Consider three factors: intended use, desired aesthetic, and working properties. For handbags and structured goods, look for firmer leathers like full-grain cowhide or veg-tan. For garments and items requiring drape, lambskin or soft cowhide works best. For small leather goods like wallets, choose tight-grain leather with good edge finishing. Upholstery requires durability and resistance to wear. If you're unsure, order swatches or contact us with your project details.

Yes. We offer two swatch options so you can evaluate a leather's color, texture, weight, and finish before purchasing a full hide.

Individual Leather Swatches — $5 per swatch Choose the specific colors and leather articles you want to evaluate directly from our swatch page. Each swatch is cut from our current stock, giving you an accurate representation of the leather you would receive.

Upholstery Leather Swatch Ring Our complete ring includes samples of our whole-hide, upholstery-grade leathers. Each swatch has a QR code that links directly to the corresponding product, making it easy to review and reorder. It is ideal for interior designers, upholstery shops, automotive shops, and businesses that work with leather regularly.

Both options help you make confident decisions before purchasing full hides.

Leather is a natural material, and hides carry markings from the animal's life — scars, insect bites, wrinkles, brands, and grain variations. These characteristics are not defects; they're inherent to genuine leather. Full-grain and natural leathers show more of these markings because they preserve the hide's original surface. Corrected-grain and heavily finished leathers minimize visible imperfections. We disclose any significant markings or quality issues upfront so you can make informed decisions.

Yield varies depending on the type of leather, the size of the hide, and the presence of natural markings. On average, expect 70-85% usable material from a full hide. The neck, belly, and edges may have looser grain or be too thin for certain applications. Plan your patterns to work around natural imperfections and maximize usable area.

Because leather is a natural material and each hide is unique, we encourage you to order swatches before purchasing full hides.

Returns accepted within 2 weeks if the item is uncut and undamaged. You'll receive a full refund minus original outbound shipping costs (typically $5 for pieces, $10 per skin). Customer pays return shipping. Full hides may have a restocking fee. Leather scrap orders are final sale.

Return with the packing slip or include your order number so we can process your refund.

Return to: TanneryNYC, 131 West 35th Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10001

Contact us with questions before returning.

No. That's the point. Unlike traditional tanneries, we don't require wholesale minimums. You can purchase a single hide or scale up to larger production runs. Whether you're experimenting with a new design or fulfilling a full production order, we can support you.