Firstly, before talking specifically about vegetable tanning, it is necessary to explain what tanning is all about.
This is an essential process for creating leather parts, without this step the leather could not be used over time.
There are two methods of tanning. Conventional tanning, or mineral tanning, uses many chemicals and chrome.
This method is both aggressive to the leather, can leave traces of harmful products in the leather and above all it releases chemicals into the environment...
On the other hand, vegetable tanning replaces chrome with tannins from nature: fruits, leaves, flowers or bark. At Easy Peasy, we use two types of tannins: mimosa and quebracho. Each of these materials has specific properties for leather.
The bark of this tree is so hard that it has earned it the nickname of 'axe-breaker'.
The wood is crushed and used to tan the leather for the lining of our slippers.
It perfumes the air in the south of France during the month of February and illuminates the forests with its flamboyant yellow! Far from being a purely ornamental tree, it also has tremendous tannin levels.
Its use in leather tanning is particularly environmentally friendly. We use it in the treatment of the top leather of our pieces.
Chromium is a chemical substance that is used in the process of mineral tanning of leather. The reason 85% of the world's leather is chrome tanned is because it allows leather to be processed quickly, but with harmful effects on the environment and human health.
Although vegetable tanning takes longer and is therefore more expensive, it is the choice we have made in response to our concern for the planet, children and people.
in the southwest of France, near Toulouse. We have chosen to work with tanning workshops in France, for a reason of proximity but also because they are family businesses, which echo our desire for authenticity and shared values.