A full grain leather is composed of the upper part of a tanned hide: the grain. Its quality depends on the origin of the skin and its history. Our skins are mostly from France (Breton and Normandy). This is where the herds are the most beautiful and well maintained. Moreover, the leather of bull has the specificity to have a dense flesh what offers to the grain and the crust a very strong solidity.

The grain is located on the surface of the dermis of the animal’s skin. It is the part of the leather that will be able to patina with time and become softer.

As specialists in leather finishing, we can apply colored, pigmented or transparent mixtures to the grain.

We also work on the crust on the reverse side or alone in its slitting.

These are all steps that will define the identity of a leather and give it its properties.

Matt, shiny, oiled or waxed finish… The possibilities are endless to give uniqueness to your creative projects.

There are two types of tanning for leather:

Vegetable tanning and chrome tanning. Each type of tanning provides leathers with specific characteristics. At Sovos Tannery, our vegetable tanned leathers are generally firmer and intended for leather goods, belts or shoes. Our chrome tanned leathers are generally used for furniture.

Vegetable tanned leather has an ancestral manufacturing process

The word tanning has for etymology the word “tan” which means oak bark, a word of Gallic or Irish origin.

The raw hides are placed in drums which are filled with a tannin-based solution made from bark, plants and berries with tannic properties. These tannins will make the skins rot-proof thanks to their astringent power. The powdered mixtures are composed of oak, chestnut or acacia bark, and mimosa. The recipes vary according to the color and suppleness of the leather desired and its final use.

Nowadays the wrong term “vegetable” leather or “vegan” leather are often associated with new materials wishing to replace leather and built on plants such as pineapple bark, mushrooms …  Attention, it is a mistake to speak of leather in this case. Leather is a skin of animal origin and cannot be associated with vegetable materials.

Find our ranges of vegetable tanned leathers.

Aniline leather is a leather with a transparent colored finish that shows the depth of the skin grain.

Aniline leather is highly valued for its authenticity, which patinates and improves with time. Like a fine wine, a piece made from aniline leather can be kept for decades.

The colors of aniline leathers are obtained with diluted dyes, very little covering.  This is why we always select the most beautiful skins to make it.

The aniline leather is therefore quite sensitive to the sun, to grease, to scratches that will leave marks.

Its durability and softness are however to be preferred for luxury projects. It is the most popular leather with the general public, also known as nappa leather.

You can find our aniline leather proposals here.

Photo reference : Cordoba
Color : Fall – E821 AM