Making the best means doing a lot of little things right. To ensure top quality finished goods, we start with top quality components. That means using native hides for the best grain and yields, premium grade oils, dyes, and retanning agents. Our formulas cut no corners, and we are one of only a handful of tanneries in the United States that still processes hides from their raw, cured state to finished leather.

 

The Horween Name

Horweens
"We should take the best of everything; the best hides, the best oils, the best dyes and finishes – then we do whatever it takes to make that leather the best. The price goes on last, and if we cannot sell it for what it is worth, we should not mak

"We should take the best of everything; the best hides, the best oils, the best dyes and finishes – then we do whatever it takes to make that leather the best. The price goes on last, and if we cannot sell it for what it is worth, we should not make that leather."

- Isidore Horween, Master Tanner and Founder, 1905 - 1948

“ We always felt there was a right way and a wrong way to make fine leather. It takes us at least six months to make a cordovan shell. Our cordovan could probably be made faster, and people might not even be able to tell the difference… but I can.

“We always felt there was a right way and a wrong way to make fine leather. It takes us at least six months to make a cordovan shell. Our cordovan could probably be made faster, and people might not even be able to tell the difference… but I can.”

- Arnold Horween, Sr., President 1949-  1983

 

“As tanneries go we’re not the biggest, the fastest, or the cheapest, which means we need to be the best.  Our business is built on doing things other people don’t, won’t, or can’t.” - Arnold Horween, Jr., President 1983 - 2003

“As tanneries go we’re not the biggest, the fastest, or the cheapest, which means we need to be the best.  Our business is built on doing things other people don’t, won’t, or can’t.”

- Arnold Horween, Jr., President 1983 - 2003

“Quality must be more than a word.  It doesn’t belong to one company or one country, it doesn’t happen by chance, and it requires constant attention.  It’s a contract between seller and buyer – an agreement that something is good and wor

“Quality must be more than a word.  It doesn’t belong to one company or one country, it doesn’t happen by chance, and it requires constant attention.  It’s a contract between seller and buyer – an agreement that something is good and worth having.  Our greatest enemy is the phrase ‘it’s good enough’.”

- Arnold "Skip" Horween III, President 2003 - present

“Our mission has always been to produce the highest quality product for our customers.  It’s an honor to continue that tradition by making the best leather we can.  When you put your name on something it has to be exactly right.” -

“Our mission has always been to produce the highest quality product for our customers.  It’s an honor to continue that tradition by making the best leather we can.  When you put your name on something it has to be exactly right.”

- Nick Horween, Vice President 2008 - present

 
Looking north into the liquor yard. These rows of tanks/pits extend about six feet below the floor and are used to tan our shell cordovan.
Looking over Preacher’s shoulder as he rolls shell cordovan. This rolling jack uses a steel roller to smooth and flatten the leather - glazing is accomplished on another piece of equipment with a glass rod.
Venetian Shoe Cream has finally been restocked in the SHOP section of the site. My personal favorite leather conditioner, and suitable for almost all of our leathers. Each and every piece of Shell Cordovan we produce gets a light coat near the end of
After and before, first polish after 18 months of hard wear. Happy New Year!
It takes a lot of shell cordovan to make a pair of engineer boots.
Genuine Horween Shell Cordovan tees are in stock and ready to ship! Please visit the SHOP section of our website.
One of the wooden drums on the third floor. This is a “dry mill” that is used to add texture and/or soften leather. The longer leather is milled, the softer snd more textured it becomes.
A side of leather drying in the toggle room. Toggling yields a product with less stretch than regular air-drying, since the toggles hold the leather and limit the amount it can shrink. This method results in a finished product with pronounced grain.
📷 by @clarksoriginals - the vegetable tanned leather used in this boot is processed utilizing byproducts of the production of olives. ・・・ The @horweenleather tannery has spent 115 years perfecting their craft. Which is why we've teamed up with them
Shell cordovan hanging to air dry after receiving a dye coat. The shells are hung from sticks and move very slowly down a conveyor while warm air is blown from above. Once they reach the end they are stacked and brought back for another coat - depend
The post before last shows the working end of the glazing jack - this is the back pulley system that drives the arm. There’s a single motor that drives a shaft (not pictured) and with long handles we can slide the belts from an idle pulley to a
New shell cordovan wallets and key cases available in the SHOP section at www.horween.com.
Up close on a glazing glass. We glaze many leathers, including shell cordovan. The glass is held in an arm that moves back and forth rapidly across the leather. The smoothness of the glass and the pressure and heat generated yield a high gloss. We c
Turner shaving machines for shell cordovan on the 4th floor. All buttoned up for the end of another day. Have a good weekend.
Football leather waiting for color. The embossing process utilizes heat and darkens the leather. We apply dye after the pebble pattern is added in order to successfully color match each order.

Contact Us

2015 North Elston Avenue  ||  Chicago, IL 60614  ||  Tel. (773) 772 2026  ||  Fax (773) 772 9235