​What is an Artisan Tanner?

How to preserve the essence of leather?

RADERMECKER® tannery produces a natural, robust and authentic saddle leather, the result of the know-how of our craftsmen. We produce vegetable tanned beef and bull leather. Our products are recognised for their durability, their touch and their finish. Our leathers are the result of 150 years of experience. Our craftsmanship has been passed down from generation to generation with a common objective: to enhance the essence of the leather at every stage of its production.

Our artisans tanners:

Yoann " The vision of the future "
Finding the right shade, the right touch, the right grain... it's a job that requires rigour, technique and passion. Yoann learned his trade in a prestigious environment before joining the Radermecker team in 2021 to take charge of finishing. A new generation is taking over, inspired by the heritage of our elders and bringing the rigour that our customers have asked for. 

 

David "An iron fist in a velvet glove"

Handling thick leather requires a subtle blend of strength and softness. Whether smoothing or stretching, learning to set up a machine correctly for each pass of leather takes years of experience and a touch that few craftsmen are able to master. Handling and stretching leather by hand takes strength and years of experience. David, at 1.90m tall, is our iron fist in a velvet glove.

 

Didier " No one is bound to the impossible "
Tanning requires more than 10 steps, the production of finished articles can require up to 20 steps in a craft workshop. Each stage has its own machines. Maintaining a fleet of more than 100 machines requires skills but also passion. Didier is undoubtedly the man for many situations. Self-taught, he has been repairing, maintaining and improving RADERMECKER® machines for over 25 years.

 

Jean Christophe " The attention of each moment "
Every good orchestra needs a good conductor. Jean Christophe, David's brother, joined RADERMECKER® at the age of 18. After having trained for more than 20 years in the workshop's techniques, he now organises its production. Attention, listening and experience are some of the qualities that are essential for this job. Leather, a heterogeneous material, requires constant attention. Jean Christophe is a passionate person who, like the whole team, continues to learn every day.

 

Alexandre "The new generation is taking over".
From the river to the dryer, there are few craftsmen who master the entire leather value chain. Son of Dominique, Alexandre was born into this world. Since 2001, his responsibilities have ranged from river work, upstream of tanning, to shaping and drying work downstream of the fullers. Only a good association between his work and that of the person in charge of the fullers can ensure a quality leather. At RADERMECKER®, the father-son relationship is essential!

 

Higinio "Leather is a constant learning process"
Higinio is one of those craftsmen who are able to work with leather in tanning and use it in clothing. Few craftsmen have such a vision of the entire leather chain. Always ready to help his colleagues, Higinio is a versatile craftsman. Attentive to others, attentive to doing things well, beyond his experience, Higinio always knows how to question himself. 

 

Pascal " Each item is unique "
There are skills that are lost, and others that improve with time. Pascal is one of those men who perpetuates methods that are now forgotten, such as mastering a corner sewing machine, making a bellows, sewing with copper thread... It takes many years to learn these techniques. A key word drives Pascal on a daily basis: make each item as if it were his own. 

  

Loïc "Every challenge is an opportunity
Over time, the place of the craft industry in our society has evolved from being indispensable to being specialised. Today, its role is to integrate into its new environment, sustainable and close to its customer. Inspired by quality, motivated by the human factor, Loïc, co-manager of RADERMECKER®, initiates the renewal of quality craftsmanship on a daily basis.