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. 

After tanning, the leather is stabilised, but it still goes through several steps before it gets its final characteristics. Each of these steps has a major influence on how flexible and resistant 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 ...