Tabla de contenidos para May 2024 en Illume

Illume|May 2024

EDITOR’S NOTE

In this month’s edition of ShopTalk!, we embark on a journey through time, celebrating the enduring legacy of craftsmanship and innovation in the leather industry. Our feature editorials spotlight two remarkable stories of longevity and success, each weaving a narrative of resilience, adaptation, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Firstly, we delve into the remarkable story of Law Tanning, a fourth-generation, same-family-owned leather tannery nestled in Milwaukee. Oh, how I love a good family business story. For 88 years, Law Tanning has been a beacon of tradition and progress, navigating the changing tides of industry by embracing necessary transformations. From upgrading equipment to state-of-the-art standards to implementing innovative sales strategies, Law Tanning stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of family-owned businesses that evolve with the times while staying true…

2 min.

Illume|May 2024

Cox’s Western Leather & Equipment Auction Hosted by Springfield Leather Co!

Held at 1131 S. Grant Avenue in Springfield, Missouri 65807, starting at 9 am each day till? Starting May 24th, and ending May 25th. With set up and preview on May 23rd. Leather including Saddle Skirting, Latigo, Harness, Bridle, Rawhide, Bellies, Leather Laces, Hair on Hides from Cow - Goat - Calf, Veg Tan Double Shoulders, Precut Belt Strips, Chap including pullup leathers, etc. from Hermann Oak, Moser Leather, Double K Leathers and others. Large Assortment of Hardware, Thread, Needles, Conchos, Saddle Trees, and other Misc. Items., Leather Conditioners and finishing items, Fiebings Dye, Saddle Soap, and Glue. Some new and used Hand Tools, etc. Saddles and Tack including - Longhorn Saddles, Abetta Pony and Horse Saddles, Saddle Pads, Bridles, Breast collars, Regular Reins, Harness Reins, Braided Reins, Tie Straps,…

3 min.

Illume|May 2024

THE HIDE REPORT

Depressing start to the year for Spanish tanners Spain’s tanning industry had a dismal start to the year, with declines observed across all its sub-sectors. In January 2024, raw hide exports decreased by 1.7% (or €0.2 million) from the same month in 2023, according to the Directorate-General of Customs. Exports of semi-tanned hides decreased by 30.1% (or €2.3 million) and exports of tanned hides by 0.6% (or €0.2 million) from the same month in 2023. Raw hide sales dropped by 25.4% in January compared to the same month in pre-pandemic 2020. In contrast, sales of semi-tanned and tanned hides increased by 1.6% and 20.4%, respectively. Imports of raw hides in January decreased by 17.5% (or €0.8 million) compared to January 2023, while imports of semi-tanned hides increased by 2.8% (or…

5 min.

Illume|May 2024

No Looking Back as Law Tanning celebrates its 84th year in business

The latest trend could lead to a goldmine. Or a dead end. And doing things as they’ve always been done could appear to be stability, when in fact it’s stagnation. Such is the decision-making landscape that Ryan Law, fourth-generation president of Law Tanning, must traverse as he and his team guide one of the nation’s oldest and last surviving commercial tanneries through a market increasingly defined by tightening environmental restrictions, international competition, and the changing tastes and habits of consumers. So far, so good. Currently celebrating its 88th year in business, Milwaukee-based Law Tanning is expected to open a new, 20,000-square-foot warehouse within the year, a clear indication that the company has figured out how to manage the new and the old, to take chances when needed, while also sticking…

6 min.

Illume|May 2024

Gift Card Holder

MATERIALS NEEDED: 2-3 oz veg tan leather Stylus Round knife/leather cutting tool of choice ⅛" round leather punch Small edger Burnisher (Craftool burnishing tool) Maul Water + sponge Leather adhesive/contact cement Stitch groover 2-3 mm stitching chisel 0.8mm waxed thread (2) 44mm needles (if stitching by hand) Leather stitcher (if stitching by machine) Snap + snap setter STEP 1: Place your pattern onto the leather and trace the pattern using a stylus. Be sure to mark the holes at the top and bottom of the pattern as well. STEP 2: Using a head knife (or cutting tool of choice), cut out the pattern from the leather. STEP 3: Punch the snap holes at the top and bottom of the piece using a ⅛" leather hole punch. STEP 4: Using a…

3 min.

