Kano Leather Tanneries
Nigeria’s Leather ranks amongst the highest quality of leather found globally. This is because our leather comes from free-roaming animals such as cattle, sheep and goats which makes their hides and skins durable to produce high quality leather goods. Our leather is exported internationally with Nigeria making $600 to $800 million annually from leather exports. It is projected that the Nigerian leather industry would generate over $1bilion by 2025.
The Nigerian leather value chain includes farmers, producers and processors, local buying agents and service providers. Traditional and industrial tanneries export semi-finished leather products or ship their products to Nigerian producers. These are then finalized into finished products and exported. Finished leather products (FLP) are used in cloth or cloth accessories, decoration and other aesthetic values, protection or safety, amongst others. Tanning is the process of treating skin and hides of animals in Tanneries to produce leather.
Kano State, a city known for its many festivals, ancient relics and culture, is one of the leading manufacturers and exporter of the Nigerian leather. Kano is the largest commercial hub for the leather industry in Nigeria. The traditional tanneries in Kano are Nigeria’s oldest and they are also the biggest suppliers of local leather.
Kano tanneries are the beginning point in the leather producing value chain. The tanneries receive hides and skins that have been stripped from slain animals and take them through the tanning process until they become leather. In addition to tanning the typical goat and cow skins, Kano tanneries also specialize in other range of exotic animal skins such crocodile skins and snake skins.
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Finished leather products from Kano tanneries go on to be footwears, bags, clothes and are shipped to other parts of the world. Some of the biggest fashion houses in the world source their leather from Kano tanneries. These tanneries create jobs, employing many people which has a positive impact on the economy of the state and the nation.
Nigerian brands like FEMI and ZASHADU are some of the local brands who have built reputable Nigerian Luxury Leather goods brands. French luxury powerhouse Louis Vuitton also use the Nigerian leather for their products.
Have you ever visited any tannery in Kano? Please share your experience.