The diagram details the stages involved in producing leather goods from animal skins.
From a general perspective, it is a linear process comprising several steps. Animal hides undergo a series of mechanical and chemical treatments before being fashioned into consumer goods such as shoes, bags, and sports equipment.
Initially, the skins are air-dried and subsequently loaded onto trucks for transportation to a factory. Upon arrival, they are immersed in water and lime solution to eliminate and purify residual specks of dirt left in the skin. Once washed, they are subjected to a further soaking with lime to soften the material and facilitate the hair removal.
Following this, the skins are flattened by being passed through a large roller; thereafter, they are soaked once again, this time in a mixture of tannin, which is a combination of water and vegetable, to begin the process that stabilizes the collagen fibers in the leather. After this stage, the hides are meticulously polished to enhance their texture and quality. Finally, the processed leather is dispatched to manufacturers, where it is crafted into a range of leather products.