25.7.12

the look of Italian leather

Coming off a long absence from this blog, here are a few images from a tour of one of the prestigious Italian tanneries. Their main client, Prada, makes up nearly 70% of their business.

They process close to 10,000 skins per day with an approximately one month cycle to complete the tanning process. Here in "wet blue" phase, the way the skins arrive at the factory.


 Beginning the tanning, in large spinning drums.

 Some of the colourful output.

 The drying room holds thousands of skins at a time.

The one cheerful lady, buffing skin in a softening machine.

 A lamination machine for metallic finishes.

Jewel tone patent.

Not your average factory exterior.