Our Leathers
Conceria Walpier
Made from premium vegetable-tanned leather by Walpier, a renowned tannery in Ponte a Egola, Tuscany, Italy, this leather reflects generations of Italian craftsmanship and tradition. Founded in 1974 and part of the CONSORZIO VERA PELLE ITALIANA, Walpier is known worldwide for producing some of the finest vegetable-tanned leathers, including their signature Buttero.
Buttero leather is loved for its vibrant colors, smooth texture, and the beautiful patina it develops over time. Using traditional vegetable-tanning methods with natural chestnut bark tannins, each hide is carefully crafted to produce a durable, full-grain leather that becomes more unique with every use.
Cut from the shoulder section of the hide and finished with a natural aniline treatment, Buttero highlights the leather’s original character while offering excellent longevity. Designed to show the marks and scratches of everyday life, it only gets better with age and develops a rich, personal look that tells the story of its owner.
With its deep colors, refined feel, and timeless Italian heritage, Walpier Buttero is a favorite choice for high-quality leather goods built to last and has been used at SDL since 2022.
Snowday uses Buttero for many of their wallets, bags and trays. You can request Waliper in your order in the "notes" section.
Herman Oak
Herman Oak leather is a premium American vegetable-tanned leather celebrated for its quality, durability, and traditional craftsmanship. Produced using time-honored tanning methods and natural vegetable tannins, Herman Oak leather is known for its firm temper, clean grain, and ability to develop a rich, natural patina as it ages.
With roots dating back to the late 1800s, Herman Oak has built a reputation for producing some of the finest tooling and carving leathers available. Their hides are especially valued by leatherworkers because they accept dyes, stamps, and tooling beautifully, making them a favorite for custom saddles, belts, wallets, holsters, bags, and other handcrafted goods.
Unlike mass-produced leathers, Herman Oak maintains the natural character of the hide, offering strength, structure, and a timeless appearance. As the leather is handled and used, it gains depth, color, and personality—creating a finished piece that becomes more unique over time.
Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse leather is known for its distinctive vintage character, rich texture, and beautifully worn-in appearance. Its unique two-tone effect comes from a special wax treatment applied to full-grain cowhide, creating a soft, smooth surface that highlights the natural grain of the leather while giving it an aged look.
One of the most appealing qualities of Crazy Horse leather is the way it evolves over time. The leather naturally absorbs oils from your hands, developing a subtle glossy finish and a richer appearance with use. Scratches and abrasions create lighter, contrasting tones that add depth and character, allowing a brand-new piece to develop a rugged and well-worn look that is completely unique.
While it has a distressed appearance, Crazy Horse leather maintains the strength and durability of chrome tanned full-grain cowhide.
SDL uses Crazy Horse for handcrafted bags, wallets, Mason Mugs, trays and keychains.
Chrome vs. Vegetable Tanned Leathers
Vegetable-Tanned Leather
Vegetable tanning is one of the oldest leather-making methods. It uses natural tannins from plant materials such as tree bark, leaves, and other botanical sources to preserve and transform the hide.
Characteristics:
- Develops a rich patina over time, becoming more beautiful with age
- Has a natural look with visible grain and character
- Feels firmer and more structured when new
- Often has a warm, earthy appearance
- Takes longer to produce due to the traditional process
Chrome-Tanned Leather
Chrome tanning is a more modern process that uses chromium salts to tan the hide. It was developed to make leather production faster, more consistent, and more versatile.
Characteristics:
- Softer and more flexible right away
- More resistant to water, heat, and stains
- Available in a wider range of colors and finishes
- Usually more affordable due to faster production
- Maintains a more consistent appearance over time