Creature Clothes Classic Leather Dog Collars – a truly timeless classic and the very first thing we ever made. This is what started Creature Clothes.
This is a very special dog collar. Each collar is individually cut and worked by hand to ensure a lovely soft fit against your dog’s neck. We use strong 3-4mm leather on our larger sizes, slightly thinner on our smaller sizes. The strength and thickness of the leather means that we do not need to stitch the collars – you have a beautiful, soft, strong, simple finish.
We chamfer the undersides, bevelling off a small angle on the bottom 2 edges of the collar, using a leather hand tool called a Matar Carpas – roughly translated as a Murderer of Edges. It is certainly true to its name – a tiny but leathal little blade that slices off a few millimeters. But wow do those millimeters make a huge difference to the comfort of the collar on your dog’s neck.
The edges of the collar are then hand painted and sealed. The body of the collar, both top and bottom is painted with Neatsfoot Oil to give a waterproofing treatment before the collar comes out to you. The collar is then “pulled” – literally pulled through cloth by hand – like sanding wood but with very fine sandpaper. This takes off any rough little pieces of leather or paint and gives the collar it’s very first bit of wear, so it is even more comfortable when worn.
The collar is then made up, using solid brass buckles and dee rings – nothing welded or weak that could break. Incidentally we have been using the same buckles on our collars for the past 20 years – that is 20 years of strength testing built into each collar!
The collars are available either plain or with studs, in stars, hearts or bones, in either a silver (nickle plated brass) finish, or varnished brass.
Our studs are hand made for us in Menorca by a traditional artisan family. The stars, hearts or bones are individually cut from sheets of brass, then the rivet backs are welded on one by one. Again, by hand. This is to ensure that the stud is as strong as it can possibly be. Other studs are often made of composite materials that can shatter or break. We use solid brass because although it is a much more expensive material, it will not shatter or break and is incredibly strong. It is the best material for the job, which is why we use it.
This process is in keeping with how decorative bridles and saddles have been made for the Menorcan fiestas over many years. Menorca is well known for it’s amazing fiestas, when every town celebrates its Patron Saint. People dance and sing in the streets, Pomada is drunk (a potent mix of Menorcan gin (Xuriguer) and fanta lemon), towns are decorated, spectacular firework displays erupt each weekend of the summer. But what is most unique to these celebrations is the Jaleo, when horses and riders from each town dance through the streets. First the riders attend mass in the main square and are blessed, leaving the church to the solemn beat of a hand held drum. The horses await their steeds outside in the main square. Then the procession starts, horses and riders first parading to the mayor to be greeted, the brass band then springs to life and the Jaleo begins. Horses and riders dance in pairs into the village square, which is now full of people. They circle and prance, finally rearing up on their hind legs amidst the crowds of people vying to touch the horses bellies as good luck. If the horses or riders are disrespected in any way the Jaleo is stopped. Thought to date back to the fourteenth century as a way to prepare horses for battle. The horses and riders are dressed in their finery, the men and women in white shirts and sharp black suits and hats. The horses with beautifully embroidered saddle blankets and rosettes, with spectacular hand made leather saddles and bridles – all decorated with the very same star and heart studs that we use in our dog collars.
I was very lucky to spend a lot of my childhood growing up in Menorca, and it is so special to have something at the heart of Menorcan culture and the heart of my business.
Available in 6 sizes:
Size 1 -