Established in 1938, we are a fifth generation, family run British Tannery based in the heart of the English countryside in North Bedfordshire. We produce classic and high fashion bespoke leathers tanned and finished out in England on Goat, Cow, Buffalo, and Deer. Our leathers are used all around the world for luxury leather goods, handbags, small leather goods, footwear and bookbinding.

Click here to shop our current stock online!

WHAT WE DO

Goat Leather

We specialise in classic and high fashion goat leathers using the finest quality veg-tanned Indian goat skins, as well as the Sokoto, veg tanned African Goat skins which have a very distinct grain pattern unique to this specific raw material. We are by far the largest producers of this unique raw material and use a lot of hand finishing techniques to enhance the natural beauty of this grain. This unique leather is used in Boots, Bags, Small leather goods and is also the traditional leather used in classic bookbinding. It is also the raw material that inspired our signature trademarked Mad Dog® leather.

Bookbinding Leather

Tusting and Burnett are by far the largest user and stockist of the Sokoto Nigerian Goat Skin, and as such we have unrivalled access and choice of the highest quality skins. These fully Veg Tanned skins allow for gold leafing and hand tooled decoration, and our hand tipped aniline finish allows the natural beauty of the grain to shine through. These unique skins give you the ultimate, classic Bookbinding look that has been used for centuries. As we have been using these skins since the year of our incorporation in 1938, we are able to offer unrivalled quality and value for money.

Partner Tanneries

Available from our LWG GOLD overseas partner tanneries we have a wide range of Goat, Sheep, Calf and Buffalo Leathers. In a huge variety of finishes.

Stock

Due to the bespoke nature of our leather, all of our articles are made to order. We do however have a large stock of ex- sample and show leathers for customers requiring smaller quantities. Please  follow the link here to our online shop.

OUR HISTORY

Established by Harrold Tusting and his Scottish wife Bessie (Burnett), on the 21st September 1938 in Odell Bedfordshire, the Tusting and Burnett name and company was born.

The Tannery has remained within our family ever since and is now a fifth generation family run, English business. My father, Robert Tusting, a graduate of the Northampton Leathersellers, was amongst the first year of students at the new Moulten Park Leathersellers’ Centre. With an interest in art, design and fashion, we have always been renowned for producing innovative leathers. Pioneering the vintage, antique look that is now ever present in all areas of fashion and décor. The greatest example of which, is our trademarked Mad Dog® goat leather, that has been much imitated but never replicated.

From the very beginning we have been an international company, shipping our leather all around the globe. In 1985 we were recognised for this and awarded the Queens Award for Export Achievement. Since then we have continued to grow, and expand our company, offering a huge range of authentic, original finishes on goat, cow, buffalo, sheep and deer skin which end up in all corners of the world in numerous different forms.

We are very proud of our company’s heritage, and myself and my brother, Benjamin Tusting, are privileged to be able to carry the name and business on well into the future.

Charlotte Tusting

SUSTAINABILITY

ARTISANAL, ECO LEATHERS

At Tusting & Burnett, we are committed to creating fresh, exciting new leathers in an artisanal, sustainable way to ensure minimal environmental impact on the planet whilst creating luxurious, and original finishes that will pass the test of time.

As one of the only completely renewable materials there is, we are proud to produce all of our articles on 100% real leather and never plastic. Our goal is that the products made from our leather become heirlooms and not landfill.

With each new range of leathers’ we create, we are always trying to push the boundaries to further reduce our environmental impact.

By using more hand processing, we are able to create unique, artisan leathers that use less power and fewer chemicals. Our Aniline dyes and natural oils and waxes also mean that the natural beauty of the raw material is allowed to shine through that, unlike synthetic materials, will only get better with age.

Our Vegetable Tanned, Farm Reared, African Goats are the perfect example of our commitment to using sustainable raw materials. Our signature raw material, these Goat skins are tanned by hand in a farming cooperative in Africa using only the Begaruwa seeds that grow on the Nilotica trees on their land. The skins are all tanned by hand, and twisted during the tanning process to create a beautiful, natural shrunken grain pattern that is unique to this particular raw material. Every single part of the animal is used by the cooperative, and the money raised from whatever is left over, including the hides is what supports the entire community.

