Cool Hunting Video: S. B. Foot Tanning Company
One of the last major American tanneries has been producing high-quality hides for over 100 years
Last year, our friends at Red Wing Shoes invited us out to explore their factory in Minnesota. And, right next door to Red Wing is S.B. Foot Tanning Company. Established in 1872 by the Foot family, the business was eventually purchased by Red Wing Shoes and now provides the shoemaker with all the hides that make up their line of footwear. S.B. Foot’s all-American cattle hides—which are by-products of the beef industry—utilize a plethora of processes to be used in a variety of leather products. Dave Hill, Director of Product Development, kindly took us through the factory to better understand their fascinating techniques for preserving leather and the state of the industry in the United States.
