Leather Distressing:

[History36]

Hi all,

Just curious if anyone knows of an individual, business, shop, etc. who artificially ages / distresses clothing, such as leather, to make it look more distressed and battle-worn aged, by chance?

Granted, I realize that I could YouTube 'how to' myself, but just thought I'd ask around. Thank you for your time,

 

[3rd North Carolina]

Hi all,

Just curious if anyone knows of an individual, business, shop, etc. who artificially ages / distresses clothing, such as leather, to make it look more distressed and battle-worn aged, by chance?

Granted, I realize that I could YouTube 'how to' myself, but just thought I'd ask around. Thank you for your time,

well one way to distress leather is wearing it a lot to distress it. you can change the color of it depends on what color it is right now by either dying it or use oil to make it dark. i do have a small leather shop and that is what i would do.

 

[captaindrew]

Why and what are you trying to distress? If you want aged leather gear there's plenty of well used reenactor gear out there that's been aged naturally by use if you look around.

 

[History36]

Thanks gents for the replies / info,

Yeah, I'm certainly wearing & getting them broke in. Reason being for the extra worn look is because I'm trying to replicate an original pair in my collection (they're the exact style boot). Plus, I'm putting together a late war hard campaigner impression, so the boots are the only piece left that aren't 'threadbare' - besides, I absolutely cannot stand the 'dandy' look, .

Best,

 

[captaindrew]

Footwear ages fast by normal use, there's no need whatsoever to speed it along, you'll just shorten the life of an expensive item. And always remember, even late war, both sides were regularly getting issued gear so don't think you have to be in taters to pull off an impression.

 

[R. Porter]

You could always have taken the boots off a body on the battlefield. Then think of all the territory that opens up for you to humanize your character. He took them off the enemy; they're alway better supplied making it hard to be optimistic about a Confederate victory or even a victory in the next battle. Your best friend got them from his sister and mother just before the last battle where your friend was killed; and even though he promised them to you if he died you feel guilty wearing them and don't know what you will write to his sister and mother about his death. And so on and so forth.

 

[johan_steele]

Boots… wear them while doing yard work, shoveling snow or mucking out the horse stalls.

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

To echo and piggyback on what others are saying…keep in mind the war only lasted four years. Even with only moderate care, four year old leather won't ever look as "distressed" as some of the accoutrements longtime reenactors wear. Boots and shoes you would likely have worn out the soles and been issued new before achieving the look you're trying to go for.

 

[History36]

Hello all,

Many thanks for the responses. While I greatly appreciate the input in which I plan to let them age naturally to a degree, I'm no longer a reenactor - we're using them for a key living history event so some artificial age will be applied. The primary question was to see if folks here do it to learn tips, etc.

Thank you and all the best,

 

[Trooper "D"]

Hi all,

Just curious if anyone knows of an individual, business, shop, etc. who artificially ages / distresses clothing, such as leather, to make it look more distressed and battle-worn aged, by chance?

Granted, I realize that I could YouTube 'how to' myself, but just thought I'd ask around. Thank you for your time,

Get them wet and then walk in the dust and lit them dry like that. You'll have caked on campaign dust that will give the impression of wear just by being dirty.
Good Luck!