called Tecsoe, a Hindi word meaning longevity.
That’s because we don’t own the leather shop. Instead, we’ve dedicated our efforts to empowering a group of artisans and entrepreneurs to build their own business from the ground up.
Why?
Because seeing people equipped and empowered to sustainably care for their families—and watching their dreams take shape—is the heartbeat of who we are.
In less than five years, Elevate’s customers and donors have helped replicate this empowerment model hundreds of times across 10 countries. Every purchase directly fuels the livelihoods and small-business dreams of one of those families. It’s something we’re humbled by every single day. This is the Elevate People Project.
The Fashion Industry and Living Wages
While many fashion brands rely on unregulated factories and underpaid labor, our partners at Tecsoe set their own fair and living wages, provide artisans with benefits rarely seen in the leather industry, and maintain control over their own production schedules.
Each artisan receives:
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Health insurance covering up to 200,000 rupees (≈$2,695 USD) in medical bills
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End-of-year bonuses equal to one month’s salary
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Advance payment options for family or medical emergencies (to avoid predatory lending)
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Education and financial literacy training on savings and investments
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Retirement plans provided at no cost to the artisans
These benefits don’t just change workplaces—they change lives. The team at Tecsoe has built a culture that puts people over profit, honoring the humanity behind every handmade piece.
This is what ethical fashion looks like.
This is what empowerment feels like.
Two Finishes. One Standard of Quality.
Though every Elevate piece begins with full-grain leather, we offer two unique finishes—each chosen for its beauty, texture, and timeless appeal.
1. Vegetable-Tanned Classic Leather
Our classic leather—available in Chestnut, Camel, and Black—is vegetable-tanned using natural tannins from bark and plant matter. This traditional method is one of the oldest and most sustainable ways to tan leather. It’s free of harsh chemicals like chromium, which means it’s safer for artisans, for you, and for the planet.
This leather is structured, strong, and made to age beautifully. With use, it develops a rich, deep patina that reflects your life and story. No two pieces will ever age the same—and that’s the beauty of it.
2. Soft Full-Grain Leather
Our new soft full-grain leather—introduced in Taupe and Moss, with more colors to come—offers a buttery, flexible texture without sacrificing quality. It’s still full-grain (the best you can buy), but treated to be more relaxed and supple from day one.
It’s the perfect balance of form and feel: soft enough to move with you, yet strong enough to last a lifetime. Like all Elevate leather, it’s crafted with care by skilled artisans who are paid fair, living wages and work in safe, supportive environments.
This leather is coming soon!
Designed to Last. Made to Matter.
Every Elevate bag is a reflection of care—from the hands that make it to the life it carries. By sourcing ethically, producing sustainably, and designing timelessly, we’re proving that style and substance can go hand in hand.
Our leathers, whether structured or soft, are made to grow more beautiful with age—because good things aren’t meant to fade; they’re meant to evolve.
When you carry Elevate, you carry more than a bag.
You carry a legacy of craftsmanship, sustainability, and empowerment—stitched into every piece of leather, made to stand the test of time.
