CHAHIN LEATHER

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The family-owned tannery was founded in 1932 by the Chahin family. The traditions and values have since carried on for three generations. The skills and knowledge that have been acquired over eight decades are part of our heritage will continue to be passed onto future generations.

Through the years, the machinery and technologies may have changed but we still make our leather using the same artisanal process as in the beginning. Good things take time. Like a fine wine or bourbon, crafting the best leather shouldn’t be rushed. The vegetable tanning process takes about 45 days using high quality hides and natural vegetable tannins. This leather is known for creating finished products that not only become richer as they are used, but also develops a patina over time.

Hide Preparation

 The artisanal tanning process takes nearly 45 days and is what makes vegetable leather much different from leathers produced using other types of tannages. The slow and time-honored vegetable tanning process using jumbo, heavy native steer (from the United States and Canada) sets Chahin leather apart.

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When the Jumbo Heavy Native Steer hides arrive from North America (the United States and Canada) they are re-hydrated, de-haired and other operations are preformed to prepare the hides for the tanning process.

Vegetable Tanning

The hides are vegetable tanned using the traditional method of deep pit drums filled with a blend of vegetable tannins and extracts. These are exacted with from trees such as quebracho, chesnut, mimosa, and acacia trees. 

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The hides will remain in these pits for about 30 days. Tanning the leather for a long period of time gives the leather an unbeatable richness. After tanning in the pits, the hides are now considered leather. 

Oiling and Finishing

Some of the leather is then dyed in large drums and then oiled or sent for hot stuffing a process whereby oils and waxes are drummed into the leather using heat and mechanical action. The oiling process makes the leather flexible and soft. 

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The hides are then are taken through the setting out process to smooth out wrinkles. The excess liquid is then removed from the sides using a samming machine. After this is complete, each piece is stretched out and cleaned by hand. 

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The leather is then sent to the drying chambers where humidity and temperature are controlled to allow the leather to dry slowly.

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Some leathers may require a final finish depending on the look desired and the use of the leather products that will be made using the leather. After the finishing is complete, the leather is ready to be used to make leather goods that can last a lifetime.  

The Leather

SKIRTING LEATHER

Our skirting leathers are 100% vegetable tanned using an artisanal process that takes nearly four weeks. After the tanning process is complete, the leather is drum dyed. The tanning process produces firm leather that is good for tooling, carving, stamping, embossing, oiling, and dyeing.This full grain leather will produce high quality finished goods with strength.

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