S.B. Foot Authentic

The leather is produced using traditional oil-tanning methods that create exceptional durability with minimal finishing materials. S.B. Foot has manufactured leather in Red Wing since 1872, supplying Red Wing Shoes with full-grain leathers that develop rich patina over time. Authentic leather is available in the Oro-Iginal color, which exhibits pull-up characteristics where lighter tones appear at bends and creases.

Authentic leather is an oil-tanned, full-grain leather distinguished by its soft temper and excellent surface feel. The leather maintains water resistance, stain resistance, and perspiration resistance through its oil-tanning process. Unlike heavily-finished leathers, Authentic preserves natural surface characteristics, allowing scars, scratches, fat wrinkles, and insect bites to remain visible as beauty marks that contribute to each hide's unique appearance.

The leather exhibits pull-up effect, a characteristic of oil-tan leathers where pulling or stretching reveals lighter colors beneath the surface. This property emphasizes natural bends, folds, and creases that develop during wear. The leather's depth of color deepens as it ages, with users reporting beautiful patina development after the break-in period. The oiled leather remains warm to the touch and maintains its structural properties for more than 50 years when properly cared for.

S.B. Foot Tanning Company produces Authentic leather at their facility in Red Wing, Minnesota, using traditional oil-tanning methods refined since the company's founding in 1872. The tannery sources steer hides primarily from Midwestern ranches within six hours of Red Wing, utilizing American cattle raised as a natural byproduct of the food industry. The facility processes more than 3,000 finished sides per day, sufficient to manufacture more than 20,000 pairs of shoes.

The tanning process begins with fresh-prepared hides called wet blues, which acquire their bluish color from a high-exhaustion tanning process. Hides are re-wetted and shaved before placement in large wooden drums, where they soak in a mixture of tree oils, tanning agents, and dyes. Extended soaking achieves deep penetration into the hide, which conceals future scuffs and maintains color consistency throughout the leather's life. After soaking, hides are rolled, dried, and stretched before final processing.

Quality control involves rigorous sorting, with final sorters examining every individual piece of leather to evaluate color matching and grain character. A-graded leathers with minimal imperfections and excellent grain character are typically designated for Red Wing Heritage line products. This grading ensures that Authentic leather maintains consistent quality standards across production runs.

Authentic leather requires active maintenance to preserve its integrity and longevity. Regular cleaning begins with removing dirt using warm water and a brush, followed by drying with a cloth. For heavily-soiled areas, Foam Leather Cleaner should be applied with a cloth or brush, then wiped away with a damp cloth and allowed to dry completely.

Conditioning maintains the leather's suppleness and oil content. Apply a light, even coat of All Natural Boot Oil, Mink Oil, or All Natural Leather Conditioner using fingers, a cloth, or a sponge. The leather's oil-tanned composition allows it to absorb conditioning treatments effectively, maintaining its water and stain resistance properties.

Protection from environmental exposure can be enhanced by lightly misting with Leather Protector, sprayed six to eight inches away in a sweeping motion. This guards against dirt accumulation and moisture penetration while preserving the leather's natural breathing properties. Regular maintenance prevents deterioration and ensures the leather develops even patina over decades of use.

Authentic leather is available through multiple craft leather suppliers serving artisan bootmakers and leatherworkers. Major distributors include Maverick Leather Company, District Leather Supply, OA Leather Supply, The Leather Guy, and Springfield Leather Co. These suppliers stock S.B. Foot leathers in various cuts and quantities suitable for custom footwear and leather goods production.

For specialized or bulk orders, S.B. Foot maintains a leather request form on their website that connects customers with their technical team. This allows craftspeople to specify desired characteristics, quantities, and applications for custom leather orders. The company's direct sales support enables small-scale makers to access the same quality leathers used in Red Wing Heritage production.