Vegetable tanned leather

What is vegetable-tanned leather?

Vegetable tanned leather is leather that has been tanned with tannins (tannins) that come from natural compounds in tree barks.

Vegetable tanning has been used for centuries and is considered to be more environmentally friendly compared to other tanning processes, e.g. B. chrome tanning. It is slower than other processes, taking over 30 days to turn hides into leather without the use of toxic chemicals.

Many of our products at Gusti Leather are made from vegetable tanned leather. We chose this process because it is kinder to the environment, produces no toxic waste, and produces strong, long-lasting leather while highlighting the leather's natural color.

What is the process of vegetable tanning at Gusti?

At Gusti we use vegetable tanned leather from pits. We obtain our leather primarily from two sources:

- Our local tannery purchases hides from local butchers.

- You will also receive leather scraps created during local celebrations.

This means that every piece of leather is sourced locally.

1. The raw hides are salted to preserve them and then sent to the tanneries.
2. The hides are desalted in drums to remove the salt used for preservation.
3. The hides are washed with a solution of lime, sulfur sulfate, and enzymes to remove any hair during the liming process.
4. Excess flesh is removed from the wet hide with a fleshing machine.
5. The hides are now ready to begin the pickling process.
6. The hide is brought back to the tannery, where the tanners wet the hides and layer them in a pit.
7. The hides are stacked on top of each other, with tree bark sprinkled between each hide. Then water is added to the pit.
8. The tree bark, also known as tannin, releases the tanning agent, which is absorbed by the hide. At Gusti, we use bark from the Babul and Aaval trees and avoid the use of chemicals.
9. Once all the tanning agent has been released, the hides are moved to another dry pit, and the process is repeated.
10. The entire process is repeated for 25 to 35 days and is completed once the hide is tanned and has returned to its original form. This process is known as pit tanning of vegetable-tanned leather.
11. The excess fat is then removed from the skin by hand.
12. Castor oil is applied to the skin and it is hung up to dry.
13. After drying, any stiffness is removed from the skin with a knife.
The skin is then ready for use.
14. The skin is washed again, dried in the sun, and then made into bags.
This process results in 100% vegetable-tanned goat leather from the pit.
In the production of our vegetable-tanned leather, we adhere to the following standards:
- Our products from Gusti Leder Nature are 100% vegetable-tanned.
- Our products from Gusti Leder Studio contain less than 3000 mg of chromium per kilogram of leather + one of the tanning processes the hides undergo must be a vegetable tanning.
This process results in 100% vegetable-tanned goat leather from the pit.
In the production of our vegetable-tanned leather, we adhere to the following standards:
- Our products from Gusti Leder Nature are 100% vegetable-tanned.
- Our products from Gusti Leder Studio contain less than 3000 mg of chromium per kilogram of leather + one of the tanning processes the hides undergo must be a vegetable tanning.

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How do we ensure that the standards are met?

We regularly test our leather products, you can see which products have been tested on our product pages.

If we find that three chromium-free products have a chromium content of more than 1000mg, we impose a penalty equivalent to 40% of the shipment's value.

Environmental friendliness of vegetable-tanned leather

At Gusti Leather We use vegetable tanned leather, which is traditionally processed with tannins from tree bark. This natural process does not require chromium or synthetic chemicals and relies on tried and tested craftsmanship.

Why vegetable tanned leather is special

Natural materials: We only use organic tannins from tree bark.

Authentic Appearance: The natural color and structure of the leather are retained and develop a unique character over time.

Longevity: Vegetable tanned leather is robust and retains its shape for many years.

Protection of chemicals: By avoiding synthetic tannins, we reduce the use of potentially harmful substances.

Vegetable tanned leather and environment

Vegetable tanned leather is traditionally processed with tannins from tree bark and is a natural alternative to chrome tanning.

This gentle process means that no synthetic tanning agents are used and high-quality, long-lasting leather is created. The natural color, breathability and feel of the leather are retained.

Discover our bags and accessories made from vegetable-tanned leather and make more conscious choices for long-lasting products - a step towards slow fashion.