what is horween leather made of

ð¸credits: @watchc, This error message is only visible to WordPress admins, Nomad Watch Works Review - Straps Galore | Hype & Style, 5 Places To Go For Watch Repair Services In Singapore, The Cheapest Place To Buy The Seiko SKX007, Q Timex Hodinkee Limited Edition – Review. 1214 – Standard Portfolio Case Review – $195. Before it leaves the factory, CXL is coated in neatsfoot oil, which is made from the rendered shin and feet bones of cattle. If you’re wondering, 10% of the hides Horween processes comes from horses while the 90% are from cowhides. The original pull-up is Horween Chromexcel, which has been a favourite of casual shoe and work boot makers since its introduction in the 1920s. The point is, try to fathom the difficulty when only 3 people in a veteran company are able to do the job. It is the outermost le… Description. Another notable watch strap brand is Bandr Bands as they provide a huge catalogue of straps ranging from quality materials such as Calf, Alligator to Horween leather. However, Horween have stayed true and on track with a proud tradition of being made in USA. While Horween will produce it in matte or gloss finishes, heavy or soft tempers. Horween says that’s usually his go to recommendation, which is why one of his favorite products is: Saphir Greasy Leather Cream. As mentioned earlier, Ashland leather creates great quality wallets using Horween’s Shell Cordovan leather and they are handcrafted in Chicago, the same place Horween is located. 8 Billfold is made from Genuine Horween® Horsehide leather, what we consider an ideal wallet leather. You can also refer to a video illustration on how the pull up effect looks like here. All of the products are hand-made in their workshop and it has a 90-day exchange policy for any defective goods but with over 4,000 reviews on their website, I think you’ll be all set. Their online store typically acts like a Netflix series, once you’re in there, it’s hard to leave especially now that they have a 10% discount off all items by using the promo code “Nomad360”. However, let’s not forget our roots thus I’ll be focusing on some watch straps companies that utilises the stellar leather from Horween. They are later tanned again with the vegetable solutions and conditioned with oils and greases. It has an authentic vintage effect about it, as well as the pull-up distressed throughout the hide from the tumbling process. Insights | Horween Leather We thought it was about time we looked a little more deeply into leather, as the stuff makes up a huge chunk of the nicer carry products we use. The leather derives its name from the city of Cordoba, Spain, where it was first produced by the Visigoths in the seventh century, and later also by the Moors. In fact, the selling point of these leather is its ability to age nicely and some may say it looks better with age compared to it being new. Each shell is slowly steeped in gentle vegetable liquors. We offer a wide range of tannages from our vegetable tanned Genuine Shell Cordovan to Sport Leathers and Footwear Leathers, such as Chromexcel. Use “Nomad360” for 10% off all items at Nomad Watch Works! At Horween, although roughly 80% of their business stems from tanning cowhides, they are probably most famous for their genuine Shell Cordovan leather. Cordovan is an equine leather made from the fibrous flat connective tissue (or shell) beneath the hide on the rump of the horse. In the US, they’re also known for producing the leather of all official American footballs, and basketballs too. An interview with Arnold "Skip" Horween III, President of Horween Leather Company. This is a neutral-colored shoe … They provide personalisation services with an addition of $10 SGD, making it a great place to find a gift for your loved ones. They produce leathers for a myriad of uses and companies. The characteristics of Chromexcel is often associated with the words “pull-up” due to the tonal and bright effect after it is being folded or flexed. Horween’s Latigo line is a full grain, veg retan leather. Chromexcel is only made by Horween Leather Co. in Chicago where it has been being made consistently since the early 1900’s. Check out some of his classy and durable creations here. While the leather is … This allows the leather to absorb scuffs and scrapes like a champ while remaining relatively maintenance free. Popular amongst these leathers is the Horween Chromexcel leather, which the Marion Olive Blucher Boots from HELM are made from. When they age though, the Chromexcel turns into a dark-brown colour and the Dublin is no different. Clearly, it takes a patient bunch for such quality. This should give you an idea of how much work they need to do for that 10%. The irregular oval shaped shells are tanned, stuffed, shaved, and then polished – a process taking at least six months. Instead of creasing, it ripples giving it a different effect. They have a blog on their website too which you can learn more about how they make their products to caring for them, a decent effort worth