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We were delighted to participate in a recent online session with Anthony Devine and his students where we presented information on leather production and properties.
Throughout the session Anthony’s students raised thought-provoking questions about leather and leather production. The questions covered subjects such as sustainability, longevity and the different finishes available.
We’ve chosen a selection of the questions posed by students. They touched on topics such of faux leather, the resurgence of genuine leather, and the stages involved within the tanning process…
Q: How does Crest support sustainability in leather production?
A: Sustainability is a core value at Crest. We prioritise ethical sourcing practices and environmentally responsible manufacturing processes. Our tannery adheres to strict environmental standards, minimising waste and water usage.
We’re accredited and regularly audited by the industry’s key independent bodies and organisations – see full list here!
We also take time to remind our customers that the raw hides we purchase are a bi-product of the meat industry and if not used for something useful would likely be sent to landfill or burnt.
Q: How is leather measured for its quality?
A: There are a number of factors that contribute to leather being considered good quality. The first is the layer of the hide used, with the top grain generally being considered the best due to its surface character and tensile strength.
Another key determinate of quality is the origin of the hides. Cattle that are kept in smaller herds in a temperate climate and are well looked after will generally have skin that is better condition. This is in comparison to cattle from larger ranches in hotter dustier climates.
The vast majority of the skins that we sell in the U.K are from U.K herds.
The third important factor in producing high quality leather is the skill of the tanners producing the finished article. Our leather is finished in our owned tanneries in Italy by highly skilled artisanal tanners. Many of who have been with the business since it’s inception over 25 years ago.
A: Great question. To some degree, like any product, popularity can be cyclical. For a short while we saw a slight decline in upholstery leather consumption. One hypothesis is that this was driven by claims that faux leather was a good, environmentally sound alternative to leather. This has since been debunked with better information available about the environmental impact of faux leather and the difficulty in recycling it now being available.
King Charles III has been an advocated for genuine leather. At the G20 summit in Rome, he emphasised the value of ethically-produced leather over synthetic materials.
In conclusion, genuine leather is experiencing a strong renaissance. As consumers being drawn to its luxury look and being more reassured about its sustainability credentials.
Q: Does Crest supply leather directly to sole traders, or do they mainly handle larger projects?
A: While we’re probably the biggest producer of upholstery leather in Europe we sell and distribute our product to a whole range of different customers – from some of the biggest furniture manufactures globally to individuals needing a single hide. We’re happy to manage enquiries of all sizes and see each of our customers as important.
Q: How long does it take to pass through the various stages of the tanning process?
A: The time it takes to produce a finished batch of leather can vary fairly significantly. The ultimately depends on the type of article being produced. An average it takes about two weeks worth of production time to process an article from wet blue stage to finished leather.
However, since there are various stages involved, each with its unique factors, the timeline may vary slightly from one production run to another.
It was a pleasure to present in front of leather enthusiasts, sharing our knowledge and providing key information on questions to students about the industry.
Anthony Devine, Founder of Anthony Devine Online stated;
“I am so excited to have Crest on board as partners in delivering my working with leather course. Their expertise and experience, when it comes to not only using and working with leather, but understating leather, is second to none. The feedback from my students so far has been amazing. Knowledge is power and Crest have been instrumental in empowering my students, not only to increase their own knowledge but in turn to educate their customers!”