For this year’s patina thunderdome, I am making a pair of boots using Maryam natural vachetta kangaroo that I am further dying using kakishibu, a traditional Japanese tannin dye made from fermented astringent persimmons. Figured I would chronicle some of the experiments here while I finalize the process.
Typically, kakishibu is used for paper and cloth dying by dip dying and then sun drying to crosslink the tannins. It’s more like a natural polymerization than a typical dye. Further, as the kakishibu reacts to uv and oxygen, it tends to darken rather than fade like normal dyes. Should make for an interesting patina.
Here are a handful of photos of different samples. The dark/burgundy tones are a result of doing an alkaline shift by dipping in a solution of soda ash.
This was after about 7 coats, each left to dry in the sun for about 10 minutes. Got a little darker than the starting leather, but picked up a wonderful golden warmth. Ended up starting to rain, so called it quits at 7 coats. 5 from the powdered (about an ounce of powder mixed into 600 ml of water and a drop or two of soap to act as a surfactant). Final 2 coats were the stronger pre-mixed without any soap added.
Think I am going to forgo the alkaline dip. The color on this is awesome as is, so no need to mess with it.
Oh nice, I had basically that exact same idea. I have a kakishibu jacket, and it’s so gorgeous to me. I get compliments everywhere. I purchased that exact dye from Amazon, and did some tests on various pieces of cowhide. I never got further than setting up the experiment pieces for sun tanning though.
I had very mixed results on different leathers. The kangaroo seems to accept it quite nicely; other stuff I have tried, not so much.
I did some tests deglazing first, soaking in a mild alkaline first, soaking in a mild acid first, etc. In the end, a light spraying with some water to pre-wet the surface and then hand applying layers with an old t shirt worked well.
Yeah, I will get a picture for you later today. It’s a great looking jacket. Color is similar to a Russet type of color way, but much more interesting, in my opinion.
This is renewing my interest in kakishibu. I love Kangaroo, but I have not yet decided to make a pair with it. I do have some natural Maryam 'roo though, maybe I will give the dye a shot and see how well it wants to behave in the sun.
It’s an interesting look on the maryam because it starts out a bit darker. Looks like the natural maryam, but with a warmer hue and some more depth to the color.
Will be very interesting to see what it does over time.
Don’t forget to take those flush-set nails out of the insoles! I’ve personally taken to doing my insole tacks through some little slips of red ribbon, to make sure I remember to get them out again.
