Our Leather

Promise Bags takes pride in using vegetable tanned leather.

What is vegetable tanned leather?

There are various leather tanning methods being used today. The oldest and most intricate process is vegetable tanning.

Vegetable tanning is the traditional method of tanning leather known to man, its method dating back to approximately 6000 BCE.

Like the name suggests, veg-tanning is an organic method relying on natural vegetable tannins from bark, branches, leaves or other plant tissues. Tannins from trees such as oak, chestnut, or mimosa are popular, but hundreds of tree types and other plants are known to have been used.

Today approximately 10% of all leather is vegetable tanned as it can cost up to three times more than modern chrome-tanned leather and tedious process.

Vegetable tanned leather goods are truly unique and have a bold characteristic, especially when they aged naturally by frequent usage. They have a distinctive scent, true charism, and will bring pride to the owner/user.

Some of the features and benefits associated with vegetable tanned leather which makes it relevant in the heritage community include:

• Traditional approach
• Leathers are thick and hard wearing
• All materials are biodegradable
• Natural feel and “earthy” smell
• Develops a patina with use and age
• Feels more organic/‘alive’