Dégradé leather shirt

Dégradé leather shirt

Dégradé is the French term for a graded colour — one tone fading gradually into another across the garment rather than meeting at a seam. On this women's leather shirt the colour deepens as it moves down the body, so the shoulders sit lighter than the hem. It is the most distinctive piece in our women leather shirts range, and the hardest of them to produce.

• Material: Genuine soft leather with a hand-graded dye finish
• Fit: Regular women's fit
• Closure: Button front
• Color: Graded, light through to dark
• Care: Dry wipe only, keep out of sunlight, professional leather clean

How a graded finish is made

A flat colour is applied to the whole hide at once in a drum. A dégradé cannot be done that way — the gradient has to be built up by hand, spraying or wiping successive passes of dye so that each one covers slightly less area than the last. The transitions have to be blended while the dye is still open, and every panel of the shirt has to be finished so the gradient lines up once the garment is assembled. That is why graded leather pieces are uncommon and why no two are identical.

Expect variation — it is the point

Because the finish is applied by hand, the exact position of the transition varies a little from garment to garment, and the leather's own grain shows through more in the lighter areas than the dark. This is not a defect. A graded piece that looked mechanically identical to the photograph would almost certainly have been printed rather than dyed.

Protecting the gradient

Sunlight is the enemy here more than on any plain leather shirt, because fading affects the light and dark areas at different rates and can flatten the gradient over time. Store it away from windows, and do not use a general leather cleaner on it — solvents lift hand-applied dye. Wipe with a dry cloth only, and take it to a specialist if it ever needs more than that.

Wearing it

Keep the rest of the outfit plain so the gradient reads clearly: black or neutral trousers, simple shoes, minimal jewellery. It works well tucked, where the darkest part of the gradient disappears into the waistband and the lighter shoulders carry the look.

Sizing and made to order

Order by bust measurement, with Custom available for your own figures — send bust, waist, shoulder, sleeve, and length. Sizes run XS to 5XL. Each shirt is dyed and cut to order, so allow for the extra finishing time on a graded piece.

Shop Related Styles at Leather Outlet

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does dégradé mean?

It is a graded colour finish — one tone fading into another across the garment.

Will my shirt look exactly like the photo?

Very close, but the gradient is applied by hand so small variations are normal and expected.

Is the leather real?

Yes, genuine soft leather with a hand-applied dye finish.

How do I clean it?

Dry cloth only. Solvent cleaners lift hand-applied dye, so use a specialist if more is needed.

Will it fade?

It can in direct sunlight, which affects light and dark areas unevenly. Store it away from windows.

Can I order a custom size?

Yes. Choose Custom and send bust, waist, shoulder, sleeve, and length.

Is shipping free?

Yes, free worldwide shipping with secure checkout.