JOURNAL

LEATHER AND MATERIALS

A SNEAKER IS ONLY AS GOOD AS WHAT IT IS MADE FROM. THIS IS THE 1812 JOURNAL ON LEATHER AND MATERIALS: HOW HIDES ARE TANNED, WHY FULL GRAIN LEATHER AGES WELL, AND HOW SUEDE, NUBUCK, NAPPA AND DEERSKIN DIFFER IN TOUCH, WEIGHT AND WEAR.

TANNING TURNS A RAW HIDE INTO A STABLE MATERIAL. VEGETABLE TANNING USES BARK AND PLANT EXTRACTS AND TAKES WEEKS. SUEDE IS THE INNER SURFACE OF A HIDE, BUFFED TO A SOFT NAP. NUBUCK IS THE OUTER GRAIN, SANDED TO A FINER ONE. NAPPA IS A SMOOTH, SUPPLE FULL GRAIN LEATHER. DEERSKIN IS LIGHT, SOFT AND STRONG FOR ITS WEIGHT.

WE VISIT THE TANNERIES WE USE AND NAME THEM. EVERY LEATHER MEETS THE LEATHER WORKING GROUP STANDARD, AND EVERY HIDE IS A BYPRODUCT OF THE MEAT INDUSTRY OR CONSERVATION. THE GUIDES AND ARTICLES BELOW COVER EACH MATERIAL, FROM THE LACES TO THE BOX IT ARRIVES IN.