Projects

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  • Leather

    A sustainable and traceable leather value chain

  • I

    Raw material from agriculture

    Mutterkuh Schweiz + Bio Suisse

    I

    Raw material from agriculture

    Mutterkuh Schweiz + Bio Suisse

    Sustainability and ethics begins with the animal husbandry. The raw material for the leather bags and accessories originates from cattle from the farms of Swiss suckler cows husbandry with Bio Suisse certification. The Association Mutterkuh Schweiz is committed to a natural husbandry of farm animals. The suckler cow husbandry lets the calves live with their mothers on the pasture. These farms are usually smaller and contain 6–8 cows on average.

    Bio Suisse is a strong, credible and globally recognized brand for organic agriculture, which is committed to the balance between nature, humans and animals. Both organisations stand for responsible, ecological and animal-friendly agriculture. In combination they form the most convincing and qualified seal for fins raw material.

    For every fin leather product sold, a certain revenue will be paid to the Association Mutterkuh Schweiz who will use this money on the farmers.

  • II

    Collection and sorting

    Centravo Group

    II

    Collection and sorting

    Centravo Group

    The Centravo Group is an organisation of the Swiss meat industry. The Group is an expert of collecting and assorting cattle skins as well as their sale and dispatch to the tanneries.

    In close cooperation with the Centravo Group and Bell Group, the skins for fin are separated and transported to the region of Pisa, Italy. In Switzerland to the border of Italy the transport runs mostly on rails and then by truck to Santa Croce sull’Arno.

  • III

    Vegetable-Tanning in Tuscany

    Tannery in Santa Croce

    III

    Vegetable-Tanning in Tuscany

    Tannery in Santa Croce

    In Switzerland, there are no tanneries designed to carry out the processing of larger batches from the raw skin to the finished leather. Thus, fin trusts and relies on the tradition of vegetable tanneries in Tuscany, Italy.

    The raw material is vegetable-tanned in Santa Croce sull’Arno. This type of tanning is free of harmful substances, i.e. renouncing the use of any chemicals, colouring and coatings within leather for fin. Only natural ingredients such as Mimosa and Quebracho bark are used. Hence, the leather is 100% natural.

    Vegetable-tanning is one of the oldest tanning methods existing for more than 5000 years. Today, however, only about 10% of the leather industry worldwide uses this method. The tannery with which fin cooperates has been specialized in vegetable and traditional pit tanning since the 70s. The craftsmanship has always evolved and adapted to modern production conditions.

  • IV

    Processing End product

    Pelletteria in Florence

    IV

    Processing End product

    Pelletteria in Florence

    The tanned leather is further processed to fin leather bags and accessories at a small family business in Florence. The company has been active in the leather industry since the 50s and stands for a careful and high-quality production. The tailor has a fine eye for detail and a sensitive touch bringing the leather and design together.

    ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER PRODUCTS
    The leather products are sewn with threads that are made from recycled PET. The metal parts (push buttons and rivets) are nickel free and produced in Italy.

    PACKAGING
    The cloth bag, packaging for the fin leather products, is made in the region of Florence. The fabric of the packaging is made of organic cotton.

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