As discussed in previous blog, we are happy to present Leather Tanning Process, Procedure in Nepal. Leather Tanning Process is complicated all over the world. Leather Tanning must be done because if the raw hide is not tanned, it will rot, decompose and putrefy. Nepal is mountainous country and it has its own unique way in tanning leather. Marginalized communities and member of leather caste monopoly is seen in this type of leather tanning work.
First raw leather of Cow, Buffalo and Goat with hair and blood stain is purchased from market. The market for purchasing raw leather is in Kathmandu’s Slaughterhouse, abattoir.
After bringing the raw leather to their village, the first step is to wash the leather 4-5 times to make it clean. After that the leather is placed inside the chamber (stone vessels) and rubbed with the mixture of limestone powder and water with legs inside the chamber. For 10 big leather pieces 500-600 gm limestone powder is used.
The leather is put inside the chamber with the mixture of limestone powder and water. Then leather will be left inside the chamber for 3-6 days. After this period, they will change the mixture and put the leather into fresh mixture of limestone powder and water. They will repeat the same process for about 5 times and it will take around 25-30 days. By doing this the flesh parts and hair parts of leather will be removed or separated. Flesh part will be peeled off by using blade. After that leather will be washed 6 to 7 times to remove lime from leather.
After that the leather will processed with herb treatment. A herb called “Dhoyero” in Nepali is collected from the jungle and grinned to powder. “Dhoyero” powder is mixed with water and applied to the leather as in the process of limestone powder.
For one buffalo leather, 2 kgs of powder is used and for one cow leather, 1 kg of the powder is used. This process, treatment helps to dye the colors into the leather.
When exact proportion of the herbal powder, the color of the leather will with brown (tan color). When more herbal powder, the color of the leather will be darker brown, when less herbal powder, the color of the leather will be lighter brown.
Herbal treatment is also done 4-5 times after each 4-5 days.
During Monsoon Season, leather tanning process is very difficult to proceed as there will be lots of moisture in the air.
After this process, leather will be placed under direct sunlight to dry.
The second layer of leather will be peeled again and set it dry under sunlight. The leather is rub with mustard oil to soften the leather. For 1 Piece of leather, about 500 ml mustard oil is used. For 30 minutes they rub the leather with legs and dry it for 5 minutes. After that they again rub the leather for 30 minutes and dry it for 5 minutes. In this way plain village leather is prepared by rubbing and drying for 4-5 hours via legs.
Chemicals are used to dye the leather other than tan color.
After dyeing process, the leather is dried and the leather is ready to make bags, purses, wallets, backpacks, belts etc.
If you took time to read this, thank you very much. (www.imartisan.org) Email: info@imartisan.org
This is a topic that is close to my heart… Thank
you! Where are your contact details though?
Thank you.. Pls mail us at marketing@imartisan.org
Great piece of content.
Thank You Very Much!
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What a great read – I’ll be sharing with my husband. This is appreciated!
Thanks for keeping me updated! Articles like this are perfect reads to keep up with the industry!
Well, I’m glad to have read this to say the least. Never would have dove into this topic myself. Very interesting!
I will be sharing.
Thanks for keeping me updated! Articles like this are perfect reads to keep up with the industry!
This is interesting! Industry know-how really helps the group grow as a whole!
Your style is very unique in comparison to other people I have read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this web site.
Thank you Jacquelin. Keep in touch.
Saroj Ranjitkar
Head-Marketing
imartisan
Kathmandu, Neal
977-1-9849189693
Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone!