Not all leather is made the same way. Not all leather is meant to do the same thing. At Rustic Wren, we use two distinct leathers — one for the notebooks, one for the brush rolls — chosen specifically for what each product needs to do and how it needs to age.

Notebook leather colours. 

Full-grain. Australian hides. Victorian tannery.

The leather used in every Rustic Wren notebook cover comes from a tannery in Victoria, sourced from Australian cattle. It is full-grain — the surface of the hide is left intact, not buffed or corrected. That means the leather carries the natural markings of the animal: subtle variations in texture, faint grain patterns, the quiet evidence of a life lived.

It sits between 1.8 and 2mm thick. Firm enough to hold its shape, supple enough to settle into your hands over time.

The colours are rich and stable — they don't fade or shift unexpectedly with use. What does deepen is the tone: the oils from your hands work into the grain slowly, building a patina that is particular to you. A notebook carried in a bag every day for five years will look entirely different from one kept on a desk. Neither is better. Both are honest.

Blacksmith

Deep and commanding, Blacksmith is a true black leather with a clean matte finish — like forged iron, burnished and bold. Subtle marks from stretch, scars, or brands are part of the hide's history, adding to its strength and rugged appeal. This is the kind of leather that wears in, not out — built to work hard and last long.

Ochre

Warm and weathered, Ochre draws on the soft earth tones of the Australian interior. Its honeyed tan colouring is consistent across each piece, with a matte finish that feels both natural and refined. Like sunbaked stone or worn leather boots, it carries the marks of time with quiet dignity — every scar, scratch, or growth line adding to its story.

Brumby

Strong and untamed, Brumby is a deep chocolate brown that reflects the wild freedom of its namesake. With a rich, earthy base and a smooth matte surface, this leather shows its scars with pride. Think saddle-worn resilience and the grounded weight of something made to last — raw, ready, and full of character.

Salt Bush

Cool and grounded, Salt Bush captures the green-grey tones of the hardy native shrub. The matte finish is soft to the touch, with a colour that holds steady and clean. Flecks and markings from the hide's natural life bring in a raw authenticity — the kind of beauty that doesn't need polishing.

Ink Well

Deep navy with a flash of cobalt blue beneath — Ink Well is classic, composed, and quietly bold. Like aged ink in a calligrapher's bottle, it brings depth without shouting. Its matte surface may carry the light markings of its journey, but they only add to its lived-in charm. This is a colour for thinkers, writers, and those who work with purpose.

Rustic Whiskey

Rich, warm, and full of character, Rustic Whiskey is a waxed leather that wears its story proudly. With shifting tones of light and dark across the surface, it develops a patina over time — like a well-aged drop poured neat at the end of a long day. The high wax content gives it a natural pull-up effect: marks rise and fade with use, movement brings new depth, and resting restores its original hue. It's leather that moves with you — scuffed, softened, and better for the wear.

Utility / brush roll leather colours.

Upholstery grade. New Zealand tannery.

The leather used in the brush rolls is a different material entirely — and deliberately so. Brush rolls are handled constantly. They're rolled and unrolled, laid on workbenches, tucked into bags. They need a leather that can flex repeatedly without cracking, that resists marks and moisture, and that can be wiped over without ceremony.

Upholstery leather does all of that. Sourced from a tannery in New Zealand, it has a softer hand than the notebook leather — more pliable, more forgiving. It doesn't develop the same deep patina as the notebook hides, but it wears beautifully in its own way: softening and relaxing with use, developing a character that comes from being used hard and looked after well.

BUTTERSCOTCH LEATHER

Warm and sun-mellowed, Butterscotch is a soft caramel leather with a gentle natural sheen. It has the feel of something already loved — supple from the first touch, with a lightness that makes it easy to carry and a warmth that only deepens with use. This is a leather that doesn't need to prove itself. It just gets better, quietly, every time it leaves the drawer.

TOBACCO LEATHER

Dark and settled, Tobacco is a deep brown with the easy confidence of something that's already seen a few seasons. The upholstery leather gives it a relaxed weight — not stiff, not precious — and its naturally aged surface means it arrives looking like it has a history. With time and use, that history only gets richer. For the maker who wants a roll that works as hard as they do.

WORN SADDLE LEATHER

Worn Saddle looks like it was found, not made — and that's the point. Its brushed surface carries a vintage softness that feels immediately familiar, the kind of thing you'd pull out of an old kit bag and find still going strong. The supple upholstery leather underneath is light and flexible, comfortable to handle, and happy to soften further with every use. This is a leather for people who know that the best tools come with marks already on them.

Caring for your leather

Both leathers are made to last. Neither needs much. A few things worth knowing.

For the notebooks: Full-grain leather rarely needs conditioning — the oils from your hands do much of the work over time. If the leather ever feels dry or stiff (more likely in very dry climates), a small amount of leather conditioner applied with a soft cloth will restore suppleness. Avoid soaking it in water. If it gets wet, let it dry slowly away from direct heat. Rustic Whiskey, being a waxed pull-up leather, is particularly forgiving — light scuffs can often be buffed out by hand.

For the brush rolls: The upholstery leather can be wiped over with a barely damp cloth — that's one of the reasons it was chosen. For deeper cleaning, a small amount of leather cleaner on a soft cloth is all it needs. Like the notebooks, avoid prolonged exposure to water and dry slowly if it gets wet.

Both leathers: Keep them away from prolonged direct sunlight, which will dry out any leather over time. Store them somewhere with a little airflow rather than sealed in plastic. And don't try to rush the ageing process — the patina on good leather earns itself. Give it time.