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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Leather - As Nature Intended
Tanner Bates are a small business of passionate makers. We love to experiment with different leathers, colour mixes and interesting designs.
Coming from traditional saddlery roots our founder, John, aspires to impeccable technique whilst admiring and gathering inspiration from the worlds luxury leather brands for their design and quality of finish.
Leather, however, is a product of nature and each skin is unique to the animal it came from. For the luxury brands this individuality presents a problem, but they have found a way to condition each skin, ironing (literally) out any irregularities and coating the surface with a pigment and/or acrylic surface to ensure each one looks exquisite..... exquisite but identical to the next one and the one after that.
For us, the high quality of making and individuality of design is a given. However being a small independent brand we are free to celebrate the uniqueness of the hides by featuring natural scars, imperfections, and irregularities of dyeing. These are natural attributes that give unique character to the final product. All of our products feature these natural irregularities making each item unique.
Black Friday at Tanner Bates
This Black Friday Weekend, we invite you to join us.
Take a stand against fast fashion. Use this weekend as a force for change.
Our handcrafted products will not be discounted.
Instead:
We have partnered with Moor Trees and will be donating one native tree for every £100 spent across the weekend
&
We are introducing: The new Thurlstone Cardholder