Was ist Cordovan?

The crème de la crème of genuine leather types: Cordovan leather is one of the most valuable types of leather . It is long-lasting, extremely durable, dense and yet very elastic and supple. This premium leather combines the best properties of all genuine leather types. Wallets made from cordovan are coveted collector's items and a purchase for life.

This luxury comes at a price, because as noble as this leather is, it is also very complex to produce. As a result, it is one of the more expensive types of leather. But the investment is worth it! With proper care, Cordovan becomes more beautiful with age. However, the sebum-containing leather is so easy to care for that not much effort is needed to maintain its beauty and suppleness. But let's start at the beginning:

Cordovan is a particularly fine leather that is obtained from the hindquarters of horse hides. This means that the skin comes from the horse's buttocks, the so-called "shells", "butts" or "croups". Only two oval pieces the size of an A3 sheet of paper can be obtained from each animal. This is the first important factor why Cordovan is extremely expensive.

Another factor for the high price of the leather is the complex vegetable tanning process . The centuries-old technique of natural, vegetable tanning is a real craft that no tannery masters as well as the traditional company Horween in Chicago. The horsehides are painstakingly processed by hand in an old factory building on the Chicago River. The hides are first cut and dehaired by hand. The vegetable tanning process then takes six months and gives Cordovan leather its characteristic, rich shine and excellent performance properties. It is only during the tanning process that it becomes clear which pieces of leather are suitable for which purpose.

In contrast to other types of leather, the flesh side of Cordovan is processed into the outer side. The initially rough side is worked until a smooth and pore-free surface with its characteristic shine is created. The relatively thick and initially stiff Cordovan is treated with many waxes, fats and oils until it finally achieves its typical suppleness. The result is a purely natural product that - strong and elastic at the same time - is considered almost indestructible.