Natural Vegetable Tanned Leather
All the leather we use in our products—from notebooks, to mouse pads to desk pads—is natural and vegetable-tanned. Read on to learn what that means and why we choose it.
What is Leather Tanning?
Natural leather starts as an animal hide, with its own character and imperfections. It’s largely made of proteins and water. Left untreated, it would turn brittle and decay because of the water content. To prevent this from happening, leather is tanned by replacing the water molecules found in the animal skin with either a natural or synthetic chemical that binds to the proteins in the hide and stabilizes them. The resulting leather doesn’t decay, and is supple, durable, and strong.
![](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=8161a7782440835b56dc1fc7af139853 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=b91b2173ac12b0e6984b9913c208863f 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=f28b5fa2e71bc891f2b48cc4583dabc7 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=5b2858382d5b2010fa39651b405910f8 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=522adb642cfe2a4278e222543651df60 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=29b0d01b310876823ad0192c14afc633 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=12a50b579a45068ba02afc02f7354b25 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=01498ddc9b9460a39579a26de390e21d 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=096cc4df96b14ecec3d29be06b5a6fae 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=20535d12eaf6ab6c139483a185fdeaf7 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=395cfea2be753b996a297da6dfaf1cf2 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fken-A1.png?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=08ed6543f605572b1d6a3dd5fcdad124 3000w)
"The look and feel of vegetable-tanned leather is hard to beat."
KEN TOMITA
Co-Founder
Made the Hard Way
There are two common methods of leather-tanning: chrome and vegetable-tanning.
Vegetable-tanning is the original historic method for preserving a hide. It is an organic process, using tannins derived from the bark of trees as the chemical that displaces the water in the hide. This process is labor intensive and requires skilled craftspeople, which also means it costs a lot more. The leather we use undergoes a 6-week tanning process before it’s ready for manufacturing.
Vegetable-tanning is the original historic method for preserving a hide. It is an organic process, using tannins derived from the bark of trees as the chemical that displaces the water in the hide. This process is labor intensive and requires skilled craftspeople, which also means it costs a lot more. The leather we use undergoes a 6-week tanning process before it’s ready for manufacturing.
Vegetable-tanning preserves the natural beauty and imperfections of the leather, while allowing it to age and patina over time.
In the mid 19th century, an alternative method for mass producing leather was developed, where chromium metal is used instead of tannins to replace the water. It’s much faster and cheaper, and it requires less skill to create. The process can be automated and completed in less than one day. The resulting leather, though good in some applications, doesn’t age as well, and much of the natural character of the hide is lost. Most leather that you commonly interact with is chrome tanned—from car seats to gloves. We choose vegetable-tanned leather because it preserves the quality of the natural animal skin while allowing it to develop a unique character over time.
![The Large Desk Pad in Tan Leather supporting the Maple Laptop Stand for MacBook.](https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgrovemade-tan-leather-desk-pad-large-galB-A5.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=200&s=5ded1521c14b9c6b493d41691a64e381 200w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgrovemade-tan-leather-desk-pad-large-galB-A5.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=300&s=894bfdcee3776040ad47e7e97b7f92a1 300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgrovemade-tan-leather-desk-pad-large-galB-A5.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=500&s=79eae69c317e9dc24f60f120f2824145 500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgrovemade-tan-leather-desk-pad-large-galB-A5.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=700&s=aa0a21d2084c97773b2c2b2913cd0694 700w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgrovemade-tan-leather-desk-pad-large-galB-A5.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=900&s=d76df4e036eca931ac1efdf5ff9aa24f 900w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgrovemade-tan-leather-desk-pad-large-galB-A5.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1100&s=57712cc454efc0096ce91a9fb5603311 1100w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgrovemade-tan-leather-desk-pad-large-galB-A5.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1300&s=4f1734009f0844979d495bfa126d41a1 1300w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgrovemade-tan-leather-desk-pad-large-galB-A5.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1500&s=d9f7a46d5430eab2a6abca32aa385df5 1500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgrovemade-tan-leather-desk-pad-large-galB-A5.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=1800&s=5d251293aabc2f90d37a18a96a92d73e 1800w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgrovemade-tan-leather-desk-pad-large-galB-A5.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2250&s=caceed9b27e8a520d382fe311c3dd991 2250w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgrovemade-tan-leather-desk-pad-large-galB-A5.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=2500&s=9cf6ddad7c2c9c6156ca1c878ea45b57 2500w,https://grovemade.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fsiteleaf.grovemade.com%2Fuploads%2Fgrovemade-tan-leather-desk-pad-large-galB-A5.jpg?auto=format&ixlib=python-1.1.2&w=3000&s=9d94a2b37cb14aaa72fe01bdbab14454 3000w)
Vegetable-tanned leather has the level of character and premium quality we look for in our products. It ages uniquely as you use it, and when properly cared for, can last for generations.
Leather Mouse Pads
Our leather mouse pads will age beautifully, and provide a lifetime of solid, smooth, scrolling for your mouse.
Leather Desk Pads
Define and organize your space, protect your desk, elevate your work—all at the same time, with premium leather.