mentioning. The No. Salted Horsehides Tanning is a process that does two basic things: it stops the natural decay process and develops the desired characteristics of … Now, Horween is the very last tannery operating locally. Great leather comes from great hides, and our Vaer straps are made from some of the very best available. The No. You probably own a watch strap that's made out of Horween's leather but do you know about it's history and leather making processes? Founded 115 years ago, Horween Leather Co is one of the oldest Tannery in the USA. It is naturally bright and gives out more of a matte finish look. With some of its customers selling leather products such as wallets, bags and even our beloved watch straps, the last tannery in Chicago has made a name for itself through the last century and their leather has reached the global markets in regions like Asia. More than just a color, it is a very specific leather, from a particular part of a horsehide. On the day of my visit, he was dressed in a blue work shirt with several pens stowed in the chest pocket; he also wore work boots, a belt and a watch strap, all made of his namesake leather. Only recently, Horween has experimented with a few different types of leather for 2-3 years and came out with a new range of leather, the vegetable-tanned Dublin leather. When Isadore founded his company, there were over two-dozen leather tanneries in Chicago. The process of producing the Chromexcel leather is a great deal of work, it takes 89 separate processes and a gruesome duration of 28 days to produce and the majority of the work is by hand. The original saffiano leather was created in its recognizable cross-hatch embossed grain in calf skin. SC comes from the flat muscle (or shell) beneath the hide on the rump of a horse, a tanning practice first explored by the Visigoths in seventh century (Cordoba) Spain. A wallet made from Shell Cordovan is the type of item that a father hands down to his son, and that son to his son. It takes a steady hand to trim the leather just like changing a watch strap with a shoulder-less spring-bar (ok obviously the trimming of the leather is harder). The Horween Leather Company has set the standard for the highest quality leathers since 1905. Form Function Form Button-Stud The Button-Stud watch strap from Form Function Form, or FFF, is made from cordovan leather from Horween. All Horween leather is still traditionally vegetable-tanned the old-fashioned way. Higher quality leather is often tanned with aldehydes; automobile upholstery and many expensive shoes are usually made with this type of leather. - Arnold Horween III, President Horween Leather Co. Horween Leather has been around since 1905 and is located in Chicago, IL. The Shell Cordovan ages into a darker colour as well and it ripples instead of creasing. There are a few notable brands that uses Horween’s leather such as shoes from Allen Edmonds and wallets from Ashland Leather to name a few. After the 30 days, the shaving of the leather begins and only 3 people in the company are competent enough to do this job. Chamois And I wouldn’t hesitate to buy leather boots made of it (the Wolverine 1000 Mile boots pictured above are awesome). Their offerings run the gamut from all the NFL and NBA game balls, to those Shell Cordovan Allen Edmonds you wish you had (Shell leather accounts for only 10% of Horween’s production). Unique & characterized by a rich pull-up in full aniline, hand rubbed finishes, offers the ultimate in comfort & durability. If you’re a watch collector or not, you may have heard of Horween leather, Chicago’s last tannery that has spanned across 5 generations. Top Footballers In The World & Their Watches, Gifts for Father’s Day 2020 (Watch Edition), Reviewing the Apple Watch Series 6 through the len, Our list of curated gifts for this holiday season, Concieved to be the ultimate expression of everyth, New article: Review for Zelos Horizons 12hr âFro, The other moon watch @bulova The leather is also full grain, which means that it has not been altered in a way that weakens it’s fibers or structure. But Chromexcel is not the best leather … It is a natural product tanned over six months with natural food-grade fats, oils, greases, and waxes.The tanning process, performed since 1905 at Chicago’s Horween Leather, includes about 100 steps, most of which are performed manually or using old-world machines virtually unchanged since the industrial revolution. After a year, the patina is pleasantly delightful with it turning into dark-brown. I hope that after understanding its history and leather making processes, you’ll be more appreciative of the costs of such leather goods no matter how small the product may be (watch straps). Many people think of Latigo as the original saddlery style leather. Like Genuine Shell Cordovan, Essex is straight 100% vegetable tanned. And what better place to find answers than with Horween . For a bonus, here are some customers of Horween that makes remarkable wallets and small leather products. The main difference between normal leather used in footwear and Horween Leather lies in the processing. The quality and desirability of SC is not opinion–it comes straight from the horse’s mouth (OK, fine…maybe a bit farther in the back). As you can see Horween’s leather is everywhere including on the straps of our precious timepiece! 