There are certain names in leather that carry weight... Horween is one of them.
On a recent trip to Chicago, Greg and I had the opportunity to step inside Horween Leather Company ...one of the most respected, family-run tanneries in the world. It’s not every day you get a behind-the-scenes look at a tannery that has been tanning and hot-stuffing leather for over a century.
From the moment we walked in, you could feel it. The smell of real hides in process. The sound of drums turning. Generations of knowledge built into the walls. It’s controlled batches, long soak times, and formulas that haven’t changed because they don’t need to. It’s process, patience, and it’s craft.
The team at Horween generously walked us through the tannery for over an hour, explaining each step in depth. We saw hides being rehydrated, tanned, steamed, re-tanned, brushed, dried, and infused with Horween’s proprietary blend of oils and waxes. Every detail matters.
Horween is best known for their Chromexcel® leather, and it just so happens to be our best-selling leather at Easymoc. Chromexcel is a combination-tanned leather, meaning it goes through both chrome tanning and vegetable re-tanning. After that, it’s hot-stuffed with natural oils and greases, which gives it that deep pull-up, rich hand, and unmatched durability. It wears in, not out. It develops character with every step.
From Chicago to Maine, it’s a connection rooted in craft. We build our moccasins with the same mindset they tan their leather: thoughtfully, honestly, and without cutting corners.
We’re super grateful for the peek inside. We are grateful for the time and the partnership... but most of all, for the people who make it all possible.
Quality starts long before the shoe is made.
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