The diagram illustrates the complete process of leather production. Starting with the animal skin provided from farm houses, the artisans then progress through 12 intricate steps in order to achieve high-quality and long-lasting products.
Firstly, the animal skins are delivered from farms after the meat of cattles is harvested. They are then grouped based on their sizes, in this case, large and small. Scissors are used to trim the skins individually. This step is done by hand to ensure tidy edges. The next step is salting the skins before curing them on shelves for a span of 30 days. After that, the skins are soaked in big baths of water for at least 12 hours, or sometimes up to 24 hours, depending on the batch. The following step is also done by hand, which is hair removal.
The skins then go through 2 different stages of chemical processing, including pickling (in which salt and acid are added to create an acidic environment); tanning (which involves a 48-hour treatment with various chemicals). Wooden barrels are used for these 2 steps for easier mixing, ensuring that the skins are thoroughly soaked. The tenth step is for decorative purposes. Skins are dyed with colors and softened with oil. Upon finishing, they are hung to dry. Industrial-sized fans are implemented to accelerate the process. The final step is where the artisans manually wax each sheet of leather, giving it a layer of protection from the surrounding environment.