Replies

1. 
   derekcohen | Dec 18, 2008 01:19pm | #1

   Hi Gary

   What are you looking for? As I understand, a riempie is a open/wide type of weave on a bench or seat, usually of leather.

   View Image

   http://www.wikihow.com/Riempie-a-Chair

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   GaryK | Dec 18, 2008 09:19pm | #2

   Hi Derek,

    

   Your understanding is, of course, correct. There is a large South African immigrant population here and they are requesting 'riempie(d) chairs'.  From what I have learned the leather in question is of a particular colour and texture. The individual strands are sold in approx 2 meter lengths and are referred to as 'riempies'. And these are what I am trying to source.

    

   Regards to you as well, from the west coast of Canada.

    

   Gary Kahne

1. 
   derekcohen | Dec 19, 2008 05:23am | #3

   Hi Gary

   From memory - I have not seen one in years - you could use any leather. It can be square sectioned - like thick boot laces - or a flat section, like a narrow belt. I'd aim for about 1/4" thick in all cases.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   GaryK | Dec 19, 2008 10:18pm | #5

   Thanks Derek,

    

   May have to resort to that in the end but would prefer the genuine article.

    

2. 
   philip | Dec 19, 2008 12:45pm | #4

   Gary,
   You don't have the computer thing that will translate?
   I think you are on the right track in trying to get the leather strips from South Africa, though, as then they will be authentic . But on the other hand if you got a small amount you would have samples to use in getting them made locally.

   Philip Marcou
1. 
   GaryK | Dec 19, 2008 10:23pm | #6

   Hi Philip,

   After reading your post I was thinking I could just capture a local South African and chain him to my computer for a few minutes. Since all the ones around here seem to be doctors, I'd just have to 'hide in the bushes and look sick'. This being Canada they would stop to help.

    

   Thanks for the reply

    

   Gary

1. 
   Nollie | Dec 20, 2008 08:56pm | #7

   Hi,

   I am from South Africa and living in the country side in the northern part of the country.

   Riempies are used often in chair and bench seating. The seating can be used as is to sit on or can be covered with a thin pillow.

   Riempies are made from hide, especially Kudu hide. Kudu is an antelope that roams a large area of Africa. The best riempies are made from Kudu hide.

   A friend of mine, witch passed away a few years back used to make riempies in the traditional way. It took him about 2 hours to explane the proses from the raw hide through to the riempies. It is a long proses.

   Cow hide can be used. Not the leather that you would buy from an upholstery shop- this is thinned out to much. You must use cow hide of wich the hair has been removed and not thinned out at all. Cut this hide in 6mm strips and riempie your chair or bench seats. Riempies gives a natural look with the wood.

   I hope this explained well enough . I am Afrikaans speaking.

   I have posted a picture of a two seater in Wood and Materials

   Enjoy your riempie

1. 
   Shoemaker1 | Dec 21, 2008 10:51pm | #8

   As my handle say's
   Got all kinds of leather here, but antelope is hard to find tanned even in Sask were they run around by the 1,000's easier to scrap one off your wind sheild/ bumper.
   Get hold of LaBelle Supply in Vancouver. They sell shoe repair materials and leather. They could probably find something there.
   Or BC Fur Dressers if they are still around. Google leather supplies and see what you get.
   Just a guess an oil tanned latigo sounds like it would work. Different sizes and strong as hell but still has some give.
   Keep us posted

3. 
   Deleted | Oct 18, 2012 08:53am | #9

   “[Deleted]”

4. 
   Reg66 | Oct 19, 2012 03:19pm | #10

   Try these folks

   http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/home.aspx

   Regis

5. 
   riempieman | Nov 28, 2012 06:03am | #11

   I am a source for riempies :)

   Hi Gary

   You can't just use normal leather strips as riempies as the method of manufacturing and tanning is different from actual riempies. We can make 2 types of riempies, the original raw kudu hide riempie made from a recipe inherited from my great great grandmother, and the standard white tanned cattle hide riempie. I would love to start sending these throughout the world so let me know if you are still looking for proper riempies

   

1. 
   RalphBarker | Nov 29, 2012 11:42am | #12

   riempie storage

   Can we assume that those made from your great great grandmother's recipe are stored in a riempie safe with perforated tin panels?  ;-)

1. 
   riempieman | Jan 14, 2013 09:31am | #13

   Perforated tin can

   RalphBarker wrote:

   Can we assume that those made from your great great grandmother's recipe are stored in a riempie safe with perforated tin panels?  ;-)

   Hahaha well, not the riempies, but definitely the recipe :D :D

2. 
   lucy | Jun 14, 2016 02:13pm | #17

   Supply riempies to the USA?

   I need some riempies to repair my chairs; I don't know where you are - do you ship to the USA? Prices??

   Thanks.

6. 
   Riempiespan | Mar 23, 2014 09:24am | #14

   Raw riempies

   Hi Gary,

   Please contact Johan Geyser from 'Die Riempiespan'. He can assist you with all you need to know as well as homemade raw riempies.

   Die Riempiespan

   Johan en Freda Geyser

   082 920 7184 * 082 777 3901

7. 
   leatherite International | Mar 19, 2015 05:33am | #15

   Leather Riempies-Leatherite International

   Leatherite International

   Wholesalers of leather and riempies for chairs

   We stock white and raw riempies for chairs.

   We send them all over the world.

   Please view our website @www.leatherite.co.za for more information

   We wholesale all different types of leather , leathercraft tools , buckles ect

   +27 0 12 8043520

   
8. 
   Lynp12 | Nov 30, 2015 09:56pm | #16

   Riempie suppliers in Australia

   Does anyone know of riempie suppliers in Australia

9. 
   Suzandy | Jun 29, 2016 05:59am | #18

   Riempies

   We supply both raw and white riempies from South Africa.

   Visit:  http://www.suzandy.co.uk/Mail%20Order%20Prices.htm#Riempie  

   email info@suzandy for further details.

   Raw riempie is like rawhide and ideal for canoe seats.  Available in 6mm and 8mm widths.

10. 
    milokerr | Apr 22, 2017 12:25pm | #19

    I have recently bought some riempies from De Jonge Riempies in Johannesburg. I ordered on line from the UK and received his DIY chair kits within two weeks by air mail. Nico was very pleasant to deal with and highly efficient. He may well be Afrikaans but his web site is in English as are the instructions he sends with each pack. He also corresponds in English. I would thoroughly recommend him.

    Milo

11. 
    JDLWoodworks | Jan 09, 2022 07:00am | #20

    Hi

    I can Supply to any one In Australia/NZ .

    I know this is few years old ,My email was wrong last I replied.

    [email protected]

    Regards

    James

12. 
    mikaol | Jan 09, 2022 10:45am | #21

    Nollie, are you near Boputatswana? I have a friend who moved there in '70.