Why Our Leather Matters

At Strong Horse Leather, we don’t just pick hides off a rack. We work with three of America’s oldest and finest tanneries—Hermann Oak, Wickett & Craig, and Horween. Their names carry more than a century of grit, craft, and reputation. Here’s why that matters.

Hermann Oak – Since 1881

Strength comes from discipline. Herman Oak has tanned leather the same way since the
days settlers pushed west—slow, exacting, vegetable tanning that takes months, not weeks. Their hides are firm, carve true, and age into the kind of leather you’ll hand down. That’s discipline turned into legacy.

Wickett & Craig – Since 1867

“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” – Winston Churchill.
Wickett & Craig, one of the last vegetable tanneries in the U.S., still hand-finishes leather with the patience of craftsmen who refuse to cut corners. Their hides carry depth, color, and character you don’t get from fast tanning. It’s the kind of leather that proves quality is worth the fight.

Horween – Since 1905

Some things are worth paying for because they’ll outlast you. Horween has been doing the hard work in Chicago for five generations—making the legendary Chromexcel, Shell
Cordovan, and even the leather used in every NFL football. It’s not about being the cheapest or the fastest. It’s about being the best.

What This Means for You

When you wear a Strong Horse belt, you’re not just strapping on leather—you’re carrying the story of America’s finest tanneries, of families and craftsmen who refused to trade
permanence for profit. Zinc buckles break. Plastic cracks. But leather endures.

The Strong Horse Way

No shortcuts. No gimmicks. Just heritage leather, solid brass, and the promise that what we make today will still matter tomorrow.