A Look Inside A Moroccan Tannery

With the recent launch of our new full leather items; the Monogram Tote and Monogram Crossbody, we thought we'd take a look at some inspiration from across the globe, Fez, Morocco.

Fez, a city famed for leather products, is home to three ancient leather tanneries. Chouara Tannery is the largest and oldest dating back almost a thousand years.

Photo source: Only A Day Away

Every day, tanners place the raw hides of cows, goats, camels, and sheep into deep earthenware vats, taking them through a process of soaking, stripping, drying, and dyeing – or tanning, hence the name. 

This is all achieved manually, without the need for modern machinery, the process has barely changed since the 12th Century, which makes these tanneries a must-visit in Morocco.

Photo source: Flickr

The best views of the tanneries are from the surrounding terraces where the leather shops are located but to really immerse yourself, you must take a walk inside. The stench produced from the tanneries is pungent, however, guides will offer you fresh sprigs of mint to carry around with you. It's all part of the experience!

Photo source: Left Pinterest & Right Local Adventurer

Information references: Amusing Planet & Flora the Explorer