Our Leather Experience
Leather is a material that boasts centuries of tradition, which we treat with love and increasingly refined techniques to enhance its unique characteristics.
The characteristics of leather
One material, infinite possibilities
An unparalleled tactikle experience, unrivalled durability. Capable of adapting like few other materials, leather is an unrivalled combination of elegance and durability.
Soft, supple, yet also hard-wearing, it is the perfect product to create an infinite number of refined and timeless products. At Gruppo Mastrotto we transform leather into an emotion, using innovative machinery and processing techniques to enhance its intrinsic characteristics.
- The leather value chain: excellence Made in Italy
Parliament has finally accepted the leather chain among the excellences of the DDL Made In Italy: an important acknowledgement for the tanning sector and strategic for Italian manufacturing. Promoting national production means confirming just how fundamental the tanning industry is to the entire sector, considering that, in terms of production volumes, we account for about two-thirds of European production and a quarter of world production.
Italian leather is distinguished by its fine quality and unique characteristics, the result of a combination of traditional craftsmanship and the adoption of innovative technologies. At Gruppo Mastrotto, we are proud to share the dedication and skill we have acquired generation after generation, putting them at the service of the entire supply chain.
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- A material that has accompanied human evolutionRead more
Leather has a long history, which dates back to the dawn of human presence on the planet and continues to the present day.
Perfecting tanning techniques has allowed humanity to fully exploit the potential of this unique material in a variety of sectors, but tradition remains an important part of our history and culture.
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As well as possessing unique and inimitable properties, leather is also an ally of sustainability. It is a natural, biodegradable and recyclable material. A by-product of the food and dairy chain, it is ennobled giving life to new items avoiding its disposal in landfills as organic waste.
Moreover, at Gruppo Mastrotto, more than 93% of the waste that leather generates in its processing is reused in other product sectors (agriculture, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, chemicals), constituting one of the most virtuous examples of circular economy.
The term “leather” is defined by a standard (ISO 15115:2019) that indicates specific characteristics. The most important is that the material must be of animal origin, otherwise it cannot be called leather.
Materials improperly defined as “synthetic leather”, “imitation leather” or “faux leather” do not actually have any animal or organic elements, as they are plastic-based industrial products (PVCs, such as polyurethane) on which prints are embossed or films are applied in order to reproduce the look and feel of real leather.
The art of tanning
The production process
At Gruppo Mastrotto, the production process is a careful balance of craftsmanship and advanced technology, in which the operators' skill is complemented by years of experience and the constant desire for innovation.
Thanks to our continuous research, we have developed a unique know-how in the processing of leather, transforming it into the perfect material for a wide range of uses: from shoes to armchairs, from bags to sofas and car seats. This allows us to fulfill the visions of stylists and designers, who find in our collections the perfect basis for the most refined creations.
PreparationInitial treatments on raw hides to stabilise them, remove unnecessary components and prepare them for the next steps.
TanningThe phases in which the hides come into contact with the tanning agents and the splitting process between grain and crust.
FinishingAll the steps leading to the finished article, including dyeing and the application of surface treatments (finishing) to improve the appearance and properties of the leather.