Hello, hello, and welcome back. Today, I'll be going through the different ways that leather can be tanned. There are two main methods of tanning leather, the first is called Chrome tanning and the second is called vegetable tanning.

I'll just go into more details about it, but on a short side note. Tanning and dying are two completely different processes. Danning is a process of treating the skin. This is using chemicals to achieve a certain strength or feel of the leather. Dying is the process of coloring the leather, and that's it. Tanning and dying could be done at the same time as well, but there are two completely different processes. Okay now on to the tanning.

The first I'll talk about is called Chrome tanned leather. Chrome tanned leather uses Chrome salts specifically chromium sulfate to tan the hides. The characteristics of Chrome and leather is its signature, soft and supple feel, and its durability. Chrome tanned leather is often more water resistant as well as vegetable and leather. Even though both can be made waterproof or water resistant Chrome tanned leather, just has a slight advantage due to the tanning process. Chrome tanned leather is not as environmentally friendly as vegetable and leather, as it does use Chrome, but as we are producing our own leather in our own LWG gold rated tannery, the environmental impact is very, very minimal.

Vegetable tanned leather, or as it's also known as veg tanned or vegetable leather are all different terms used to describe the same product. This leather is tanned using natural chemicals and tenants found in things like bark, leaves, fruits and seeds. It's a more traditional method of tanning leather. The finished leather that vegetable makes is none as soft and supple as Chrome tanned leather and many people might even see it as slightly inferior, but it's far from it. Vegetable tanned leather has its own remarkable beauty. This leather is known for its durability and it's often used to design products that are for outdoor use. Additionally, this leather ages beautifully. As you use it, and as you interact with it, and as it contacts your body or the elements, or a table it might get scratched by, these things do not damage the leather and will not cause the leather to go bad. In fact, the leather will h and acquire a unique patina.

Any of our products that use vegetable leather will have it mentioned in the product description. Also, if you need anything specifically made, you can let us know and we can get it made for you in vegetable tend or Chrome tan leather. Please message us if you have any ideas or challenges or anything. Leather is truly a remarkable and amazing material and I would encourage everyone to learn more about it. Please message us if you have any questions.

I'll see you next time this has been your Leathersmith.