Why Choose Vegetable Tanned Leather Bags For Your Collection

Have you ever caught up in a battle on which leather you should choose for your next bag collection? Whether you are a small business owner, Amazon seller, retailer, or shopper, you must have faced difficulty in choosing the right type of leather for your bags. However, you don’t need to worry about the decision-making anymore, and you should choose vegetable-tanned leather for your new bag collection. 

Vegetable-tanned leather is not just another type of leather. Instead, it’s more like the most sustainable leather in the global leather market. As a natural process of wearing out and damaging with time, vegetable-tanned leather gets more beautiful and richer with time. A complete paradox of natural phenomenon. It stays ever-lasting, keeps the product owner happy for generations, and brings a higher revenue to the seller. 

If you are still wondering why you must choose vegetable-tanned leather bags, then keep reading. As we go through the benefits of vegetable-tanned leather and what makes it a preferred choice for you. 

What is Vegetable-Tanned Leather?

Vegetable-tanned leather is the most sustainable type of leather. Craftsmen have used tanning methods for centuries to produce highly durable and attractive leather. 

The vegetable tanning process begins with obtaining fresh animal hide. Tanners soaked it in salted water to keep it away from bacteria and took it to a “beam house.” Here, the hide is put into constantly rotating drums filled with lime milk to remove the debris, blood, residue, and fat from the hide. Once the hide is cleaned, it is then put into drums filled with vegetable tannins. 

Tanners used natural organic tanning solutions made with water and natural products like tree leaves, bark, mimosa, spruce bark, tara pods, olive leaves, oak, quebracho, or rhubarb roots. The hides are constantly shifted from low-concentration drums to high concentrations. The process keeps on going for weeks and sometimes months. 

After a specific period, tanners take the hideout of the drums and dry them for a few days. During the drying process, hides are treated with oils and waxes to enhance the shine and softness of the leather. This results in flexible, sturdy, premium, and beautiful leather. The biggest pro of vegetable tanning is that it does not use any harmful chemicals during production. This makes it an eco-friendly option for you and your consumers. 

Benefits Of Choosing Vegetable Tanned Leather Bags For Your Business

Unlike other tanned leather, vegetable-tanned leather uses natural tannins sourced from organic plants and trees. The traditional process of tanning is still a masterpiece up to this date. The tanning process has evolved over time, yet no method can produce leather with the qualities of vegetable-tanned leather. 

Many leather bag brands, from big to small use vegetable-tanned leather. Some of the big brands include Gucci, Hermés, saddlebag leather, Filson, and Prada. Whereas many small leather businesses are Galen Leather, Mherder, Hongyo Leather Factory, ATP Atelier, and so many more.

Now, the question is, why do they all use only vegetable-tanned leather when there are so many other leathers available? The following are some prominent attributes of vegetable-tanned leather that will help you understand the reason. This also means if you choose vegetable-tanned bags for your business, they contain the following qualities that you can offer to your customers:

1. Durable Leather

The long vegetable tanning process results in the production of strong and durable leather. The vegetable-tanned leather products last longer than your own life. It stays in your family from generation to generation, passing down your inheritance. As the manufacturing process of vegetable-tanned leather doesn’t use any chemicals or weak products, it naturally inherits resilient qualities. 

Mostly, leather wears out as long as you use them. However, this is not the case with the vegetable-tanned leather. Instead of getting torn or damaged, it becomes stronger and prettier over time. So, who wouldn’t want to invest in a thing that doesn’t tear out easily and quickly? Therefore, if you want to give your customer a long-lasting bag experience, then choose vegetable-tanned leather bags.

2. Easy To Customize In Early Process

Another big attribute of vegetable-tanned leather is that it can be easily molded. The leather has a stiff appearance at the start. That’s why it can easily be molded, shaped, and cut into various styles, sizes, and designs. The stiffness goes away with time and makes the leather soft. 

Galen Leather is the leather business in Turkey. The founder of Galen, Zeynap, and her husband started this business in order to give people a customized leather experience. With the help of vegetable-tanned leather, a business that started as a side hustle now become one of the known leather brands in the world. 

