Where does the leather of The Chesterfield Brand come from?

The quality leather used by The Chesterfield Brand comes mainly from India and Poland, where cattle and buffalo hides are carefully selected. The leather is a by-product of the meat industry. Together with certified partner factories in India, we transform these hides into our familiar supple full grain leather through a high-quality and sustainable tanning process.

Which countries supply the hides for The Chesterfield Brand?

Everything begins with the selection of the best materials. The hides used for our bags and accessories come from several countries, but the large majority originates in India and Poland.

Our leather experts look closely at origin and animal type:

• Cowhide. This forms the basis for 90% of our entire collection.
• Buffalo leather. The remaining 10% of our products is made from this sturdy type of leather.

What many people do not know is that these hides are a by-product of the meat industry. Rather than letting them go to waste, we see them as the opportunity to create a high-quality, natural and durable product that lasts for years.

How do we monitor sustainability and origin?

From our office in Assen, we keep a close watch on the quality, the ethical standards and the sustainability of our production chain. For us it is a firm requirement that every link in that chain benefits. That is why we have built close partnerships with our leather suppliers over many years. Daily contact and frequent factory visits mean we know exactly where our leather comes from and how it is processed.

To safeguard these standards, we work exclusively with certified partners:

• Social conditions. We only work with factories that hold SA8000 and/or SEDEX certification, which guarantees safe and fair working conditions.
• Chemical safety. All our leather complies strictly with the European REACH standard.
• Environmental impact. We work with the Leather Working Group (LWG) to minimise the energy consumption, water use and CO2 emissions of the tanneries. At present, 80% of our tanneries are LWG certified, and our aim is 100%.

What is the quality of The Chesterfield Brand leather?

Once the hides arrive at our leather partners from their countries of origin, we select only the very best layer of the hide. A cowhide consists of three layers: the split (bottom layer), the junction (middle layer) and the grain (top layer).

Every product from The Chesterfield Brand is made from 100% full grain leather. This is the upper grain layer of the hide. Our experts choose this layer specifically because it is the strongest and most durable one. Full grain leather keeps its natural character, stands up well to rain and is the only type of leather that becomes more beautiful with use over the years.

How do the tanning and drying processes work in India?

Turning a raw hide into a supple leather bag from The Chesterfield Brand takes an intensive and skilled process of tanning and finishing. This process determines how the leather eventually looks and feels.

It follows these fixed steps:

• Soaking and cleaning. The incoming hides are washed and soaked in a special immersion bath to remove dirt and hair residue.
• Tanning in wooden drums. The hides go into large wooden drums where the protein structure is treated. This is done partly through an environmentally friendly vegetable method known as Wet White Tanning, which is chrome free.
• Pressing and splitting. Excess moisture is pressed out of the leather, after which the strong top layer, the full grain, is mechanically separated from the layers underneath.
• Colour washing. The leather returns to the drums to create the exact colour and to make the structure supple.
• Drying in the Indian sun. The leather is stretched out to dry. What makes our production in India distinctive is that we can dry the leather outdoors in the sun. This natural process gives the leather a deeper, richer colour.
• The finishing touch by hand. In the final stage we transform the material into our familiar Wax Pull Up leather. Our craftsmen apply natural waxes and oils by hand instead of dyes or pigments. This creates the exceptionally soft and flexible finish.

Frequently asked questions about the origin of our leather

Is the leather from The Chesterfield Brand sourced in an animal-friendly way?

Yes. All the leather we use is a 100% by-product of the meat industry. No cattle or buffalo are bred or slaughtered specifically for our leather. We upcycle hides that would otherwise become waste into premium bags.

What exactly is Wet White Tanning?

This is a vegetable, chrome free tanning method that uses only natural products. Because the technique initially gives the leather a light, white glow, it is called Wet White. It is a very environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical tanning.

Why is full grain leather more expensive than other types of leather?

Full grain leather is the upper and highest quality layer of the hide. It is the strongest layer, it lasts the longest and it keeps its natural texture. Because this is the highest quality available and considerable expertise is needed to work with it, the price is higher than for split leather.

How do I care for Wax Pull Up leather from India?

The natural oils and waxes make this leather easy to care for. If the bag shows light signs of use or scratches over time, polish the leather with a soft cloth and our special Leather Maintenance Wax to bring back its original look.

Are all the factories the leather comes from certified?

We work exclusively with leather partners and factories that hold an SA8000 and/or SEDEX certificate. In addition, 80% of our tanneries are currently certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG) for their environmentally friendly operations.