Vegetable Tanned Leather Goods

Although one may often associate leather in interior design with furniture, it is also making a splash in the world of small household items. These products include, but are not limited to: Trays, Ice Buckets, Martini Shakers, Thermos, wine racks as well as a variety of decorative items and organizational storage pieces.
These pieces are handcrafted with soft, vegetable-tanned cow leather from Paraguay. Vegetable tanning refers to the process of using natural vegetable tannins to treat the hide. Only 10% of the leather in the world is treated this way, which is due to the fact that it is much more time consuming and complex. Most leather is treated using chemicals which speeds up the process but is very harmful to the environment. Over half of Paraguay’s leather is exported to Italy every year and used by high end designer brands.
The leather embraces the natural imperfections of the cowhide and develops a beautiful patina over its lifetime. This makes each piece unique, since every piece develops differently depending on the hide it came from, sun exposure and care. Paraguay’s climate is very hot and the powerful UV rays burn off harmful parasites that damage the cowhide. The cattle roam freely in the mostly untouched countryside.
There are a variety of artisan families in the region that specialize in leather wrapping. They have been in business for over 100 years and the craft has been passed down through generations. The fact that it has always stayed within the families ensures that there are no replicas made. There are also the woodworkers, who create various objects such as the trays and other houseware items that are then wrapped in the leather. This wood is also sourced from the region, the remote Paraguayan Jungle to be exact. The resources are rich and there is a wide variety of wood to choose from.