8 Wallets is die-cut for precision and split to an ideal thickness. These vintage looks watch band featured in strap with raw edge, stitching at lug end and a … Horween Genuine Shell Cordovan® is the art of tanning at its finest. It similarly uses the same blend of liquors and extracts as the Cordovan. The natural characteristics of h orsehide leather is known to be a very dense with ti ght-grain, thus it will have minimal stretch and it is extra-durable.. At this point, the leather is only halfway ready where they’re ready to be hand-oiled, then, another 3 months rest, re-wet and shaved again on a machine that is controlled with a food pedal. Arnold “Skip” Horween III, 62, is the current paterfamilias, and the fourth man of his line to preside over the company. Popov leather utilises the full-grain Horween leather in all of its products and they offer small leather goods from wallets, card-holders, belts and even notebook covers. New posts will not be retrieved. Vaer Watches. Made from the hind side of a horse and tanned by the world famous Horween Leather Company horween leather wallet made in usa in Chicago, Shell Cordovan takes a full six months to tan, with much of the finishing done by hand and feel. Log in as an administrator and view the Instagram Feed settings page for more details. As for Chromexcel, it is commonly found in boat shoes, belts and many small leather goods. The characteristics of the Dublin leather is the ability to patina and burnish well over time and it has a unique pull-up (When the leather is flexed or folded it will create a tonal effect on the top side of the leather, this tonal can then be buffed out close to its original look) it is also known for its rugged look. As much as they focus on using Shell Cordovan for their products, they do offer a great selection of Dublin and Chromexcel leather products from valet trays to key fobs. about Phil Kalas. The Dublin leather is developed by the waxing of the Essex leather which creates a rustic look, creating a rich blend of natural waxes which retains the suppleness of the Essex leather but only in a darker shade which helps brings out the natural grain. The result is a leather that is smooth to the touch, that feels durable and strong, yet is supple enough for the most sophisticated bags and leather goods. What attracted me was the sense of pride I had in what my predecessors had accomplished. Horween’s Chromexcel is a great leather. Skip, what attracted you to working for your family’s business when you first joined Horween? Cordovan is actually a minority of Horween’s business - it makes up roughly 15% - but it is what they’re most famous for. Horween Leather Company is an American company specializing in the manufacturing and refining of leather and related products. Horween's Derby leather is also a full grain vegetable tanned leather, nearly identical to Dublin except for that it has been tumbled giving it a well worn look and feel. Here you can find leather of different kinds from Horween’s Shell Cordovan and Chromexcel to Barenia and Chevre leather. Horween leather wallets by Popov Leather. Since its founding in the early 20th century it … Horween’s speciality is producing the Chromexcel, Dublin and Shell Cordovan leather with the latter being a durable leather from horse rumps (the buttock) of a horse and they are also one of the last producers for this kind of leather. When Horween was founded at the beginning of the 20th century, Illinois was not only the leather making capital of the world, but also one of the world’s largest producers of watches thanks to the Chicago-adjacent Elgin Watch Company. Horween is a world famous tannery based in Chicago Illinois that has been in operation for over a hundred years. USA Horween Chromexcel leather is the best & affordable Horween leather watch strap. FREE USA SHIPPING | FREE RETURNS | SHIPPING 10-14 DAYS FROM PURCHASE. If you like this article and would like to read more about watch straps you can have a look at our Expert Guide To Watch Straps article over here. Are you starting to appreciate your leather products at home now? Unfortunately real vegetable-tanned leather has become scarce and hard to find – but not at Horween Leather Company. This is due to the dense pores of the hinds of a horse. Phil Kalas works at the Horween Tannery and also owns Ashland leather, which works primarily with Chromexcel and Shell Cordovan. It has been a leading tannery for more than 100 years. Most chromexcel leathers have a "pull-up" effect meaning that, when folded and stressed, oils and waxes that were impregnated into the hide during the tanning process move around causing a very nice tonal effect. 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