I found a tag attached to the bottom of a Harley-Davidson seat that a customer brought to my shop yesterday to be recovered. The message, which was about the nature of leather, was worded so well that I thought I’d share it.
The tag (pictured below) reads:
The leather product you have purchased has been custom designed for use on this Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Its rugged design is enhanced by the use of premier top-grain leather. A natural product, leather carries unique markings: scars, grain lines, wrinkles, creases. These variations are your assurance of authentic top-grain leather. Leather is porous and organic and each leather product will settle into its own distinct form with use. Your leather product will mature into its own custom shape and style from the sun, the rain, and time. This maturing is natural and will enhance the custom quality of your Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Contact your dealer for leather care products.
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Some people’s expectations of leather are unrealistic. They expect a hide’s grain to be flawless and consistent. But as the Harley tag states, each leather hide is unique with its own distinctive markings, grain lines and even wrinkles – all of which give leather its character. If what customers want is uniform perfection, they should stick with vinyl.
I also love the tag’s statement about leather settling into its own custom shape. I always tell my customers that the best thing they can do for their leather is sit on it.
I think I might blow this tag up and hang it in my office.
So true, and so cool that they say it rather than us having to explain it all the time.
The only problem is that it’s attached to the bottom of the seat. Even though the statement is accurate no one is ever going to see it. The other thing is you can explain that to customers until your blue in the face and they still won’t understand why “their” leather has markings and such on it.
That’s the beauty of Harley Davidson writing this, it adds credibility to the statement.
I’m def. going to blow this up and hang it. Working on a seat pan right now with vegi tan leather and there are some marks on it, if the customer says anything, I’ll just point to the sign lol. Gives it character.
WOW, I need to photoshop this tag, print a poster sized version of it, and frame it in my garage so that people can understand that real leather is not always perfect…
Definitely worth blowing up. I think Harley worded it perfectly. It’s the flaws that make leather beautiful and unique.
I’ve done my fair share of harley seats…and never once seen a leather factory harley seat? Every single one has been vinyl…I even got samples of the vinyl harley uses, and its garbage lol was this an accesory harley seat? I’ve never seen one roll out the showroom with leather
yeah they don’t do leather anymore. on top of that they use the cheapest vinyl available. occasionally there will be real leather embellishments.
I work close with the eagle’s nest here in MKE, WI producing prototype seating for their CVO’s etc.
On the Production side of any big auto/ moto OEM every possible cent is under such intense scrutiny I am always a little surprised any innovation happens on the major platforms.,
I promise you that HD is coming back strong which is very cool to watch This huge global brand over 119 years old have to pivot during not just bad recession times but the covid crisis. and still crushing it.
I need that poster
I have a 2013 sportster I don’t have a tag under my seat and the seat looks like vinyl