![]() There's no denying that China is well-equipped to take on any leather manufacturing task. Why is China in such demand? Well, there are actually quite a few benefits to be gained from sourcing your leather and pleather in the PRC.Ī well-developed and vast infrastructure. FYI, that's the collective surface area of 123400000 cows. They've cornered 30.3 percent of global output, and at their current production rate, they're shelling out 6,170 million square feet of leather a year. I'm referring, of course, to China's leather manufacturing industry – a thriving market that isn't shy about showing skin.Ĭhina truly has the lion's share when it comes to global leather production. ![]() I think it's time to bring our star of the show in to center stage. Now that the hide is tanned, it's ready for the next step: crusting. It's the cheapest and fastest way to tan, but it can be harmful to the environment and to workers. It's not as environmentally friendly as vegetable tanning, but it is cheaper and more consistent.Īldehyde tanning: This method uses aldehydes (such as formaldehyde) to stabilize the hide. This is a slow process, but it produces the most durable leather.Ĭhrome tanning: A much faster process, this one uses chromium sulfate to stabilize the hide. Vegetable tanning: The hide is soaked in a vat of tannic acid, which comes from various plants (such as oak bark). There are a few different ways to do this. It's an organ, after all, and no organ is immune to decomposing! The end goal of tanning is to fully stabilize the hide, making it resistant to bacteria and other organisms. In reality, though, tanning has come a long way from those days of using natural elements. This step is the one we see depicted most often in movies the lowly cowboys are out in the sun, tending to their animal hides. Now, the section our Wild West fanatics are waiting for: tanning. Anything left behind is reserved for the cheaper stuff. This is great for belts and other accessories. The split is the layer below that, and it's a little rougher around the edges. It's perfect for making shoes or handbags. Splitting: Did you know that one piece of leather might have a few different purposes? The top layer, or the grain, is that shiny, smooth material you might be used to. It breaks down the hair follicles on the skin by either submerging the hide in a vat of enzyme solution or by spraying the enzymes onto the skin.įleshing: To make sure that the leather is as soft as possible, the hide is then run through a machine that removes any leftover flesh or fat. Unhairing: As you might have guessed, this step removes all of the hair from the hide. (Instead of salty vinegar, though, this soak uses a mild acid). Pickling: Like a gherkin in a jar, the hide is soaked to get nice and soft. Liming: Next, a mix of calcium hydroxide and water breaks down the stubborn collagen in the hide, making it easier to split into layers. Here's a quick rundown.ĭegreasing: Into a vat of chemicals goes the fatty hide, where the oil is loosened and can be drawn off. There's hair to remove, dirt to clean, and a lot of fat to trim. Where is it actually made? How do we find a leather manufacturer in China? What's the process? How does it arrive in our hands? Let's explore the leather industry in China, piece by tanned piece.Īs you can imagine, animal hide begins with a lot of extras. ![]() Perhaps, then, the manufacturing process is still a mystery to us. China is the industry's leader by miles it produces more than twice as much each year as its closest competitor. Though leather's aesthetic rings of farm hands and workshop-made objects, the bulk of our leather is made far from any cattle station. In 2020, the global leather goods market size was valued at more than $394 billion (USD) and it's expected to reach for $626 billion by 2028. It’s an age-old material that exudes both character and quality.īut let's reground ourselves leather is an industry, like any other textile, and it's a booming one. We thrift it, inherit it, and order it tailor-made. We weave it into our clothing, line the soles of our shoes with it, and use it to upholster furniture. ![]() Leather – it’s our material of luxury and stamina.
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