Hide preservation: The first step to leather

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 that later appears as weak spots in the leather or renders the hide completely unusable.

The classic method of preservation is salting: the hide is lightly cleaned, then generously sprinkled with salt and laid out flat to dry. The salt removes moisture and creates an environment where bacteria and mold have little chance to grow. However, not all salt preservation is the same – the way a hide is preserved, stored, and transported determines its subsequent quality. This is especially critical for hides where the hair needs to be preserved. If the hide is not properly preserved, the hair can loosen, making the hide unusable.

Good leather therefore doesn't begin in the tannery, but with the correct handling of the hide – from the very first moment.