From Swedish hide to finished leather

With us, the entire process takes place under one roof. Swedish cattle hides arrive at the tannery, where they are vegetable-tanned using methods refined over generations. A craft and knowledge embedded in the walls. The leather is then shipped to our customers worldwide, or our saddlers take over and transform it into some of the world’s most durable and exclusive leather goods.

Follow our vegetable tanning process below. The process takes approximately 4 weeks from raw hide to finished leather.

Preservation of raw hides

Our vision is to be an environmentally sustainable company. Therefore, Tärnsjö Garveri has always prioritized finding the best raw materials available. We work exclusively with Swedish hides, primarily from local farms.

Tärnsjö Garveri Cowhide
Tärnsjö Garveri Pit

Traceability

We want to ensure that we work with suppliers dedicated to sustainability and high quality. Each hide batch is marked with a unique number so we can track which supplier they come from. It is possible, upon request, to order leather that is traceable all the way back to the farm of origin. Minimum quantity for traceable leather depends on factors such as type and color.

Preparation of the hide

First, the hide must be dehaired. This is done through liming, which is one of the most important steps in leather production. Liming takes two days and is carried out in a rotating drum.

Tärnsjö Garveri Drum
Tärnsjö Garveri Fleshing

Fleshing

The dehaired hides are then run through a fleshing machine to remove remnants that cannot become leather. At the same time, a trimming is performed by our experienced craftsmen to remove remaining parts that should not be included on the finished leather. They also mark the batch with a unique number to make it traceable.

Tanning

The combination of vegetable tanning agents has been developed through countless experiments by our skilled technicians. Each type of leather has its own unique blend.

Tärnsjö Garveri Mimosa
Tärnsjö Garveri Retanning

Retanning

Deliming, bating, and tanning have removed natural fat from the hide and it must be replaced. Depending on the leather type, different processes are used. Some leather types are re-fatted in a heated drum, others with water-soluble fats.

Drying

The leather is then dried in various ways. Some types are hung up to air-dry while others are stretched on frames until completely smooth. After drying, certain leather types are tumbled in a drum to become soft, such as suede, split, and harness leather.

Tärnsjö Garveri Drying
Tärnsjö Garveri Finishing

Finishing

Finally, the leather is finished with a water-based finish. The finish can, for example, even out the color, provide a protective surface, or create a glossier effect, all depending on the leather type and customer requirements. Upon request, we can also emboss the leather surface to create a more pronounced grain structure.

Swedish leather that ages beautifully

Tärnsjö Garveri’s leather is for those seeking Swedish, vegetable-tanned leather with a beautiful and natural expression. By maintaining control at every step of the process, we can offer leather that endures over time—in both feel and performance. We can customize finish, color, and embossing according to your needs. Leather for products designed to withstand daily use and age with dignity.

This post is also available in: Swedish