Before, manufacturers used vegetable-tanned leather to create products that needed to be cut in a specific shape, like armor, shields, jugs, or even drinking vessels. These days, manufacturers use vegetable-tanned leather to create table tops, round doors, and many other difficult shape patterns. 

Whether you want to have a handheld purse, backpack, or briefcase, vegetable-tanned leather easily helps you create your desired bag. The main aim of Galen is to offer its customers a unique, personalized experience. As vegetable-tanned leather is easy to customize, it makes their goal achievable and attracts wide customers from all around the world. 

3. Attractive Smell

Vegetable-tanned leather has a unique fragrance that no other leather-making process would give. The use of natural tannins adds a rich aroma to the hide, which makes it attractive and appealing. Many people actually prefer this soft, earthy, sweet, and woody smell rather than a chemical smell. 

By adding vegetable-tanned leather bags to your collection, you can give your customers an aromatic experience that they can’t forget for a long time. 

4. Show Significant Change With Time

Vegetable-tanned leather is made with 100% organic vegetable tannins. Therefore, the overall appearance of the leather changes as you use the product over time. It is a very original process. Different tannins, oils, and waxes altogether determine the change of the leather. 

When you use the product in the sun, the sunlight turns the leather a little darker. Everyone uses their product in their own way, so it means the change you get on your product might not be seen on other products. The unique part of this change is that it develops a character of your product over time, which is unique, beautiful, and special.

Mherder is a top leading leather manufacturer in China. At Mherder, we create every bag manually with special care and attention. We started from a small town in China and became a leading brand with a wide and loyal customer base all around the globe. This is all because of the durable, special, and unique vegetable-tanned leather we use to create bags. Each bag is made manually with special care and attention so that consumers experience the change with time and feel special. 

5. Evolve Beautifully

The color of the vegetable-tanned leather gets richer and darker over time. The way you use and handle the product makes the leather age differently. It develops a beautiful patina over time. If you use the product carefully and clean regularly, it gets darker slowly. 

Meanwhile, everyday use and excess sun exposure make the leather turn darker faster. Every product ages on a beautiful day, which makes every single product worth the investment. Each product has its own unique story to tell its owners and offspring, as no one knows how they age and what they’ll become over time. 

6. Environmental Friendly

Vegetable tanning only uses organic elements to produce leather. It does not involve any harsh chemical products that could impact the environment and the consumer’s health. Moreover, vegetable-tanned leather products have a long lifetime. It means consumers do not have to replace their products after every few years. This significantly helps in reducing environmental waste. 

Also, when a consumer disposes of their vegetable-tanned leather product after years of use, it does not have a negative effect on the environment and is biodegradable. So, overall, vegetable tanning offers a safe working environment for the craftsmen, sustainable leather for the manufacturers, eco-friendly leather products for the seller, and a healthy experience for the consumer.

Tan & Loom, an Indian leather product specializes in offering its customers a safe and healthy product experience. They managed to gain the world’s attention with their biodegradable leather bags collection and left a great impact on the sustainable consumer market. So, if you want to achieve the same attention from a large consumer base, it’s time for you to step into the vegetable-tanned leather bag business.

7. Repairable

Leather rarely requires any repairing. But when it comes to repairing, vegetable-tanned leather offers a great help. It ensures that your product looks like you just bought it from the market. It is good news for both sellers and consumers. Vegetable-tanned leather bags could become best-sellers as consumers don’t have to throw away their products even if they are caught up in a problem after years of use.

8. Stays Original and Raw

Vegetable-tanned leather usually stays in its original form. It has just been oiled, waxed, or polished. Other than that, the natural grainy surface of the hide is visible. The wool and hair are shaped to add patterns to the leather. The originality of veg-tan leather makes it an ideal and unique piece of art in the leather industry. Therefore, it is worth your investment to create vegetable-tanned leather bags if you want to give your customers a unique experience.