 

Our goal is not to create perfect, uniform, pigmented leathers, but instead; beautiful, unique, natural leathers, that stand the test of time. Each natural marking and blemish adds to the special character of each skin and to the rich, natural patina of the finished article. 

We want everyone who owns a product made from our leather to know that they have something that is special, unique to them and is enhancing rather than destroying the planet which we live on.

We have developed many different finishes on this unique raw material, from shrunken grain, aniline bookbinding finishes, to hand buffed, antiqued, vintage look leathers. Each finish enhances the beauty of this unique, wild animal in a different way, and showcases its unique grain pattern, resulting in a rich, aniline leather. The finished leather can then be either polished, burnished, distressed, washed or hand stained to create a huge variety of different looks. 

It was this unique raw material that inspired the creation of our signature Mad Dog® leather, that we have now been making for well over 30 years and in many different forms.

MAD DOG®

We have been producing Mad Dog®, our signature trademarked leather, for over 40 years.

A unique and rare leather, Mad Dog® is produced on vegetable tanned farm reared African goats. Our signature recipe of natural oils and waxes used in the finishing, enhances the beauty of this unique and wild animal showcasing its unique grain pattern, resulting in a rich, aniline leather that ages beautifully and makes each article unique. Mad Dog® can be polished, burnished, distressed, washed or hand stained to create a huge variety of different looks depending on whether a vintage, classic, or dressy aesthetic is required.

Over the years the Mad Dog® range has developed with demand and we have made many variations of the original article and on many different raw materials, from the original African goat, to cow calf, English deer and buffalo. As pioneers of the natural vintage look leathers which are now so popular and prevalent in the market, our Mad Dog® article has been much imitated but never replicated.

Please click on the below images for more information on the articles in our Mad Dog® range.

TEMPESTI

We are proud to be the new UK Agents for Tempesti Leather.

Founded in 1946, Tempesti are one of the best known Vegetable Tanneries in Italy.
Specialising in the tannage and production of 2mm shoulders for the bag, footwear and belt industries. Their shoulders are available in substances from 0.8 – 2.0 mm.
Tempesti’s internationally renowned Elbamatt, the tannage for which is patented and a closely guarded secret, was the original vachetta type leather and although emulated by many other tanneries is still the market leader.
The Tuscany Vegetable Tanners Consortium which exists to promote Tuscany Vegetable Tanned leather throughout the world was an original concept of the late Giovanni Tempesti. The consortium can provide swing tickets to specify the origin used in your products. More information can be found at http://www.pellealvegetale.it/en/consortium.htm .

If you are interested in finding out more about Tempesti and their leathers please contact us for more information at: tnb1938@wordpress.tustingandburnett.com

Events

Click through to find out where we are exhibiting next…

LINEAPELLE LONDON 11th July 2023

TEMPESTI STAND

HAM YARD HOTEL

LONDON

LINEAPELLE NEW YORK 19th-20th July 2023

TUSTING & BURNETT

Stand 81, 1st Floor

LINEAPELLE MILAN 19th-21st September 2023

BRIZZI AGENZIE x Tusting & Burnett

HALL 11 STAND C12

Products

We offer one of the most diverse range of leather you will find. Our huge range of leathers on goat, cow calf and buffalo comprise of natural, aniline glazed finishes, hand antiqued, distressed, vintage look leathers and everything inbetween.

All of our articles can be adjusted to create a fully bespoke leather. choose your raw material, tannage, colour and finish to create your desired look.

 

Bookbinding Leather

Tusting and Burnett are by far the largest user and stockist of the Sokoto Nigerian Goat Skin, and as such we have unrivalled access and choice of the highest quality skins. These fully Veg Tanned skins allow for gold leafing and hand tooled decoration, and our hand tipped aniline finishes allow the natural beauty of the grain to shine through. These unique skins give you the ultimate, classic Bookbinding look that has been used for centuries. As we have been using these skins since the year of our incorporation in 1938, we are able to offer unrivalled quality and value for money. 

 

T&B Warehouse & online shop

We now carry a carefully curated selection of our core leathers in a variety of finishes and colours.

Contact us to arrange your visit or alternatively visit our online store HERE.

GET IN TOUCH WITH TUSTING & BURNETT

For swatches, sample skins or any additional information on any of our articles, please contact us using the form below or at office@wordpress.tustingandburnett.com or phone us on +44 (0) 1234 376291 and we will be happy to help you.