I only truly understood that leather is not just leather when I began working more deeply with the material. When someone says “leather,” it can mean many different things – from heavy, vegetable-tanned saddle leather to fine lamb nappa used for jackets. 

Although the leather is stabilized after tanning, it still has to go through several stages before it acquires its final properties. Each of these steps has a significant influence on how flexible and durable the leather becomes.

Tanning is THE essential step in leather production. It stabilizes the hide, protecting it from decay and transforming it into a durable, long-lasting material. Since the Stone Age, humans have used various methods to preserve animal hides ...

Before a raw hide can be turned into durable leather, it must be preserved – because as soon as the hide is removed from the animal, the natural decomposition process begins. Within a day, it starts to break down if not properly preserved. Bacteria attack the tissue, leading to rot damage ...