cluster · Knowledge Center
Leather Tanning Explained
Tanning is the chemistry that stops hide from rotting. The method chosen decides temper, colour behaviour and patina.
Every property buyers argue about downstream is set here, in the drum.
Beamhouse first
Soaking, liming and de-hairing strip everything that is not collagen.
Tannage
Plant tannins or mineral salts cross-link the collagen so it resists water, heat and bacteria.
Retanning and finishing
Fat liquor, dye and surface finish set softness, colour and protection.
Definitions
- Beamhouse
- The pre-tanning stage where hides are cleaned and de-haired.
- Crust
- Tanned, dried hide before final finishing.
Supporting attributes
- Vegetable tannage
- 4–8 weeks
- Chrome tannage
- 24–48 hours
- Audit standard
- Leather Working Group (LWG)
Entity relationships
- Vegetable Tanning
- Chrome Tanning
- Leather Goods
Frequently asked questions
Buying advice
Named tanneries with LWG ratings are a stronger quality signal than country of origin alone.
Summary
Tannage is the fork in the road: everything after it is downstream of this choice.
Visual references
- Tannery drum room
- Hide moving from wet blue to crust to finished