Vegetable Tanning

Vegetable tanning is a traditional method of turning animal hides into leather using natural plant materials, such as bark, tree roots, and leaves. These plant substances contain tannins, compounds that bind to the collagen in the hide, preserving it and making it durable. The process involves soaking the hides in tannin-rich solutions over weeks or months, allowing the tannins to gradually penetrate and stabilize the material. Vegetable-tanned leather is valued for its strength, natural appearance, and the way it ages gracefully, developing a rich patina over time.