Wild-caught American alligator from Louisiana is one of the most demanding materials in leathercraft. Here is what the hide is, what the scales mean, and why there is no room for error.
Vegetable-tanned leather isn’t meant to be restored to like new. Here’s the chemistry behind patina—and the craft argument for leaving the surface history intact.
Shell cordovan from Horween Leather in Chicago follows a production logic that hasn’t changed in a century. Here’s what that means for what you carry.
Tuscany’s Conceria district produces vegetable-tanned leather the slow way — because the fast way doesn’t hold. What the timeline means for quality and cost.
Tärnsjö Garveri in Sweden has been producing vegetable-tanned leather since 1873 without much noise about it. The work is the argument. What it produces and why it matters.
Vegetable tanning is a traditional method of preserving and tanning leather using plant-based materials. The end result is a high-quality, durable, and natural-looking leather product with unique characteristics and potential for customization. Skilled artisans use natural materials and traditional techniques to create timeless leather goods in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way.