Illume|May 2024

CONTRIBUTORS

GENE FOWLER A writer and performer based in Texas, Gene Fowler has written for Cowboys & Indians, Oxford American, San Francisco Chronicle, True West, and many other publications. His books include Maverick, Border Radio, Crazy Water, and Metro Music. ANA RENDON Ana Rendon was born in Medellín, Colombia, where she witnessed her parents’ unwavering determination in the face of entrepreneurial challenges. In 1991, amid the turbulent times in Colombia, her family sought refuge in the United States, embarking on a new journey. Inspired by her parents’ resilience, Ana pursued her passion for business at the University of North Texas College of Business, majoring in finance and marketing. Her father, Jorge Rendon, founded Texas Leather Goods in 2004, and Ana joined him shortly after, combining their expertise to forge a…

3 min.

Illume|May 2024

Real Leather. Stay Different. Launches 2024 International Student Design Competition

The Real Leather. Stay Different. 2024 International Student Design Competition is now open for entries. Now entering its fourth year, the competition invites a new generation of designers to challenge the fast fashion cycle and promote the sustainability of leather. Register a profile and enter now at rlsd.internationaldesigncomp.com. To view last year’s winning designs, visit chooserealleather.com. Announcing the Real Leather. Stay Different. 2024 International Student Design Competition in partnership with Arts Thread, the competition that is the face of a movement dedicated to fostering creativity and championing sustainability within the fashion industry. Now in its fourth year, RLSD has attracted thousands of entries from hundreds of leading design colleges. It has opened a new path for those embarking on careers in the fashion industry, with winners benefitting from the input…

3 min.

Illume|May 2024

Confidence Sells And So will Your Products

I remember back when our company was still operating out of my parents’ apartment. I had just started working with my father. Back then, he used to visit his clients door to door in his car and would show up hoping to sell. He didn’t speak English and, because of this, I was put in charge of all of our sales. I sat down very confident that I could carry my weight, laid out a map on a wall in front of my makeshift desk, and started to work on finding stores along routes that my father could travel. My goal was to set appointments for him in as many stores as possible, so that he could simply show up to expecting customers. I remember one of my first calls…

3 min.

Illume|May 2024

Buyer Beware: Vegan Leather is Not Leather

When I was a kid growing up in New York City, my mom used to buy us a delicious confection made of squashed apricots. We called it apricot leather. Was it leather? No. And neither are the plant and plastic materials called “vegan leather.” People have been working with leather for more than 5,500 years, so you would think that there would be no confusion at this point about what leather is. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of leather is quite clear. Leather is either (1) “animal skin dressed for us,” (2) “the flap of the ear of a dog,” or (3) “something wholly or partly made of leather.” Even if we include canine ear flaps, the definition is clear: leather refers to something made wholly or partly with animal skin.…

6 min.

Illume|May 2024

Nurturing a Greener Workforce: Empowering Sustainability Through Upskilling

In recent years, the world has made sustainability and the adoption of eco-friendly practices a priority, with corporations responding in kind. Many organizations now demonstrate a stronger commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental Social Governance (ESG) operations. To illustrate, Skillsoft’s CSR at Work Report revealed that 42 percent of working professionals state that employee engagement in CSR efforts is best supported by training opportunities. Leaders have taken note, implementing new training technologies and reshaping business practices to minimize their carbon footprint and engage employees while benefitting the environment. Such transformation doesn’t happen overnight, and it brings significant changes that demand new skills from employees. Green business practices are the new gold standard, necessitating proficiency in green technologies, improvement of business processes, and the ability to measure an organization’s…

4 min.

