What is Vegetable-Tanning?

Vegetable tanning is one of the oldest and eco-friendly methods for producing leather from animal hides. Unlike chrome tanning—which can produce leather quickly, but relies on harsh chemicals—vegetable tanning is a slow, artisanal process that uses natural tannins found in tree bark, leaves, and fruits. Vegetable-tanning can take several weeks, but results in a beautiful and naturally-processed hide that each possesses its own unique subtle markings and rich tones.

Benefits of Vegetable-Tanned Leather

Vegetable-tanned leather is known for its strength and durability, and can last a lifetime with proper care. The material is free of synthetic coatings, which enables it to breathe, and naturally absorb moisture and oils from its environment. 

At FROH, we primarily use vegetable-tanned leather so that our pieces can age beautifully rather than wearing out. Our vegetable-tanned leather pieces gradually deepen in color as they are naturally exposed to sunlight, oil, and moisture. This allows each FROH piece to develop its own patina, a natural finish of soft sheen and unique texture. 

The aging of high-quality vegetable-tanned leather products is a prized feature; it symbolizes authenticity, longevity, and individuality. Each scratch, subtle mark, and deepening tone will become defining characteristics of your FROH piece, telling a story of where you’ve been and who you’ve become along the way.

Why Vegetable-Tanned Leather?

At FROH, we strive to make thoughtful choices that support sustainability. All our pieces our produced upon order to reduce unnecessary waste from mass production. We also use leather hides that are by-products of the meat and dairy industries to ensure that no animal is harmed solely for its leather. The use of vegetable-tanned leather is central to our philosophy. 

Vegetable-tanned leather avoids harsh synthetic chemicals and generates less pollution in the tanning process. Using vegetable-tanned leather is not the easiest or cheapest choice: this leather requires longer production time and greater craftsmanship. But we believe in doing things the right way, not just the fast way. We also believe in creating products that are more meaningful, long-lasting, and kind to the planet.

At FROH, sustainability isn't a trend, but a value we stitch onto everything we make. We believe that beauty and responsibility can go hand in hand. When you carry a FROH piece, you carry this philosophy with you.