Materials
RECOMMENDATIONS
The durability of all the materials we use will give you more than enough performance for your Babau to accompany you for years.
If you use your Babau normally, using it every day but taking minimal care as is customary with something you value, you won’t need to read any of the instructions below; just choose the one you like best.
If, on the other hand, you are going to use it very, very intensively without worrying about the surfaces where you leave it (on the street floor, in the subway, etc.), if you walk a lot around the city and your bag or backpack will rub against different types of walls, etc., then read the characteristics of each material to choose the most suitable one for you. And remember, no matter how durable the materials we use are, there is always a limit, a limit we have seen crossed on some occasions.
What materials do we use?
The raw materials we use largely come from local suppliers or, at the very least, from European sources. The requirements of European regulations safeguard our health and the environment, so all the manufacturers we work with adhere to these standards.
All our materials comply with the REACH STANDARD regulation and have many more qualities than most used in the leather goods sector; waterproofing, stain-resistant treatments, antibacterial, anti-mite, fire-resistant, and more.
They are considerably more expensive but help us stand apart from the rest and strengthen the image we want to associate with Babau.
Our filters
For us, the choice of a material must necessarily go through two filters:
The first is the appearance; it must provide a color and texture that fits what we are looking for in the specific season. We have to like it and it must be appealing.
The second includes the origin, durability, and ease of working with it. Whenever we can, we use recycled materials, but when we do not find any that pass the first filter, we use new fabrics that offer us great strength and durability. In our case, we use materials designed for the world of upholstery, both indoor and outdoor (garden, boating, etc.).
DELTA Material
Designed by Babau, made to last
The material DELTA is no ordinary fabric. We developed it ourselves, together with our supplier, after many months of testing, prototypes, and research. We sought a material that was not only attractive or different but that met exactly what we needed to create our bags: durability, structure, lightness, and character.
It is a technical polyester fabric coated with PVC, commonly used in fields such as healthcare, industry, or boating. And this is no coincidence: it is long-lasting, easy to clean, and very resistant to heavy use. Moreover, it keeps the shape and appearance of the bag over time, as if it just came out of the workshop.
One of its most distinctive features is the texture with thousands of tiny microtriangles, which gives it a slightly grainy finish, visually rich yet discreet at the same time. This geometric pattern not only adds character and depth but also increases its strength and makes cleaning easier.
On top of all this, there is a detail we love: the material is painted with two different tones, creating a true two-tone effect, not just visual. This layering of colors highlights the relief of the micro-engraving and enhances the play of shades depending on the light and the angle from which it is viewed. The result is a lively, dynamic material full of personality.
DELTA has its own identity, halfway between industrial and elegant.
We chose —and adapted— it because we wanted a material worthy of the Babau idea: bags designed for real life, that can accompany you every day, anywhere, and that stay like new without giving up design.
Because of its look, texture, and performance, we love to say that DELTA is 100% Babau: we searched for it, tested it, adjusted it… and today it is part of our identity.
Material Seatbelt
Safety turned into design
The structure of the car seatbelt is made up of polyester PET filaments and, as its name suggests, it has been designed to ensure safety within the automobile industry. In this sector, all components must pass strict quality controls, especially those directly related to the protection of people. Seatbelts, therefore, are subject to even greater demands.
The factory that produces them is located in the same town as our workshop: Terrassa. From there we obtain production surpluses and batches with minor defects that we reuse to make our "unbreakable" bags. This process is known as pre-consumer recycling, and fits perfectly with the circular economy model towards which we believe society should move.
It is an extremely sturdy material, far more than necessary to make a bag, which places our bags and backpacks among the most durable on the market.
However, that same density that gives it its strength is also responsible for one of its few drawbacks: the weight. A bag made with seatbelts can weigh roughly the same as another of similar size made of leather.
As for water resistance, although it is not total, the high density of the material provides greater water resistance than most conventional fabrics.
About stains, dyes, and responsibilities
Although the materials we use are of very high quality and have specific stain-resistant finishes, the migration of pigments, dyes, and colorants — such as those used in the denim of some jeans, leathers, microfibers, etc. — is an almost irreversible effect on many surfaces, especially on lighter-colored materials.
Remember: if a Babau gets stained in this way, the fault is not with the materials we use, but with the garment that bleeds color. As we often say: "the paper is not to blame for being marked by a felt-tip pen."
If you have doubts about whether a garment may bleed color, you can do a very simple test at home: take a sheet of paper and rub it firmly against the garment. If the paper comes out stained… it means that fabric can also transfer dye to your bag!
We have even tested this with jeans over 3 years old and after many washes... and yes, the paper also ended up with traces of color.
This does not only affect our bags: the exact same thing would happen to any other item, even a luxury one costing over 2,000 €, if it rubs against a fabric that releases dye.
In fact, brands like Levi's are very clear in their policy:
"We do not offer refunds or replacements for garments stained due to dye transfer. We are also not responsible for cleaning costs or other damages caused by this phenomenon."
At Babau, we are more approachable, more close, and more "human" than many big brands, and that is why we receive all your comments and questions directly.
We like to face things and stand by those who choose us. And that also means explaining things clearly, even if sometimes we cannot give the answer you would like to hear.
Our commitment is to continue designing honest, durable, and beautiful products, with extraordinary materials and as much transparency as possible.