The history of leather production in Himeji and Tatsuno is long, dating back to the Kamakura period, and leather tanning flourished there during the late Edo period. In this traditional region, Shinki Leather is the only company in Japan that produces cordovan leather.

Mitsuyasu Kaneda
Mitsuyasu Kaneda: He has been with Shinki Leather for 17 years, 14 of which were spent in dyeing operations. Since 2008, he has been the factory manager, overseeing approximately 20 staff members.

Shinki Leather - A tannery that supplies some of the world's leading cordovan leather.

THE WARMTHCRAFTS-MANUFACTURE is a brand based on Shinki Hikaku, the only tannery in Japan that produces cordovan leather. Founded in 2002, the brand is headed by designer Hiroshi Yoneda, who handles all product design and shop direction, and currently operates eight stores nationwide.

The brand's core product, cordovan, refers to horsehide leather made by shaving a special fibrous layer from the horse's hindquarters from the underside of the hide. Shinki Leather takes approximately 10 months to complete this process. They produce 2,000 to 2,500 pieces per month. Because the amount that can be harvested from a single horse is limited, it is characterized by its rarity, but orders from both domestic and international customers continue unabated, drawn by its unique luster and substantial texture.

Shinki Leather is located on the west bank of the Ichikawa River, which flows through southwestern Hyogo Prefecture. Three buildings stand side by side here, housing the leather factory and the atelier of THE WARMTHCRAFTS-MANUFACTURE .

Himeji and Tatsuno have long been local industries for leather tanning, and the Takagi district, where Shinki Leather is located, is the largest concentration of tanneries in Japan. Even today, about 80 tanneries, accounting for approximately 35% of the domestic market, compete fiercely. "Among them, there are extremely few tanneries that handle horsehide, and we are the only ones that can produce cordovan from the rump in bulk," says factory manager Mitsuyasu Kaneda. For over 30 years, they have dedicated themselves to research and refining their techniques, and have become known as one of the world's leading horsehide tanneries.

The concept is "Learning from the past to understand the present: By studying the old, one can learn from the new and become a teacher." Isetan will exclusively present color schemes inspired by the northern and southern skies of Japan, representing the four seasons.

THE WARMTHCRAFTS-MANUFACTURE
Dalles bag: 540,000 yen (29.8 x 42.8 x 9.5 cm)

The raw hides are imported from Europe. Over many years of accumulating experience in horsehide production, they have sourced and selected horsehides from all over the world, and as a result, they have settled on European horsehides because the horses are large throughout the year and the hides are consistently thick. These hides are then transformed from "hide" to "leather" through the hands of various craftsmen.

For example, there's the traditional tanning method of vegetable tanning. It's time-consuming and labor-intensive, so it's become rare these days, but according to Mr. Kaneda, "We are committed to this method because it doesn't put stress on the leather, the grain is fine, and the tannins penetrate to the core." The leather is soaked in a wooden pit (tanning vat) containing an extract from the bark of the mimosa tree, and the tannins are slowly absorbed over about a month while various actions are applied. The resulting leather shrinks less, is durable, and develops a beautiful patina with use, which is its main appeal.

The delicate shade of ice gray is an Isetan exclusive color.

(From left)
Bi-fold wallet S: 37,800 yen (9 x 9.7 x 1.8 cm)
Round Middle Case: ¥23,760 (7.4 x 12.2 x 2 cm)
Round zip long wallet: ¥64,800 (9.8 x 19.5 x 2.4 cm)
Card case L: ¥32,400 (9.4 x 12.1 x 0.3 cm)
■ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1st Floor = Men's Accessories

Yoneda of THE WARMTHCRAFTS-MANUFACTURE says his strength lies in his ability to handle everything from raw hides and tanning to design, product development, and sales. Because of his close relationship with craftsmen, the unique materials of Shinki Leather often serve as the starting point for his ideas. His goal is to convey the wonderful culture and history of Japanese leather making. He aims to give "form" to the philosophy that Shinki Leather has cultivated and deliver it to the world.

Next, we spare no effort and strive for the highest level of quality.