Leather is a natural product crafted from raw hide through various artisanal processes. Before industrialisation, every village had at least one family-run tannery that worked with German leather, passed down from generation to generation. Due to globalisation, only a few traditional tanneries remain in Germany today, and the consequences go beyond the impact on the local economy.
The remaining tanneries are in an ongoing battle with competitors based abroad. To keep production costs as low as possible, many (international) companies purchase their leather cheaply from overseas. The resulting consequences for people, the environment, and material quality often go unnoticed — and we are not just talking about the inferior quality of the leather. The working conditions and circumstances for the workers are equally alarming, as the Verbraucherzentrale NRW has reported. Children and young people in non-EU countries work with highly toxic chemicals used during the tanning process — without any protective clothing. The toxic waste products then enter local waterways through improper disposal.
At the Sandalenwerkstatt, we believe that neither people nor the environment should suffer for stylish leather goods. That is why we only use leather from German regions for our leather sandals. Thanks to the relatively short distance, we are able to visit the tanneries regularly and see for ourselves how these businesses operate. Our selection is not necessarily based on the uniform appearance of the leather, but rather on how stable and robust the material ultimately is. Minor irregularities in colour or texture are not a sign of poor quality — they are a natural occurrence in the tanning process. These variations can also be found in other natural materials and foods.
