Deadly Ponies in a Nutshell

DEADLY PONIESProduct Information Guide

Deadly Ponies Product Information Guide

Product Information Guide Deadly Ponies

Let’s start from the beginning by responding to the question on the lips of every newcomer to our brand. Deadly Ponies has nothing in common with dead horses, in fact it has more in common with warm feet than cold hooves. We’ll explain.

Head designer and owner Liam Bowden began his label back in 2004 in the final year of his graphic design degree, almost by accident. His genuine love for natural products combined with and innate talent for all things well constructed set him on a seemingly inevitable path.

It began small, very small.

A leather wallet here, a bracelet there, sold in market stalls around Auckland set the ball rolling. Before long the production line included bags of all shapes and sizes. In those days, a small-time but hot retail store took a chance on Bowden. In the space of just two weeks, his hobbyhorse began to canter and every item that hit the shop floor had bolted.

And so it began.

Deadly Ponies was the nickname for Bowden’s furry slippers. !ey were so stealth he could sneak around undetected and, after convincing classmates they were made from pony fur, the name had stuck. As the seasons passed, the same soft-footed approach has held the brand in high-regard by those in the know.

Small-scale production and highest-quality, well-handled craftsmanship, remains at the forefront of every Deadly Ponies design. It has become a critical element in evolving the brand and ensuring a loyal, devoted and at times obsessive clientele.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN


Deadly Ponies bags and jewellery are constructed in the Auckland workroom by our talented leather creatives and craftspeople.

When you see the Deadly Ponies team working with the skins, you appreciate both their skill and their genuine level of care. !ese are artisans working on a product of beauty.

But that love for the product begins long before the hides arrive in Auckland. !eir hands and eyes are at work from the time the skins are purchased at source. In the tannery, New Zealand’s most skilled dyers create seasonal custom colours and each skin passes through more than 30 steps before reaching its finished state. Before being shipped to our Auckland workshop, they are inspected for quality by the best eyes in the business and are only then ready for cutting, sewing, finishing and dispatch.

Every season Deadly Ponies continues to experiment with processes, identifying new looks and finish to keep the range fresh and innovative. We use of some of the best production techniques in the world and a selection of the world’s best deer hide. !ere’s a reason why our leather feels the best – that’s because it is. From the ethically sourced greenest and cleanest farms in the world, right here in NZ. In Auckland our bags are constructed using very traditional techniques, all cut sewn and finished on site. Heavy seams hammered, rivets finished with a foot punch, before being wrapped and hung, ready for the journey ahead.

BUILD IT AND THEY’LL COME




Each season we like to create fresh new colours or develop innovative tanning techniques that can act to naturally age the leather or reveal di"erent colours with wear. But it is the natural forms of the hide that truly makes every Deadly Ponies bag unique.

From the beauty of the finish to the guaranteed workability, we could not dream of a better material to work with. For our customer there are even more reasons to invest in Deadly Ponies deer nappa.

for greater variation between hides and a unique look on each bag.

with age

We are also proud that Deadly Ponies is a loyal New Zealand brand dedicated to using local suppliers and manufacturing where possible. !is principled attitude to developing local skills and craftsmanship of quality leather goods ensures the retention of expertise and unrivaled after sale support and repair.

WHAT GOES IN


GENERAL LEATHER CARE Your Deadly Ponies bag is made using only the best leathers we can find. Every hide is unique; tonal variations, marks or veins are natural features of the leather and should not be considered imperfections. !e hardware has been selected for its quality and durability.

To preserve the original quality of your bag we recommend:

wet, dab with a soft neutral cloth to absorb the moisture

some leathers, the scratches may be reduced by delicately massaging the leather against your skin

some leather, suede in particular, may shed some colour

GENERAL FUR CAREYour Deadly Ponies product is made using the softest, most luxurious furs we can find. Tonal variations and di"ering hair direction is a natural feature and each fur is completely unique from the next.

Over time the fur will become shorter in areas that receive repeated friction. !is is a natural progression of the fur and should not be considered an imperfection. In order to slow this natural process please avoid harsh wear and store in the protection bag provided.

