Leather
A step further in the leather sourcing
Since launching the VEJA project, we've been working our way back up the leather production chain and focusing on two major ways of improving it: traceability and chemical transparency. We know where it comes from and what's in it.
The leather we use comes from southern Brazil.
All leathers of our sneakers come from tanneries audited and certified Gold by theLeather Working Group. Tanning is one of the most delicate steps.
The Leather Working Group (L.W.G.) is an independent group of tanneries and manufacturers. They work on sustainable practices to reduce the environmental impact of the leather. To ensure the chrome doesn't turn into the toxic chrome VI, we perfom random checks all years long to monitor the level of chrome in our leathers.
They meet REACH standards and have full traceability from the abattoirs to the retailers. All our ChromeFree leather is coming from "the pampa" meaning cows are fed only from native vegetation.
What is vegetable tanning, exactly?
Drying the hides after tanning
What is vegetable tanning, exactly?
© Photo Cédric Amiot
From 2008 to 2015, 100% VEJA leather was vegetable-tanned leather. Since 2015, the prohibitive costs and quality level have convinced us to turn back.
All of our leathers are now tested and meet REACH standards, they do not contain any chrome VI.
Tannerie
Porto Alegre, 2013
© Studio VEJA
ChromeFree
leather
© Studio VEJA
The ChromeFree leather is soft and light, also coming from farms in southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul). It undergoes an innovative tanning process during which no hazardous chrome, heavy metals or acids are present.
