Chrome Tanned vs. Vegetable Tanned Leather, Explained

#chromeandvegtanned #leather #notsponsored

SHOP THE VIDEO:

GUIDES YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS:

VIDEO CREDITS:
→ Script: Sven Raphael Schneider & Teresa C. Schneider
→ Camera & Editing: Chris Dummer
→ Pelle
→ Galen Leather
→ Ashland
→ Shoepassion
→ Ashland Leather Co.
→ Euroleathers

IMAGE CREDITS:
→ Town of Diana Historical Museum
→ Horween

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Gentleman's Gazette

00:00 Introduction

Like many things in fashion, the word "leather" is overused and underexplained, which leaves most consumers in the dark about what they are really buying. Sofas, gloves, car seats, and shoes are all typically made of leather, but these materials only bear a passing resemblance to each other once the details are examined.

There is a common misconception that vegetable-tanned leather is ALWAYS better than chrome tanned leather, but that isn’t necessarily true.

The average veg-tanned is higher quality than the average chrome tanned leather, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t very high-quality chrome tanned leathers out there. We’ll talk about why this is true.

01:40 What is Leather and Why Does It Need to Be Tanned?
Leather is an animal hide or skin that has been tanned, which is the process of preserving the hide. Without tanning, raw animal skins will dry out or rot, depending on the conditions in which they are kept because it is an organic material. Tanning, which derives its name from the traditional use of wood tannins, is a process that treats a raw animal hide to improve the durability, flexibility, and longevity of the skin.

04:12 The Tanning Process

13:26 Advantages vs Disadvantages
* Chrome tanning allows for really thin glove leathers that are also quite stretchy and flexible.
* Without any additional treatment, Chrome is more water resistant than veg tan leather.
* Chrome leather generally holds dyes better than veg tan leathers, and you also get a much larger range of colors.
* Chrome also endures heat better than veg tan
* Burnishing, the process of using wax and heat to finish edges takes longer and is more difficult on most chrome tanned leathers.
* Veg Tan leathers generally develop a nicer patina. Not to say that an aniline dyed chrome tanned leather cannot develop a patina, but the veg tan patina is usually nicer.
* Generally, chrome tanned leathers yield soft, supple, and durable leathers, while vegetable tanned leathers are round and full feeling, patina well, and are easy to coax into shapes using heat and moisture.

16:56 How to tell the difference between chrome and veg tan leather?
Generally veg tan is a bit stiffer and not as smooth, but Italians have perfected the finishing and can produce very soft veg tan leathers too that are good for shoes or bags, but not for gloves. An easy way to find out if leather is chrome tanned or veg tanned is the burn test

19:04 So Which Tanning Process is Better?
Neither and Both, Depending on the Purpose. Vegetable tanned and chrome tanned leathers are different, and they serve different purposes. They aren’t easily interchangeable; you need to select the leather for the purpose.

19:31 Outfit Rundown

[pjyast]

Summary:

Chrome tanned leather and vegetable tanned leather are two common methods of tanning animal hides to turn them into durable, long-lasting leather products.

Chrome tanning is a faster process that involves the use of chromium salts to tan the hide. This method is generally less expensive and produces a softer and more supple leather. The resulting leather is often more water-resistant and can be dyed to a wider range of colors.

Vegetable tanning, on the other hand, uses natural tannins found in tree bark and other plant materials to tan the hide. This process takes longer, but the resulting leather is typically firmer and more durable than chrome tanned leather. It also tends to be more environmentally friendly, as it uses natural materials instead of chemicals. Vegetable tanned leather can also develop a rich patina over time with use, making it a popular choice for high-end leather goods.

Ultimately, the choice between chrome tanned leather and vegetable tanned leather depends on the intended use of the leather product, as well as personal preferences for appearance, texture, and environmental impact.

[hugomillere]

Great information, in a very clear way, for someone like me starting leather crafting and wondering the why, how, what... Thanks for sharing all this.

[ABCRK]

I'm glad I watched this video because I was beginning think chrome tan was just garbage leather and am happy to hear that its just the stuff i bought and not all chrome leather.

[atosov]

Everybody HAS to watch the brief segment that starts at 19:21, when Raphael explains why he is wearing a leather coat.

[rael]

Well I've been a leather maker (tanner) all my life and I thought your video on the subject was excellent. Very clear and knowledgable. Although the Suede guys might feel a tad miffed because they didn't get much of a mention.
Like you say it's horses for courses with both Veg and Chrome leather. Chrome when you want softness, stretch and a particular colour etc and Veg when you want a resilience, toughness like in sole leather, saddles and in bags where it gives great stand and form. Plus the smell we associate with leather comes from Veg tanned leathers. Older people like myself will remember taking your shoes for re-soling and that wonderful smell that would hit you when you walked in the door.
Veg leather too has its beauty, I always compare it to beautiful wooden made articles. Mainly because it's natural beauty is enhanced with dyes and antiques and rarely covered with pigments. It darkens on age and if looked after can become even more beautiful as it develops it's own character.

[cthulhukcsixsix]

Very informative. I'm not a high fashion type of man, I do have some nice vintage clothes that I use for those occasions. But I still love to see the history and in depth explanations of men's fashion from past to present. I thoroughly enjoy everything about this channel.

[Well_Earned_Siesta]

I'm continuously blown away by the quality of this channel. Thanks!

[thomahammer]

Wow brought back memories as I worked for a chrome tannery while in college. Could name most of the equipment show. Vats, wooden drums and later they began using cement mixers, as shown in the video. I never worked with vats. I worked predominantly with cattle and pig hides. Great video.

[krunoslavkovacec]

I saw the article just few hours ago. I got excited for the topic. The video delivered, for sure.

[memunabarriebarrie]

Quality content! I'm currently writting my dissertation on Leather and found this video a great source of research

[EAG]

This is still done the old-school way by Pergamena, based in New Jersey. I know them through bookbinding, but I believe that they also provide supplies for fashion ateliers.

[leatherbydragonfly]

Bravo...Bravo... Very well explained. I believe you hit the nail on the head. Select the leather for your purpose or article.
On the note of "genuine leather" avoid it. Many people talk about their genuine leather jacket or bag an I cringe. Leather prices rise and fall as supply and demand are needed.
Many high-end handbags use very, very thin leather that usually veneered with suede.
Again, well done.

[amadejpesko]

Woow, I really did not expect video about that, but it is really useful and interesting. Great job.

[Terrigan_Reina]

14:02, the best part of the video. Bravo!

[lt]

Incredible breakdown. I learned more about leather than probably the sum total of my leather knowledge I had previously

[georgel]

This is amazing! It answers so many questions I had in regards to how leather is processed!

[juxtapositionMS]

That's a great bunch of information all at once. And the narration, presentation made it a masterpiece. Thank you.

[dgn]

I think this is the most informative video I ever seen in my life. epic.

[samle]

Man ain't into the other content of the site as much as shoemakers before. But I love this one!

[AgrippaBC]

That dominatrix and assless chaps joke was particularly funny coming from you out of all people hahahahahah