Leather processing changed with the use of new-age processing agents If you remember the leathers of the decade of 70’s and 80’s, then there were very few choices available. The majority of leather was grain finish which used to lose firmness after some time. The finishing was ok, and the choice of color was restricted to a few options. The tanning and re-tanning agents used were not efficient. The dying process was carried out by standard acid dyes where consistency of shade wasn’t guaranteed. The leather stock of the same lot had different shades and softness. Trial and error were prevailing in the entire leather processing. There was no use of fat liquor in the processing. The re-tanning process was also quite cumbersome, and there were environmental impacts. Chrome stripping was a major concern. Reuse of tanning agent was very limited. Use of sperm whale oil also raised eyebrows of environmentalists. Reports say that a lot of leather industries suffered a major setback due to these issues and eventually closed the operations.
Technology changed the face of leather industry As the cliché goes,” change is the only thing that remains constant” leather industry also faced a plethora of changes due to technical advancement. The decade of 80’s brought a series of transformation that caused a total makeshift in the industry. Of course, the introduction of new technology was the paramount reason; several other factors contributed to it. Suppliers like Zsivira offered top quality tanning material and other stuff.
Change in the fashion and emphasis on high performance. As people became style cautious, they expected not only long-lasting performance but also style. Hence, leather industries were forced to adopt new techniques to fulfill the demand. Smooth, flat grains were preferred by everyone. People became choosy about colors. Apart from standards shades of black and brown, they expected the full spectrum. It was impossible to make colorful leathers using old methods. It was the reason leather processing units followed the new-age procedure. Companies were forced to fulfill ever-increasing demands of customers; they did not have any choice. There was more focus on the environmental norms. Companies had to follow rules and regulations and comply with the norms. Emission of chrome, nickel and lead were restricted. It brought a complete change in the processing methodology.