Why You Should Choose Vegetable Tanned Leather Bags

All of the above benefits are evident in the fact that you should choose vegetable-tanned leather for your bags instead of other leathers. The global market of tanning agents has shown a great rise over the years. It is expected to reach $25.06 billion from $17.70 Billion by 2025-2034. The notable increment is evident that more brands are moving towards vegetable tanning to reach their eco-friendly goals.

However, if you are still wondering about the solid reasons and how it can benefit you and your business, then here are some reasons for you. These key factors make vegetable-tanned leather your perfect choice for your next bag collection, which helps you improve your sales and gain loyal customers.

1. High Market Demand for Sustainable Bags

(Pls add some specific market data to support this point. For example, you can cite market research reports or relevant environmental trends to deepen the argument.)

The demand for eco-friendly bags keeps increasing in the market. According to the latest research, the sustainable bag market value increased from $27.28 Billion(2025) to $75.9 Billion(2034). Everyone wants to have a sustainable bag and contribute to a safer and healthier environment. The vegetable-tanned leather is a product of sustainable practices. The use of natural vegetable tannins and the lack of any harmful chemicals in the production make the leather equally safe and sustainable. 

So, when you introduce sustainable bags in your collection, you aren’t just supporting a green environment. Instead, you are also contributing to keeping your workers and consumers safe. This naturally urges more consumers to be a part of safer consumption practices, leading to high sales.

2. Premium Quality

Vegetable-tanned leather is indeed high-quality leather, and who doesn’t want to invest in a durable leather bag? The vegetable tannins penetrate deep inside the hide over time and make the leather resilient. Moreover, the rich patina that develops over time works as a shield that protects your leather bag from getting damaged and daily wear and tear. This makes it an excellent choice for you to invest in vegetable-tanned leather bags. As an Amazon seller, retailer, shopper, or business owner, you can confidently tell your customers that your vegetable-tanned leather bags get stronger and more resilient with time instead of being damaged.  It positively benefits your business and increases your sales.

3. Bring Loyal Customers

Vegetable-tanned leather offers various highly demandable benefits to consumers. The unique nature, high quality, durability, appealing smell, aging characteristics, rich patina, and sustainability urge customers to invest in vegetable-tanned leather bags. So, when a customer gets all of these benefits in their products, they automatically come back to you for their next purchases. This forms a community of loyal customers who happily recommend you to their friends and family, resulting in more sales.

4. Timeless Fashion

Vegetable-tanned leather has been in the market for centuries. It still has the same value as it was centuries ago. The reason is that it exhibits evergreen beauty. The natural earth smell, deep color, and beautiful leather surface perfectly match all styles and looks. So, it means your vegetable-tanned leather bag will never go out of fashion and will always attract a great sale in the industry.

5. Safe Working Environment For Craftsmanship

As vegetable tanning does not deal with any harmful substances, it eliminates the chances for the workers to get exposed to a toxic environment. A safe working environment for the craftsman presents a sense of value to their work. Despite the long working hours, they happily invest their time and create masterpieces. So, when you include vegetable-tanned leather bags in your collection, you eventually offer a healthy and safe space for the artisans. 

What Makes Vegetable Tanned Leather Bags Better Than Chrome Tanned Bags?

There are many types of tanning processes. The most prominent features include vegetable tanning and chrome tanning, which are used to produce leather. However, vegetable-tanned leather always wins the competition on many levels. 

Chrome-tanned leather uses toxic chemicals like chromium sulfate, which speeds up the leather-making process. The leather also sells off very cheap. But the low price doesn’t mean that it produces great quality leather. Moreover, it impacts the environment and consumers’ health. 

On the other hand, vegetable-tanned leather indeed takes up to 2 months to make. But it does not impact the environment. Not to mention, the high quality, aroma, bright color, and unique characteristics are all worth the wait and money. 

Chrome-tanned leather bags won’t last longer and get easily worn out after daily use. Vegetable-tanned leather bags stay in your family for generations if taken care of properly. As a seller, retailer, shopper, or business owner, if you are looking for bags that last long, attract customers, offer amazing experiences, and increase your sales, then vegetable-tanned leather bags are the best option for you.

