Materials
Materials are where most brush manufacturers cut corners — and where buyers get burned. We work with a defined supplier list, disclose every grade, and substitute nothing without written approval. Below is what we typically work with.
Natural hair
Kolinsky (Siberian weasel) — the gold standard for fine art and dental applications. Sourced from approved suppliers in Northeast Asia.
Sable — premium, slightly softer than kolinsky, ideal for watercolor and detail makeup brushes.
Goat — soft and absorbent, traditional choice for sumi-e and large calligraphy brushes (羊毫).
Weasel / wolf — firmer hair, often blended for calligraphy (狼毫 / 兼毫).
Hog bristle — coarse and stiff, the workhorse of oil painting brushes.
Synthetic fibers
Modern synthetics — Taklon, PBT, Toray — can mimic natural hair at a fraction of the cost and with full vegan certification. We source from established Japanese and German fiber mills.
Synthetic options open up two important capabilities: animal-free product lines and consistent performance batch-to-batch (natural hair varies; synthetics don't).
Ferrule metals
Aluminum — light, anodizable in any color, the workhorse ferrule for cosmetic and nail brushes.
Copper — warm tone, traditional finish, often used for premium artist and Asian-market brushes.
Stainless steel — for autoclave-compatible dental brushes and any application requiring sterilization.
Gold and rose gold plating — for premium retail cosmetic lines.
Handle materials
Birch and maple wood — lacquered, painted, or left raw. Sustainable and traditional.
Aluminum — for engraved or anodized handles, an East Rich signature.
Acrylic — for clear and colored handles, especially in nail brushes.
Bamboo — for traditional writing brushes (毛筆) and eco-conscious lines.
Biodegradable PLA — for cosmetic brands with sustainability commitments.
By the
numbers.
What we can build
for you.
Custom hair blends
Need a specific feel? We can blend natural and synthetic fibers to match a target performance profile.
Brand-specific suppliers
For high-volume partnerships, we can qualify your preferred supplier and add them to our approved list.
Material certifications
Vegan, cruelty-free, FSC wood, recycled aluminum — we can source certified materials when required.
Sample swatches
Material swatches available before sampling — touch the hair, see the finish, before committing.
Ready to build?
Tell us your spec — we'll come back with a sample plan.