Some materials speak to us on a deeper level — through touch, scent, texture, and presence. Leather is one of them. Although used for centuries, we’re witnessing a quiet shift: leather is taking on a new role in architecture and interior design, no longer just a decorative accent, but a genuine design element.

MARAI garments and belts are made in a small family-run workshop in Oporto, Portugal. The workshop is led by a brother-sister team who bring years of expertise to their craft – supported by two seamstresses and an elderly gentleman in charge of cutting.

Our garment leather is what's known as semi-aniline leather. This means it receives a light pigmentation – a thin layer of color that protects the leather without covering its natural surface. The grain remains largely untreated, and the pores stay open.

An animal's hide reflects its life - and that's what defines our leather. Animals that grow slowly in a natural environment develop a firmer, denser hide structure. In contrast, rapid growth on intensive feedlots can result in a looser fibre structure.