For the past 15 years, I’ve used chrome-tanned leather in many of our Rais Case goods. It’s what was accessible, affordable, and durable—and I was grateful for it. But over time, as I’ve deepened my education, environmental awareness, and commitment to well-being, I started to look closer at the materials we use and what they leave behind.

The Truth About Chrome-Tanned Leather

Chrome tanning is the most widely used method in the leather industry today, primarily because it’s fast and inexpensive. But it comes at a serious cost.

This process uses chromium salts and other heavy metals to tan the hides—chemicals that are toxic and persistent. Once a hide is tanned using chrome, it’s no longer biodegradable. Worse still, the runoff from chrome tanneries often ends up in waterways, polluting local ecosystems and threatening the health of the people who live and work nearby. While some facilities do their best to contain and treat waste, many do not, especially in parts of the world where environmental oversight is minimal or nonexistent.

A Return to Natural Tanning Methods

In contrast, vegetable tanning is a time-honored technique that uses natural tannins from tree bark, roots, and leaves to preserve hides. It's an artisanal process that takes longer—sometimes weeks instead of days—but the result is a leather that is biodegradable, chemical-free, and beautifully alive.

This leather is kind to the environment, doesn’t expose its creators to toxic substances, and requires a level of craftsmanship that is rarely seen in today’s world of fast-paced manufacturing by machine.

Vegetable-tanned leather represents the epitome of quality and beauty and is created to provide a lifetime of use. I am hoping this Rais Case community wants this type of intentionality that goes into creating leather of this quality. 

Why It Matters to Us

As a maker and a mother, I’m always thinking about what we leave behind—for our children, our communities, and our ecosystems. Moving toward using only vegetable-tanned leather from vetted, ethical tanneries is a natural extension of our values at Rais Case. This next chapter reflects where I’m going and who I’ve been all along.

We believe in craftsmanship over mass productionand in materials that are not made  at the expense of health others or our environment. This shift to vegetable tanning is just one part of how we’re continuing to evolve with intention and care!  Stay tuned as I share more and thank you for being on this journey with us. 

🤍,
Julie