From Hide to Heel: The Leather-Making Process in Ambur
Let’s Be Honest. Most People Don’t Know How Leather Is Really Made. They see the final product — a sleek brown loafer, a classic black belt, maybe a soft leather wallet. But the steps it takes to go from raw animal hide to a finished product? That part stays behind factory gates. Especially in places like Ambur, Tamil Nadu. Here’s the thing: if you want to understand why Ambur is a global name in leather, you have to understand the process. So let’s walk through it, step by step. From hide to heel. Step 1: Sourcing the Hides It all starts with raw hides. Ambur sources these mostly from cows, buffaloes, and goats. The hides usually arrive salted or air-dried. This keeps them from decomposing during transport. · India is one of the world’s top leather producers · Tamil Nadu alone handles over 40% of India’s leather exports · Ambur, along with its neighboring towns like Vaniyambadi and Pernambut, plays a major role in this ecosystem The raw hide might not look like...