WHAT IS LEATHER?

Leather is a strong and flexible material obtained from tanning an animal’s rawhide.

Tanning is a chemical process that permanently alters the rawhide protein structure, making it more durable and not susceptible to decomposition. 

WHY IS LEATHER SO POPULAR?

The reasons why many designers still choose to work with such a traditional material are numerous. For instance, high-quality leather is naturally beautiful and gives a luxurious feel to the product. Leather is also durable, repairable, breathable, up-cyclable, recyclable, and ages beautifully.

IS LEATHER SUSTAINABLE?

The answer is not so simple.

Leather is a long-lasting and generally biodegradable product but whether it is sustainable also depends on many factors along the production chain.

Approximately 99% of hides or skins used to make leather are a by-product of the food industry. Still, it is essential to consider animal welfare as the first step to creating a sustainable product.

The other important factor is environmental compliance. The numerous chemical processes combined with significant water usage make the leather industry one of the most polluting, if the tanneries don’t comply with environmental regulations.

Governments regulate tanneries for compliance with environmental standards and international regulations via 3rd party organisations. Most tanneries are transparent about their compliance data and openly share that information with their customers. 

As part of our material  sourcing service, we can help you source the most suitable sustainable choice for your project, understand certifications and ensure any claims are not greenwashing.

WHAT IS THE RIGHT LEATHER THICKNESS FOR MY DESIGN?

Commonly, 0.5 to 1.2 mm is used to make garments; 1.0 to 2.5 mm leather is used to make leather bags and small accessories; 2.0 to 2.5 mm leather is used to make heavy-duty leather bags and straps; 2.8-3.5 mm leather is used to make belts and heavy-duty leather bags.

WHAT ARE THE LEATHER GRADES?

There is no official standard for grading leather. Most tanneries use their own grading systems based on surface imperfections.

However, there are three main categories to classify a hide based on whether the leather surface has been removed or retouched: FULL GRAIN, TOP GRAIN and SPLIT LEATHER.

Full grain leather is undoubtedly the most prestigious (and expensive) type, but whether you should choose it or not depends on what you are going to make with it.

CAN YOU HELP ME FIND THE RIGHT LEATHER FOR MY DESIGN?

Finding the correct type of leather requires professional expertise. Over the years, The London Leather Workshop has built relationships with reliable leather manufacturers and suppliers.

We can advise on the best type, grade, tanning and finishing for your project according to your budget and source it for you. Learn more about our material sourcing service.

Of course, we are more than happy to use leather(s) sourced by you if suitable for the intended design(s).

DO YOU WORK WITH LEATHER ALTERNATIVES AS WELL?

Leathergoods manufacturing is not our only expertise. We work with fabric and vegan leather as well.

For more information about our vegan leather sampling and manufacturing service, click here.