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I made some test cuts with the sample leather but as soon as I tried to form it (the folded ‘tab’ that goes around the split ring) the blue colour started to crack and peel.
I tried it with another small piece (I didn’t have much sample leather, so had to be careful with how much I used each time) and the results were the same, possibly even worse. I was devestated. I have attached a photo of the sample folded piece to show just how bad the cracking/peeling was. It’s like the custom blue colouring wasn’t even part of the leather, but a separate ‘skin’ on top of the leather. 
I sent some of the sample pieces back to the leather supplier to show them what had happened. They rang me only this morning to say the sample was just a scrap piece of leather that they dyed simply to show the colour match, they hadn’t even used the correct leather that I use for my keyrings and didn’t make it to be cut/tested….just to show the colour. I was quite annoyed because I had specifically asked for the sample to be made exactly how I would have a whole hide, so that I could test it out.
They have agreed to make me ANOTHER test piece in the correct leather, with the correct finish and the correct colour & thickness. This will be the third sample now, the very first one was way too thin and only dyed on one side and the second one was the one that peeled flaked. Hopefully when this arrives I will finally have the correct leather to test out? I have been asking all along for this, but I think their is a communication breakdown between whoever reads the emails and whoever makes the samples. The guy I spoke to today said he’d never heard anything about making the leather to the specification I’d requested!
Fingers crossed!!
Having found the sample leather was nowhere near the quality I’d asked for (and expected) I decided to make a prototype keyring with the remaining piece of the sample leather.
I know this is not ‘production ready’ because, as mentioned, the blue wasn’t dyed onto the leather correctly and when I formed the tab for this prototype, it cracked across the fold as I thought it would. BUT….this sample piece will hopefully give an idea of how the finished keyring should look?
One thing that you will notice is that the Polestar is no longer a dark coloured engraving, but a nice bright white colour which exactly represents the badging for the car. I said I wanted to make these as accurate as possible, and this is the result.
The logo is printed, but don’t worry, it’s a special bonded print from a very, very expensive printer I have purchased (over £40,000 of printer!) which allows to me produce amazing quality permanent images and text onto leather. I can assure you this looks stunning in the flesh and I know from other keyrings I’ve made (many thousands now) that the print is very, very hard wearing! I’m so impressed with the print quality and durability.
So, once I can get the leather company to make a correct blue which doesn’t peel and matches the quality of the leather I already use, I should be able to make Rebel Blue keyrings with the logo in white as per the photos. This is still a waiting game while the leather company actually does what I’ve been asking for months, but if they get it right then I think it’s going to be a very nice keyring. As I’ve said all along, it’s taking me a lot of effort to get this far, but it has to be *right*.
Please let me know what you think?
Kind regards,
Bruce.
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Personally I think it looks great! It matches the rear P* badge perfectly. I’ll let you know as I know more.