MATERIALS
The two major tanning processes are chrome tanning and vegetable tanning. The tanning process is what transforms a skin into leather.
The advantage of chrome tanning is that it can be dyed in all colours and it can be made very supple and soft. The down side of chrome tanning is that it is chemical and creates toxic wastewater, especially in third-world countries where production is unregulated.
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I mainly work with vegetable-tanned leather. Vegetable-tanned leather is not vegan leather, it is tanned with vegetable-based raw materials. Such as birch, tree bark, leaves. So it's a plant-based way of tanning.
CHOOSING VEGETABLE TANNED LEATHER
The benefit of vegetable tanned leather is that it is better for the environment, very durable and with use over the years it will only becomes more and more beautiful.
This character feature is known as patina.
​​Traditional vegetable-tanned leather is limited in colours because the base is brown due to the natural tanning ingredients.
In recent years, I have switched more and more and now completely to vegetable-tanned leather. Because I feel the responsibility to make sustainable and environmentally friendly choices in my design and manufacturing process. I want my designs to contribute to a more sustainable future where treasured products last a lifetime and are passed on from generation to generation. ​
I work with an Italian tannery, from the region of Tuscany that produces my leather, called Dea Pel. By working with them I am supporting the traditional tanning craft and ensuring sustainability as they are part of the Leather Working Group (LWG). The tannery I work with is gold certified by LGW.
