Why "Genuine" Leather is Fake Leather

Did you know the most popular tanning method in the leather industry is called chrome tanning? This is the cheapest and most toxic way to turn the cowhide into leather. 

You often see "Genuine Leather" in their product description and it is most likely chrome tanned leather. 

This chemical-based method has exploded in popularity in the past century and now accounts for over 90% of the world's leather. 

This type of leather is what you see with wallets selling in Amazon and department stores. The leather is less durable and doesn't age like fine wine compared to Italian leather.

These are the type of wallets that fall apart within a few months. 

We can do better.

So I went to Florence Italy a few years ago to enjoy the beautiful scenery and learn about their rich history.

The one thing I found interesting about Florence is they are famous for making the most prestigious vegetable tanned leather in the world.

This process involves using plant based extract to create leather such as tree bark. 

This is one of the oldest tanning methods and it has been around for centuries. While it is a time consuming process, it is known for making soft, natural, leather that is resistant to nicks and scratches.

With leather wallets, the number one concern is durability. They want a wallet that will withstand the test of time.

This is why we source our leather from Italy, which supplies leather to the world's leading luxury brands.