To clean the fur, first brush delicately in the direction of the hair (not against the knap) to remove loose dirt. !en, using a damp cloth, gently rub the fur being sure to avoid excessive moisture.

WHY WE CARE




GENERAL HARDWARE CARE

to corrosion. Despite being generally resistant to tarnishing, high levels of air pollution will cause our brass components to patina over time. !is is a natural occurrence, however brass is very simple to care for. It can be restored to its original shine by using a commercial brass cleaner. Apply it with a toothbrush or soft cloth, then wipe thoroughly being sure to avoid getting any residue on leather. To reduce tarnishing while the bag is not in use store in its protection bag.

LOOKING AFTER YOUOur priority is to build a brand with integrity. We reward customers for having faith in us by showing pride in all our products. We have developed a returns policy that promises we will repair any faulty product, however we expect our customers to handle our bags with love. A handbag is the one item, (except maybe your wedding ring), that you will wear daily and for that reason customers and stockists should expect general wear and tear to occur over time.

Deadly Ponies also believes that our products transcend the usual seasonal changes associated with clothing labels. Our bags hold their value from the beginning to the end of a season, for that reason we prefer not to see our products assigned to the sale rack.

Deadly Ponies operates a strict supplier policy and are very proud of the style and support of the stores that represent us. We like to think that makes you and us a little bit exclusive. We are a small, passionate New Zealand label and every season we construct your bags especially to order. So make sure your purchase wisely to suit the needs of your customers and let them be a part of our little secret.



Q: !e bone has fallen o" my Mr Sling – can I get a replacement?A: Yes you can send an email to [email protected] and we will send you a replacement. !ere will be a small charge for postage and handling.

Q: I love the Mr….but it is from 2009, are you making any more, or can you make a one o"?A: Not always but occasionally we will re-release a style. Get you and your friends to hassle us on facebook and we might have no choice.

Q: I bought Mr… at …shop in Sydney but it is faulty and I want a refund. Can I send it back to you and can you refund me the purchase price?A: We stand by the quality of our product but can’t always control how rough some people are. We ask that you return the bag to the store you brought it from so they can determine if it is a manufacturing fault.

Q: I have a pen mark on the front of my bag, what should I do to get it o"?A: Hop onto our website (www.deadlyponies.com/pages/care) to find extended details on caring for your bag and specific instructions on removing a pen mark.

Q: I got pen on my bag and I tried to gently rub it o" with warm water, and it has taken the colour out of my bag. Can I return it to you?A: Leather is a natural product that requires great care when repairing. If you have damaged the leather while attempting to clean it your need to take it to a specialist leather repairer. Unfortunately we can only repair construction faults, not areas where the dye has leached.

Q: I bought a light coloured bag, if I wear it with jeans will the blue rub o" onto my bag? A: Yes it can. Be very careful, particularly with dark denim because the dye will be very hard to remove from the leather.

Q: !e panels on my Mr Chain Gang don’t match perfectly, can I return it?A: Our products are made with natural leather and the variance in the pebbling (the grain of the leather) is a natural feature of the leather. We will not accept returns for this reason as this quality is precisely what makes DP bags so unique. Just think, your bag is one of a kind.

FREQUENTLY ASKED Q’S


Q: !e fur is rubbing o" my wallet/bag, can you please fix it?A: !is is a natural progression of the fur. !ere is nothing we can do to fix it but you can slow down the process if you check out our fur care instructions on our website.

Q: I bought the Mr…about a year ago and the leather has changed colour quite a lot. Can you please replace it.A: No sorry. Our leather like all natural products will wear over time. When using a

way it a"ects your skin. Check out our care instructions and consider treating the leather with a moisturiser.

Q: I’ve lost my protection bag, can I get another one?A: Yes of course, email [email protected]. We will send you a new one, a postage and handling fee may apply.

Q: Is it possible to buy a longer strap?A: Yes sometimes. It depends on the colour as they may be out of stock. [email protected] to enquire about this. You will need to know the colour and name of your bag.

If you or your customers have any other questions don’t hesitate to flick us an email. All our contact details can be found on the back of this booklet.

FREQUENTLY ASKED Q’S


Documents

Deadly Ponies in a Nutshell