Tanning

Tanning is the technological process of treating a raw animal hide, turning it into strong, flexible and durable leather resistant to rot, damp and time. Without tanning a hide quickly spoils, so this technique is the foundation of all leather craft, known to humankind for millennia. There are two main methods: vegetable tanning (with tannins from oak, willow or chestnut bark) — ancient, ecological, giving a dense leather of a noble shade that grows more beautiful with age; and chrome tanning — faster, cheaper, giving softer and more elastic leather. The colour, smell, texture and durability of the finished material depend on the method of tanning. It is a complex, skilled craft that requires knowledge and time. Tanning is the fundamental technique of turning a hide into leather, in which ancient artisan knowledge gives the material strength, flexibility and durability, lying at the foundation of all leather production.