"Look here," the chairman bent slightly, his rough palm resting on the back of the fabric, fingertips gently tracing several natural grain lines. "The fiber density is sufficient, and the tightness meets the standard for tote bags. However, in this belly-area section, the hand feel is noticeably looser. If used directly for a structured silhouette, the side support will definitely be compromised."
The assistant at my side immediately took up the thread, draping a freshly cut handbag pattern over the leather to demonstrate: "The Chairman is right. If we proceed with the original plan and include this section in the cut, the resulting saddle bag will have a vintage look, but its corners are prone to deformation under stress. We'll need to recalibrate the fatliquoring and skiving parameters."
"Yes, we can't cut corners by violating our red lines." A leather engineer frowned, leaning in and measuring the hide thickness with his finger. "I recommend that for this batch, the humidity and temperature settings must be recalibrated during the subsequent edging and shaping processes."
The pattern maker quickly marked the sample and looked up. "If we increase the material's tensile strength by 0.5 degrees, should we extend the vegetable tannin soaking time during tanning by two days?"
"Time isn't the issue; it's about achieving the hand feel and tensile strength that meet our brand clients' rigorous standards." The chairman straightened up, his gaze sweeping across everyone in the room. His tone was steady yet unequivocal: "When handbag clients entrust us with their designs, they're placing their trust in us. A single flaw in the leather means scrap once it reaches them. Starting today, all hides entering the sample room must be re-inspected. Any material that doesn't meet these requirements for durability and texture will be sent back to the workshop for process adjustment."
Several engineers and pattern makers diligently recorded the requirements, then leaned forward to examine the next hide. At this long worktable, the debate and refinement over what makes a good hide continued.