Learn more about Nisolo’s Leather Working Group gold certification
LESS WATER, FEWER CHEMICALS, AND A LIGHTER FOOTPRINT
Not all leather is created equal. The Leather Working Group is the highest standard for responsible leather manufacturing. This group was formed in 2005 when a group of brands and leather manufacturers came together with the common objective of reducing the environmental impact of the leather industry. Today, Leather Working Group certification is the largest and most recognized certification for leather manufacturers, trusted around the world by leading brands and supply chain partners.
To achieve certification, Nisolo’s partner tanneries are assessed every year through a rigorous audit. This third-party, independently verified certification confirms that Nisolo’s leather is sourced, produced, and used sustainably and proves a transparent leather value chain that reduces environmental impact. The gold rating confirms that our partner tanneries have met the strictest criteria among all tanneries.
We are proud to carry forward the mission of the brand and to create a network that is committed to the most stringent sustainability standards.
Sustainability and transparency
Leather is more sustainable than synthetic materials. Nisolo’s partner tannery has created an ecological network to ensure that there is no unnecessary waste in the process. Cheese, meat, and milk come from the cow and the subproduct is leather. The leftover hide is processed in an LWG-certified tannery which then is used to make shoes, bags, furniture and more.
THE ART OF LEATHERMAKING
Leather is natural and can be rough with a lot of natural fibers and hair. The leather is placed in large wooden or stainless steel drums and tumbled in recycled water — a process used to soften, relax, and enhance the texture of the hides after tanning. When rotating inside, the hides gently collide with each other and the drum’s walls, which breaks fiber stiffness, evens out oils, and gives the surface a more natural, supple, and slightly pebbled appearance.
When wet, leather shrinks so after the hides spin in the drums, they are removed and stretched out to dry. This process is called vacuum drying or toggling, depending on the method used. After tanning, the wet leather hides are placed on large metal frames and held taut with clamps to stretch, smooth, and maximize the leather. The framed hides are then placed inside a heated drying chamber, where controlled temperature and airflow remove moisture while maintaining the leather’s flat, uniform shape and precise thickness — essential for consistent quality in production.
A craftsperson at the tannery hand sprays a hide to give it color. Some leathers are painted by hand in the finishing area to achieve unique, artisanal effects and precise color control that machines can’t replicate. This manual process allows craftsmen to highlight natural grain variations, add depth or shading, and create special finishes such as patinas or gradients that give each hide a distinct, premium character.
The tannery print a code on the back of each hide to ensure full traceability and quality control throughout production. This code identifies key details such as the batch, origin, tanning lot, or finishing process, allowing both the tannery and the customer to track performance, consistency, and compliance with sourcing or manufacturing standards.
Solar panels were recently installed on the roof of this tannery. These provide enough energy to power the entire tannery and to heat the water used in the process. The tannery expects to grow this panel program to provide even greater benefits in the future.
