Leather Matters
By: Brian Hart
All leather is not created equal, nor are the people who work with it. That's why we curated only the best for our Wine Carrier.
Leather Matters
We all know it when we see it. Cheap leather. Poor leather making. When we set out to make the most durable and protective carrier for wine bottle travel we not only had to find the best leather, but also a leather craftsman who would not compromise on quality.
"There's leather, and then there is great leather: Horween makes the latter." - Primer Magazine
Today there are only about 5 tanneries in the US that process hides from start to finish, and Horween is one of them–the last of the great Chicago tanneries. At one point, Chicago was the heart of leather processing in the United States as it was a rail hub and the major meatpacking center of the country. The Horween Leather company was founded there in 1905 by Isidore Horween, who learned the craft in his native Ukraine. Horween’s initial success was built upon the production of razor straps–which nearly every man in the country owned to sharpen his razor. During WWII Horween became the official leather supplier to the Marine Corps, who used it to make their infantry boots. In 1960 the company started producing leather for the NFL footballs, made in the same way today. In the 1970’s and 1980’s there was a mass exodus of tanneries out of the US to Mexico and Asia, and by 2006 it was the last tannery remaining in Chicago (at its high, there were more than 40). Global competition has been stiff, but the company has not only survived but has thrived by creating a niche with an uncompromising commitment to quality, selling high-grade and luxury leathers to shoemakers, luggage manufacturers, and major sporting goods companies.
Horween’s proprietary leather Chromexcel has been around for over 100 years, and the operation to create it is unbelievably skilled and complex–involving a series of 89 different processes over 28 days to produce the finished product. The result is a unique leather with oils and waxes that make it incredibly strong, durable, and low-maintenance. In addition, it has a cool factor that we couldn’t find in any other leather–the more it gets touched, pulled, scuffed, scratched or creased, the better it gets. Expect it. It becomes “vintage” without becoming frail, just like a well-crafted Bordeaux wine. We use the Chromexcel 6/7 ounce for the D-ring straps, carry belt, and shoulder harness of the Wine Carrier and Double Carrier Tote. The 3.5/4 ounce is used for the strap around the base of the Carrier.
Tannāre Leather — Quality Custom Leatherwork
Just because you start with an amazing piece of leather doesn’t mean that it will end up as an exceptional final product. I will never let a relative of mine cook a wagyu steak that I purchase, because I know that the end result will be a letdown. Similarly, a good hide in the hands of an average leather worker will lead to an average product. Francisco Figueroa is not your average leather maker. He is a 3rd generation leather craftsman, and grew up in a family that was known to make some of the best horse saddles in the world. He and his wife Cindy Jennings founded and operate TANNĀRE Custom Leatherwork in San Antonio, Texas. With a focus on old world craftsmanship, Francisco has caught the attention of rock stars wanting custom guitar straps to major league sports teams.
When I visited Francisco and Cindy at their factory it was clear that we made the right choice in choosing a leather maker. As his specialty is custom products, he does not have an “assembly plant” operation. Each item is worked on individually on large wooden tables, and he only has one machine per purpose. Throughout his space he has all kinds of antiques, many of them associated with the leather making industry, and it is quite apparent that he has a fondness and admiration for items that stand the test of time.
The combination of a leather from Horween and the leather crafting skills of Francisco at Tannare has allowed us to produce not only the finest wine travel bag on the market, but unquestionably the most durable and rugged as well. If you already own a Vinarmour Wine Carrier, you may expect with it what one would normally expect with a quality-leather good made by an experienced leather craftsman–years and years of use and utility, developing a beautiful patina along the way.