ABOUT US

At International Colours we are deeply passionate about supporting local in the way that we conduct our business and distribute our brands Jekyll & Hide, Brando, and Bella Bianca. We are dedicated to South Africa and fully support those who contribute to the country in meaningful ways. Let us share how we strive to make a positive impact.

Our story began in a garage in Hout Bay in 2002 and has grown to employ approximately 60 people in South Africa, adding 9-12 employees annually since 2020. We source leather from a minimum of 10 countries and manufacture both locally and internationally. Over the years, we’ve produced in seven countries, including India, China, Italy, Turkey, and other parts of Europe. We also own a factory in Durban, South Africa which does
manufacture certain J&H items but predominantly it produces for Brando, Bella Bianca, and the hospitality industry.

Our company competes with global brands, and our products are sold across 4 continents. With offices in the United Kingdom, India, and China, we continue to expand and creating jobs despite local challenges. During the Corona pandemic, while many were downsizing, we hired 10 new employees in South Africa. To be competitive on a global scale, relying solely on South African manufacturing is not feasible. The leather trade operates internationally, with raw materials priced in USD.

Interestingly, leather from South African tanneries often doesn’t come from South African cattle. Many raw hides are imported, treated locally, and then used in products marketed as South African-made, despite having an international supply chain.

Every Jekyll & Hide product begins in our Cape Town design studio. All designs are created by our team of four professionals at The Old Castle Brewery in Woodstock, who collectively bring about 50 years of design experience.

We have considered manufacturing exclusively in South Africa but it would limit us to being a boutique brand. Prices would be higher, and we’d only produce a fraction of what we currently do. This approach would likely also result in only a handful of jobs in South Africa instead of the 60 (and growing) we have created so far. That’s why we’ve chosen the model that allows us to support South Africa in the best way we can.

For consumers looking to buy high quality products leather products made in South Africa, we typically recommend buying from Bella Bianca or Cape Cobra.

To succeed in the leather industry and provide world-class products at a competitive price, we operate as a global company. We source leather and manufacture around the world, ensuring we can offer high-quality products at scale while contributing to a legacy for our staff and our community in South Africa.

Thank you for reading.

None of our items are mass produced and they are meticulously hand-crafted with each component undergoing vigorous testing so you can rest easy when you invest in a piece of Jekyll & Hide.

Be it Jekyll & Hide jackets, leather briefcases, leather backpacks, hand and cabin luggage, leather briefcases or authentic handmade handbags, rest assured that we’ve got all your luxury leather needs covered.