Illume|May 2024

Saddle Boar Hide

Saddle Boar’s heavy weight and medium to soft temper make for an incredibly strong product without sacrificing comfort. Used by many for Arizona Step-ins & batwing chaps, horn wraps, hunting moccasins, aprons and more. We have 7oz whole hides ranging from 16 to 25 sqft per skin. Sourced from the largest, heaviest North American boar & sow hides available. This leather can handle anything you throw at it. Made in the USA. Saddle Boar hide is a standard stock leather kept on Maverick Leather’s shelves. www.maverickleathercompany.com Give us a call or email with any questions. 541-797-2108 info@maverickleathercompany.com…

1 min.

Illume|May 2024

LEARNING WITH LIISA

IT’S A SHOE-IN The history of leather shoemaking in the United States is a fascinating tale of craftsmanship, industrial revolution and innovation. The roots of this industry stretch back to early colonial days, when shoemaking was a highly-regarded craft. Early shoemakers, or cordwainers as they were known, worked primarily with leather, using simple tools to craft shoes that were both durable and comfortable. This artisanal approach dominated until the 19th century, when the advent of industrialization transformed the industry. Cordwainers and cobblers Cordwainers and cobblers have been essential to the shoe industry, providing indispensable services to those in need of quality footwear. Despite often being used interchangeably, their roles and skills are distinctly different. A cordwainer is a term historically used to describe artisans who craft new shoes and boots…

4 min.

Illume|May 2024

True to the Cowboy: “Mystery Men of Leather” Big Bend Saddlery

While I wouldn't claim that talking with a slow-motion stampede of bootmakers and saddlemakers over the last seven or eight years has made me an expert on boots and saddles, I do feel confident in declaring that these professions are filled with folks who've been indelibly stamped with a kind of maverick flair. That's certainly true of Big Bend Saddlery in Alpine, Texas. Set in that fabled part of the state between El Paso and the Pecos River, where the landscape remains imbued with frontier atmosphere, the shop is often described as resembling a cowboy and cowgirl mall. Along with saddles, the Alpine outfit offers belts, chaps, wallets, purses, luggage, tally books and photo albums, Leland Hensley's braided-rawhide pens, holsters, tack, coasters, notebooks, and just about everything else you can…

19 min.

Illume|May 2024

Rocky Mountain Leather Supply: Unique Products Ride the New Wave

Sometimes I get to the office and I can’t believe we’re here from the early days,” reflects 38-year-old Aaron Barker. Those early days were back in 2010, when newlyweds Aaron and Emmy shipped products out of their apartment during their college years. Aaron comes from pioneer roots and is only a generation removed from the farm. His dad did some leatherwork as a hobby and would make things that he could use, like holsters and rifle slings. It was only natural that Aaron started playing with leather when he was about 10 years old. “I was always trying to wrap things I wanted to use in leather to protect them,” says Aaron. Aaron enjoyed golf, so one of his first projects was a leather golfing yardage book. The notebook inside…

6 min.

Illume|May 2024

CLASSIFIEDS

WANTED NEW SUBSCRIBERS WANTED. Now is the time to renew and see what you have been missing! Give us a call at (435) 565-6052, e-mail: savannah@burns1876.com or visit www.shoptalk-magazine.com. GREAT OPPORTUNITY. Burns 1876 is now hiring saddlemakers, bootmakers, silversmiths, hat makers, and leather craftsman/woman in their manufacturing facilities in Salina, Utah. In-house training provided. Please send your resume and a cover letter to careers@burns1876.com. FOR SALE TOOL FOR CHICAGO SCREWS Install and remove Chicago screws quickly and easily in the shop or on the trail. $24.95 + 7.50 in the U.S. S&H. Call for wholesale pricing. Contact: JP Tack Tool, LLC, Amy 309-253-7980. E-mail; jptacktool@yahoo.com. Web orders: www.jptacktool.com CONCHOS, BUTTONS, SNAPS, Badges, Scarf Slides & more. Custom & Production in Sterling, Brass or Coin. ARGENT EXPRESS since 1975. (209) 402-4430,…

2 min.