• Tärnsjö Garveri Environment

About Tärnsjö Garveri

Tärnsjö Garveri has approximately 50 employees. Together, these individuals possess extensive knowledge and experience in vegetable tanning and saddlery craftsmanship. Tärnsjö Garveri annually produces 700,000 square feet of the finest possible leather, exclusively using the vegetable tanning method and hides from Swedish farms. A large portion of the leather is shipped to our customers across various industries worldwide, but a growing share also passes through our saddlery production, where it is refined into products for both clients and our own collections. We have operated from the same location here in Tärnsjö since 1873. While production methods have evolved and modernized, the tradition of craftsmanship endures and is passed down from generation to generation.

Today, barely 5% of all leather worldwide is produced using the traditional vegetable tanning method. The majority is instead produced with the more time- and cost-efficient chrome tanning. However, Tärnsjö Garveri, with the utmost respect for both the product and nature, has chosen to exclusively vegetable tan with bark extracts since 1988, and to only use water-based finishing products. The result is a natural product with a beautiful and timeless aesthetic expression that continues to develop and acquire a patina.

Tärnsjö Garveri Milling Drum

Our Philosophy

In a world where speed often takes precedence over quality, we at Tärnsjö Garveri have chosen a different path – a slower, yet more meaningful one.

We are one of the world’s last tanneries that still vegetable tans – with pride, with care, and with full respect for nature. Here, leather is created that not only tells a story but also carries a future. Everything happens locally, under one roof, from raw hides sourced from local slaughterhouses to the finished product. Every step is characterized by craftsmanship, tradition, and a deep commitment to sustainability.

Our materials can be found in iconic furniture, exclusive hotels, and environments where every detail is meticulously considered. It is only when you see it, touch it, and smell it that you fully understand its true value and infinite possibilities.

Inherited Sustainability

As early as 1988, we chose to cease chrome tanning and instead wholeheartedly commit to traditional vegetable tanning – a decision that proved to be far ahead of its time.

We take responsibility for our role in nature’s cycle and today operate the company fossil-free. We are constantly seeking new ways to reduce our environmental impact.

We believe in a circular approach: where by-products are refined into leather, where products are created with care, used with respect, and acquire a patina filled with memories and love. Where products are passed down through generations.

The History of Tärnsjö Garveri

The history of Tärnsjö Garveri begins in 1873, when the Åström family purchased a small tannery by Lake Tärnsjön and named it Tärnsjö Ånggarveri (Tärnsjö Steam Tannery). Operations were small at the start, but ambitions were high. When Julius Åström took over in 1900, he rapidly developed the tannery. He renovated the building, expanded the business, and in 1913, the company began manufacturing saddlery for local farmers. In 1917, the company was hit by a fire that nearly brought everything to a halt, but Julius built a new and larger factory – and production was back up and running with 30 employees just three months later. Over the following decades, both the product range and the reputation for Tärnsjö’s craftsmanship and quality grew.

In 1940, the company passed to the third generation when Torsten Åström took over. The need for larger premises led to an extensive construction project that began in 1942 and was completed in 1946. The new factory was modern for its time, with three floors and an elevator to reduce the burden on staff – and the building is still in use today. In the coming years, operations continued to grow, both in the number of employees and in the breadth of products. At its peak, the company had around 180 employees, and even King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden visited the tannery. However, after many years of expansion, the situation became tough, and in 1970, the company was close to bankruptcy. To save the business, the Åström family sold the company, and after 98 years, the era as a family business concluded.

In 1971, Nils Nyman took over and modernized the factory and machinery. In 1988, a crucial decision was made: to stop chrome tanning and instead fully commit to vegetable tanning – a bold step that later proved to be far ahead of its time. The years 1989–1993 became a period of uncertainty with venture capital owners and another fire, which was particularly devastating as the insurance company had gone bankrupt. The turning point came in 1993 when Torbjörn Lundin and Axel Bodéns Handels AB took over, changed the name to Tärnsjö Garveri AB, and set a clear direction towards interior design and furniture for a global market. Since 2012, the company has been led by owner and chairman Axel Bodén, with a continued focus on vegetable-tanned leather, solid craftsmanship, and respect for the material’s natural character.

Tärnsjö Garveri
Tärnsjö Garveri

This post is also available in: Swedish