Waste not want not
Recently, our attention was drawn to an article published in Resurgence & Ecologist Magazine, Issue 352. The article in question was, entitled ‘Think on your feet’.
This article really hit a nerve with us.
The article paints a picture of the leather industry, which could not be further from our ethos, values and the truth.
We feel that it is important for our customers to be in possession of all the facts so that they may make a considered and well-informed decision about their purchase – with a clear conscious.
All of our leather is a byproduct of the meat industry. We are passionate about not wasting a thing.
At Tanner Bates we feel strongly that it is our responsibility to make use of this waste product from the meat industry. We are very conscious that our main ingredient to all of our products has come from an animal. It is a highly precious commodity and we take every effort to celebrate this.
Our leather is tanned in the old fashioned way, in small family run tanneries. It is a slow process, but uses only natural ingredients to create the tan. No toxic effluent is produced. The result is a far superior leather, in strength character and longevity.
We take these hides and lovingly craft a natural, durable product that will last a lifetime and is ultimately biodegradable.
We are best known for our Oak Bark Tanned Devon Leather. It is the finest leather of its kind in the world. We make all of our best selling products in this leather. The beauty of this story is that it is a truly local Devon story. The animals are bred, live and are slaughtered in Devon. The meat is most probably consumed in Devon. The hides are tanned locally, in Devon at J&FJ Baker & Co. We hand craft all of our products in small batches right here in our Devon workshop. Provenance really matters to us.
Our business goes against the ‘fast fashion fads’ and supports a more considered purchase, a shift towards ‘slow fashion’, a much more sustainable approach. One that we are proud to champion.
Our friends at Leather UK have written a letter in response to this article, providing all of the facts. Please head on over to their website for a read: https://leatheruk.org/lets-keep-our-feet-on-the-ground/
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