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The origins of the term Groomsmen The first recorded use of the word ‘groomsmen’, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, was as recently as 1698, although the words ‘bride’ and ‘groom’ both date back to Old English. Originally the word ‘groom’ simply meant ‘man’, but by Shakespeare’s time it had come to mean ‘a male attendant’. The tradition of ‘groomsmen,’ as trusted companions of the bridegroom, seems to date back to least the Anglo-Saxon period, at which time the groom was protected by a group of loyal warriors. The groomsmen may have been used to abduct the bride from her family or to ..read more

What is Cork Leather? Cork leather is made from the bark of Cork Oaks. Cork Oaks grow naturally in the Mediterranean region of Europe, which produces 80% of the world’s cork, but high-quality cork is now also being grown in China and India. Cork trees must be at least 25 years old before the bark can be harvested and even then, the harvest can only take place once every 9 years. When done by an expert, harvesting the cork from a Cork Oak does not harm the tree, on the contrary, the removal of sections of the bark stimulates regeneration which extends the life of a tree. A cork oak will produce ..read more

Travelling can oftentimes get quite stressful. Long queues, large crowds of people, that niggling feeling you’ve forgotten something and, for some people, the fear of flying. Small things help to relieve this stress. Ensuring your electronics, liquids and passport are all easy to access can save time in long queues. Additionally, making sure your luggage is comfortable to carry around yet large enough to store all your items can help to remove any tension or strain of lugging around heavy bags. Why Choose A Duffle As Your Carry On? Duffle bags make great bags for carry on luggage. They have a ..read more

What is a Doctor’s Bag? A doctor’s bag (also known as a gladstone bag) is a bag traditionally used by doctors to carry around medical supplies when visiting patients. Typically a smart, structured bag made from stiff leather (a saddle or vegetable tanned leather) the bags have a large opening at the top, allowing them to be opened widely.  << View Our Range Of Leather Doctor's Bags Here >> History of the Doctor’s Bag Leather doctor’s bags date all the way back to the Victorian era. They are traditionally known as gladstone bags named after Victorian prime minister ..read more

How to clean a suede jacket Suede is a far more delicate material than leather and you should always take care to avoid getting your suede jacket heavily soiled.  Regular light cleaning should ensure that your jacket always looks its best.  Invest in a two-sided suede brush.  The wire side is effective in removing dry mud or dirt and the soft side can then be used to buff up the nap.  Only ever use the wire brush on dry suede and never apply extreme pressure or you may damage the surface of the suede.  Always brush in the direction of the grain.  If you spill a li ..read more

Hairdressing is the occupation of someone who cuts, colours or styles hair, usually licensed as a hairdresser, barber or cosmetologist. The first record of the word ‘hairdresser’ dates back to the 17th century in Europe. In fact, if you look back through history, hair has always been a key feature in the fashion of an era and has been used to iconise historic figures such as Queen Elizabeth I, Cleopatra and Marie Antoinette. While then such hairstyles were limited to the wealthy, today everyone has access to hairdressing facilities. Many high streets have several hairdresser and barber shops a ..read more

DISCLAIMER: This article is prepared for informational purposes only and is prepared to the best of our knowledge. Welding is extremely dangerous and should only be carried out by experienced individuals. MAHI products are not approved safe wear and we make no warranties about their ability to protect an individual when welding. Welding is the process of joining materials (most commonly metals or thermoplastics) by using a high heat to melt parts together. This is a hazardous process, and protective measures are needed in order to avoid burns, electric shock, damage to vision, high UV radiat ..read more

Bartending is one of the oldest (and arguably most respected) professions. It’s history dates back to Ancient Roman, Greek and Asian societies. There is recorded evidence from the time of Julius Caesar’s reign and from even earlier in Ancient Greece of public drinking houses where people went to socialise, be entertained and served drinks poured by craftsmen. By the Middle Ages, bartending had grown into a full-time profession, mainly occupied by alehouse owners and female innkeepers who brewed their own drinks such as wine and mead. This considered them part of the social elite as they could ..read more

Vegetable Tanning Usually made with bark extracts, leaves, fruit and roots - all vegetable tannins contain the aromatic, organic compound Phenol, which is required for tanning leather. Vegetable tanning is a long and intricate process; taking more time than chrome tanning, which can be done in a day, but arguably far more worth it environmentally. The first step in the vegetable tanning process is prepping the hides, rehydrating and removing the hair. The next step is to tan the hide. Historically this was simply done with a series of pits containing different concentrations of tanni ..read more