mary_foster92•5d agoMost Upvoted

Noticed a weird shift in leather grain patterns at our guild meetup last month

At the Toronto bookbinders guild meeting last month, like 6 people brought in projects where the leather had this super tight, almost plastic-like grain. I figured it was just a bad batch from one supplier, but everyone got theirs from different places. One guy said he's been seeing it more since COVID hit when tanning processes changed. My own 3-year-old hide from the same shop still has that soft, natural look. Has anyone else noticed this or is it just the stuff coming through now?

2 comments

2 Comments

keith_rivera195d ago

Is it maybe that cheaper chrome tanning is getting more common now?

laura_allen5d ago

Wait, are you saying the dye bleeding I've been dealing with could be from chrome tanned leather? @keith_rivera19 I always figured veg tanning was the only way to go for boots, but you got me lookin' at this different now. I had a pair I thought was good quality, but the color started runnin' after a wet day on the job site. That would make sense if it was chrome tanned, since that process uses chemicals that don't bond as tight with the fibers. Honestly, I used to think veg tan was just old school and slow, but it holds dye way better in my experience. You might be onto something with this being more common now.