Ever wonder why some leather looks, feels and smells so much better than others? It's all down to vegetable tanning 

Leather tanning is the process of turning hide into leather which can be undertaken using a variety of methods, broadly categorised into vegetable or chemical tanning. The vegetable tanning process is a technique that has been around for centuries and there are still a small number of tanneries today in the UK practising this traditional craft. 

Natural, Beautiful, Long-Lasting

There are two key factors that distinguish vegetable tanning from chemical tanning; the liquid type and production time.  Vegetable tanning uses gentle chemical-free liquids derived from natural products such as tree bark.  The process can take up to 14 months and, owing to this gentle approach, the natural fibres of the hide are protected, resulting in a more natural, beautiful and long lasting leather.  It also retains that lovely smell and feel associated with traditionally tanned pure leather. 

 
 

More Environmentally-Friendly

The chemical-free process of vegetable tanning is more friendly to the environment and the health of people working in the tanneries as it uses natural ingredients and man power, rather than the machines and harsh chemicals used in modern methods. But sadly, there are few remaining traditional leather tanneries in the UK today; the long and labour intensive production process is costly, making it difficult for traditional tanneries to compete, and these skills are increasingly being lost. 

 
 

Supporting Traditional Tanneries and British Makers

Consumers can help to support traditional tanneries by buying locally sourced vegetable tanned leather products. Not only will this help keep tanneries alive, it also allows British leather bag makers like CARV to create beautiful, long-lasting leather products that contribute towards better, more sustainable UK production.

We hand select only the finest quality vegetable tanned leather to make CARV leather bags and accessories. Find out more about how CARV embodies the principles of slow and sustainable fashion here and take a look at the CARV vegetable tanned leather products via the button below to see how this leather combines beautifully with our minimal design approach.