Volynka Russian Leather

[allanrvj]

You really are our Encyclopedia Hermeticus! Ever knowledgeable.

lol

That 1786 leather is stunning - I love the irregularity of the grain structure, which, truth be told, is the only thing that is putting me off Volynka. Purely from images it looks 'too' engineered and structured, like Epsom. Now if the texture is very different in hand, we've got a more interesting proposition in my book!

I don't know if it's the way they stored the notebook I bought, but some parts of the embossing are faded so that it's a little smooth, unlike epsom which looks laminated all throughout and embossing is consistent all throughout, if that makes sense. Also I don't know if you've seen this when I posted it on another thread, but they're working on Volynka here:

 

[doni]

I think this is great marketing on the part of Hermes, reconciling current tastes for embossed leathers with ancient tannery traditions and so forth. I have to say I am sold. I don't like Epsom but love the rough look of this. My local Hermes store knew nothing about it. If they spend the range beyond men's stuff and use it for more regular sized bags I would be very tempted.

 

[Liberté]

I don't know if it's the way they stored the notebook I bought, but some parts of the embossing are faded so that it's a little smooth, unlike epsom which looks laminated all throughout and embossing is consistent all throughout, if that makes sense. Also I don't know if you've seen this when I posted it on another thread, but they're working on Volynka here:

I could be a side effect of being under the sea for more than 100 years. My guess is that the best parts of the original batches are gone already. Also, it might be that the ways of production back in the days were less thorough as they were probably not as uniform to the same extent it is today. It would be interesting to compare your Russian kip to volynka.

 

[allanrvj]

I could be a side effect of being under the sea for more than 100 years. My guess is that the best parts of the original batches are gone already. Also, it might be that the ways of production back in the days were less thorough as they were probably not as uniform to the same extent it is today. It would be interesting to compare your Russian kip to volynka.

No, mine is not from that batch from the sea. It's pretty new

 

[allanrvj]

Another look at the Volynka Bolide 45

@edouarddutour

 

[papertiger]

Another look at the Volynka Bolide 45
View attachment 4172665
@edouarddutour

I have this urge to fetch a stuffing pillow immediately

 

[allanrvj]

I have this urge to fetch a stuffing pillow immediately

Same. lol

 

[papertiger]

In le monde d'hermès they say it's developed in collaboration with an English tannery which has knowledge of ancient ways of leather making. I guess there's not enough info to draw any final conclusions, but if I had to place my bets...

For people who're interested in the original Russian leather from the shipwreck, which Hermès got some pieces of that were turned into a few bags and SLG, it's still available at george cleverly. I remember seeing an H agenda cover in the 1786 leather at an auction many years ago, I regret not getting it now...

Does this mean Volynks is reindeer?

 

[papertiger]

Yes. Moynat did it a year earlier than H with something called Imperial Calfskin made by Tanneries Roux (owned by LVMH as well)
View attachment 4170286

"Maison Moynat, which has made unique trunks and travel objects since 1849, is reinventing Russia leather in a contemporary version... Moynat Creative Director Ramesh Nair dreamed of reviving this legend. For this daunting challenge, Moynat worked in collaboration with Tanneries Roux, a tannery belonging to the LVMH Group. Following long and meticulous research, they rediscovered and then updated the original formula. The new version, which Moynat has dubbed “Imperial Calfskin”, has an elegant scent that melds smoke, incense and myrrh. Moynat will unveil a new collection in this exceptional and exclusive leather in 2017, including the iconic Gabrielle handbag."
Sauce

This post may have to self destruct any minute but dam* how did this Moynart get past me? Hermes get your finger out!

 

[allanrvj]

This post may have to self destruct any minute but dam* how did this Moynart get past me? Hermes get your finger out!

Moynat is coming up with all sorts of cool stuff (like that croc with celadon finish, or those pyramid bags) but their social media team is not so good with keeping up. So a lot of it is just discovered through blogs and random articles.

 

[PJW5813]

and that is the way you do not loose potential clients by creating an unsustainable demand

it only needs a few discerning clients to take what it can comfortably produce and sell in a civilised manner

That's all. . .

 

[Liberté]

Does this mean Volynks is reindeer?

I don't think the new volynka is reindeer. I'm not sure if all the old volynka was reindeer either, it probably depended on what was available.

This post may have to self destruct any minute but dam* how did this Moynart get past me? Hermes get your finger out!

It's not lvmh, but owned by Arnault privately. It's basically one of the "sleeping beauty" brands that lay dormant for quite a while and has been revived very recently (2010). They hired a former Hermès employee to design bags. My impression is that quality is very good, but I don't know what I think about all of these recent brand revivals. But it's worth looking into for sure.

 

[PJW5813]

I think its potential success and survival depends upon having enough Arnault money behind it to allow it to be a niche luxury business that does not have to diversify to become viable.
The London store is very welcoming and almost next to Goyard, where you have to queue to get in because it is so small.

 

[PJW5813]

To get this post back on track:
to remind people, even if everyone already has it, there is an article about this leather in Le Monde d'Hermes Spring-Summer 2018 pp 49-53.

 

[xiaoxiao]

I’m so curious about the hand feel on this leather... is it more like barenia than Togo (I would imagine so....)? Urg, and the smell too. If it smells as good as I imagine I def will start hunting one down!