A morning at Horween Leather Company.

[chinngiskhaan]

Quote:
Alright.... who did you have to kill?

 

[JSO1]



Alright.... who did you have to kill?

I brought them many horsehides. I've decided to do my part to end the shell shortage by breeding and eating a dozen horses per month.

 

[sazon]

Thank you for this. So awesome.

 

[Zapasman]

I brought them many horsehides. I've decided to do my part to end the shell shortage by breeding and eating a dozen horses per month.

Excellent JSO1!!.

I just hope you increase the number of horses per month by this year

 

[tifosi]

Cool post! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Deusis]

I would guess demand for darker colors? There are a relatively small amount of horse shells, and perhaps the majority of them are allocated to the darker colors? Easier to sell a dark brown shoe than a tan colored one

This is a lot of it. After speaking with a few people from Horween, there is just too much demand for #8 and Black from companies like Alden and Allen Edmonds that there is rarely a chance to make the (as mentioned before, more difficult to produce) lighter colors.

#4 used to be as prevalent as #8 but the demand just shifted.

 

[chinngiskhaan]

I brought them many horsehides. I've decided to do my part to end the shell shortage by breeding and eating a dozen horses per month.

so it's not who... but what.

on a serious note, I lived in mongolia for a few years where there are easily more horses than people, and they eat them no problem. I know a guy that owns several thousand horses and they are bred for the purpose of eating (obviously he can't ride that many horses).

My wife's family (from Mongolia) had a few hundred at one point. This is pretty standard.

I don't know if anyone has tapped into that market, but they don't treat their animals like pets. The potential problems I see are that Mongolia is land locked, sandwiched between Russia and China. The second problem I see is that Mongolian horses are smaller than your typical horse. I don't know how much that matters, or if the breed has thicker skin or whatever, but I think it is worth looking into.

 

[dieworkwear]



I don't know if anyone has tapped into that market, but they don't treat their animals like pets. The potential problems I see are that Mongolia is land locked, sandwiched between Russia and China.

Can't they ride a horse to a dock somewhere?

The second problem I see is that Mongolian horses are smaller than your typical horse. I don't know how much that matters, or if the breed has thicker skin or whatever, but I think it is worth looking into.

Could be worthwhile for customers with smaller feet.

:foo:

 

[Resistant]

The only american horse slaughter house is again being targeted to shutdown simply to satisfy animal rights activist.

That could soon change with the times as so many people are seeking lean tasty meat. Shell is the by product of healthy living.

 

[dieworkwear]



The only american horse slaughter house is again being targeted to shutdown simply to satisfy animal rights activist.

Presumably also horses.

 

[Salad]



This is a lot of it. After speaking with a few people from Horween, there is just too much demand for #8 and Black from companies like Alden and Allen Edmonds that there is rarely a chance to make the (as mentioned before, more difficult to produce) lighter colors. 

#4 used to be as prevalent as #8 but the demand just shifted. 

I get why #8 is popular but I'm trying to wrap my mind around why demand would be high for black cordo compared to, say, #4 or any other lighter color. Does not compute. When I think of black shoes, I think formal and as such, I would go w/ calf, not cordo. Then again, I don't own any black shoes so whatever. I would love to see more shoes in #4.

 

[Resistant]

Quote

The only american horse slaughter house is again being targeted to shutdown simply to satisfy animal rights activist.

Presumably also horses.

True indeed. Really the idea is a quick painless death for a wonderful animal.

 

[jcman311]



Chicago is funny in that way. Depending on what neighborhood you live in, there are aromas that waft in from the various industrial things along the river. The people who live near Horween probably get ample tannery aromas, while the people who live near Blommer Chocolate are treated to the constant aroma of cocoa...

Milwaukee used to be like that too. There were a couple of tanneries that were near I94. On the other side is Miller Brewing. Wind from the north, heavenly smells of yeast and beer. Wind from the south, gagging on rotting animal smell.

Next time you could always hook up a fellow SFer who is nearby to go on an excursion again . Only an hour away...

 

[Patrick R]

I live about a 5 min. walk from Horween. I took a similar tour a couple of years ago - was there for about 5 hours and saw every inch of the factory. It was a great time. It was really cool to see all of the various types of leathers, all of the various processes, and to get all of the stories from the people on the inside. It certainly made me appreciate much more than just their cordovan products (and also made me hate what Alden does to #8 once I saw how beautiful it is before it goes out the door!). Thanks for sharing.

 

[JSO1]

Thank you for this. So awesome.

Thanks!

Excellent JSO1!!.

I just hope you increase the number of horses per month by this year

I'll do my best...

Cool post! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks!

This is a lot of it. After speaking with a few people from Horween, there is just too much demand for #8 and Black from companies like Alden and Allen Edmonds that there is rarely a chance to make the (as mentioned before, more difficult to produce) lighter colors.

#4 used to be as prevalent as #8 but the demand just shifted.

The demand is wrong. People are silly.

so it's not who... but what.

on a serious note, I lived in mongolia for a few years where there are easily more horses than people, and they eat them no problem. I know a guy that owns several thousand horses and they are bred for the purpose of eating (obviously he can't ride that many horses).

My wife's family (from Mongolia) had a few hundred at one point. This is pretty standard.

I don't know if anyone has tapped into that market, but they don't treat their animals like pets. The potential problems I see are that Mongolia is land locked, sandwiched between Russia and China. The second problem I see is that Mongolian horses are smaller than your typical horse. I don't know how much that matters, or if the breed has thicker skin or whatever, but I think it is worth looking into.

Hence your username - excellent.

The only american horse slaughter house is again being targeted to shutdown simply to satisfy animal rights activist.

That could soon change with the times as so many people are seeking lean tasty meat. Shell is the by product of healthy living.

I read somewhere that Horween gets most of its horses from French Canada and France anyway...

Presumably also horses.

I get why #8 is popular but I'm trying to wrap my mind around why demand would be high for black cordo compared to, say, #4 or any other lighter color. Does not compute. When I think of black shoes, I think formal and as such, I would go w/ calf, not cordo. Then again, I don't own any black shoes so whatever. I would love to see more shoes in #4.

I agree with you. I like my black shell boots, but shell is really better suited to color #8 and the spectrum of browns and tans, along with the reds.

Milwaukee used to be like that too. There were a couple of tanneries that were near I94. On the other side is Miller Brewing. Wind from the north, heavenly smells of yeast and beer. Wind from the south, gagging on rotting animal smell.

Next time you could always hook up a fellow SFer who is nearby to go on an excursion again

. Only an hour away...

Hah, I have spent so much time in Milwaukee over the past four years (I was up there at least every other weekend)... as of a few weeks ago, however, I will no longer be going up there for the foreseeable future. I'm somewhat sad as I grew to really like the area but it's time to head back East...

I live about a 5 min. walk from Horween. I took a similar tour a couple of years ago - was there for about 5 hours and saw every inch of the factory. It was a great time. It was really cool to see all of the various types of leathers, all of the various processes, and to get all of the stories from the people on the inside. It certainly made me appreciate much more than just their cordovan products (and also made me hate what Alden does to #8 once I saw how beautiful it is before it goes out the door!). Thanks for sharing.

Wow, 5 hours is a long time. I was only there for a few hours. But it is a big place!

Speaking of shoemakers finishing shell themselves - Nick and I were chatting about this, and in his opinion, Carmina is the shoemaker that does the least to the shells they receive and make into footwear. So if you want the unadulterated shell, buy Carmina.

And speaking of Carmina - Nick confirmed with me that Carmina's "rubi" shell is indeed Color #2, as I suspected.