How To Take Care of Vegetable-Tanned Leather Bags

Vegetable-tanned leather bags are highly durable, resilient, and strong. However, they still need your care in order to maintain their quality. Here are some tips you must follow if you own a vegetable-tanned leather bag and want to see it by your side for a long time.

1. Protect Your Bag From Getting Wet

Vegetable-tanned leather bags are made of natural tannins and have a dry surface. Therefore, they are susceptible to water. The water droplets leave stains on the hide, which may impact the way it ages. In order to protect the quality of your bag, make sure to keep it away from direct water. 

2. Use Dampen Cloth

Always use a clean cloth to clean the dust and residue from your vegetable-tanned leather bag. Soak the cloth in clean water and use that damp cloth to remove dust and particles.

3. Apply Leather Oil

Once you dry, clean all the dust from your bag and apply leather oil or wax. Ensure the oil and wax must be of natural tannins and organic material to enhance the shine and softness of the bag.

4. Avoid Using Hard Brushes

People mostly think leather is a strong fabric, so using hard brushes won’t affect them. However, vegetable-tanned leather requires you to take sensitive care. Therefore, it’s best to always use a brush whose bristles are made of natural material. This protects the layer under the skin.

5. Keep It Away From Heat

Vegetable-tanned leather is a unique type of leather that reacts differently to sun exposure. It increases the aging process of your bag and darkens its color over time. That’s why avoid bringing your back near to the heat or direct sunlight. 

6. Never Blow Dry

Vegetable-tanned leather is quite expensive and a high-quality product. Hence, you require the same type of attention. Most people make mistakes by putting their bags in the dry cleaner. Little do they know the fact that even low heat shrinks the leather, cracks, or damages it. So, do not repeat this mistake if you want to see your bag healthy.

7. Regular Condition

Your bag requires regular conditioning after every 3 to 4 months. This ensures that the quality and flexibility of your bag are maintained. 

8. Store In Dust Free Area

When you are not using your bag, it’s best to keep it in a safe place. Store in a breathable bag to avoid dust and other debris.

9. Put Even Load In Your Bag

Always put a necessary amount of weight inside your leather bag. If you keep putting more weight in one pocket while ignoring the rest. It might change the shape of your bag and how it originally looked. You definitely don’t want this to happen. So make sure to put weight evenly in all your pockets to maintain its original shape.

Shopping Guide

Whether you are a retailer, Amazon seller, wholesaler, or a small business owner who is looking for a reliable handbag manufacturer in China, you can rely on Mherder. At Mheder, we produce luxurious handbags made of premium quality leather. We use eco-friendly Italian leather in all of our handbags to ensure sustainability. Our skilled craftsmanship helps us create custom handbags tailored to your needs and brand image. With our customization offer, we ensure that we meet all our clients’ unique needs and requirements. 

Our skilled craftsmen specialize in producing various handmade leather goods. Some of these include:

• Leather tote bags
• Leather briefcases
• Leather handbags
• Leather backpacks
• Leather crossbody
• Leather duffle bags

Visit our website and explore our products. Email us your bag details, customization options, and designs; our team will contact you with a personalized production process and quote. You can also request samples and then start the production of bulk orders accordingly at an affordable price. So what are you waiting for? Book your order now.

Conclusion

Whether you are new to the business and want to introduce a fresh line of bags or are already selling and adding a new leather bag to your collection, vegetable-tanned leather is always the best option. Vegetable-tanned leather always wins the debate of being best in all ways. The vegetable-tanned leather is made with natural vegetable tannins directly extracted from the tree roots, leaves, bark, and plants. It’s a long process of 2 months in which fresh hide is soaked into the vegetable tannin solution. It makes the leather soft, flexible, sturdy, and durable. 

Compared to other tanned leather, like chrome-tanned leather, vegetable-tanned leather is an ideal choice. The demand for sustainable bags is high, which proves it to be a better choice for you if you are hoping to attract a large audience with your collection. 

At Mehrder, we create high-quality leather bags. For more details, check out our website. Contact us with your customized details. We will be sure to turn your ideas into real-life dreamy bags. If you are struggling with which type of bag style you should introduce, discover our 50 private label bag styles guide and how to use them.