S.B. Foot Oro-Iginal

The leather is produced using traditional oil-tanning methods that create exceptional durability with minimal finishing materials. Oro-Iginal maintains the soft, mellow temper and excellent surface feel characteristic of the Authentic leather family. The leather develops a rich patina over time, with the natural oils and wear patterns creating unique aging characteristics in each piece.

Oro-Iginal 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, Oro-Iginal 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's natural appearance means that nature's beauty marks remain visible on the surface, reflecting the leather's authentic origin. The visible marks and natural variations create distinctive character in each piece, ensuring that no two items made from Oro-Iginal leather are identical. The leather's soft, mellow temper provides comfort and flexibility while maintaining structural integrity.

Oro-Iginal leather is available in multiple color variations, each maintaining the characteristic oil-tanned properties while offering distinct aesthetic options. The original Oro color features a golden-brown hue that evokes the color of the American Russet potato. Mocha Oro-iginal presents a darker, richer brown tone with warm undertones suitable for a wider range of footwear styles. Mahogany Oro-iginal offers a deep reddish-brown color that develops particularly striking patina with age.

Each color variation maintains the same leather characteristics including water resistance, natural beauty marks, and excellent surface feel. The different colors allow manufacturers and craftspeople to select appropriate tones for specific boot styles and customer preferences while maintaining consistent performance properties across the Oro-Iginal range.

S.B. Foot Tanning Company produces Oro-Iginal leather at their facility in Red Wing, Minnesota, using traditional oil-tanning methods refined since the company's founding in 1872. As part of the Authentic leather family, Oro-Iginal undergoes the same rigorous tanning process that has made S.B. Foot leather renowned for its quality and durability. The leather is sourced from natural by-products of the American food industry, utilizing steer hides primarily from Midwestern cattle.

The tanning process involves soaking hides in large wooden drums filled with a mixture of tree oils, tanning agents, and dyes. Extended soaking achieves deep penetration into the hide, which maintains color consistency throughout the leather's life and helps conceal future scuffs and scratches. After soaking, hides are rolled, dried, and stretched before final processing. The result is a leather that maintains its properties and develops character over decades of use.

Quality control involves rigorous sorting, with sorters examining every individual piece of leather to evaluate color matching and grain character. S.B. Foot's over a century of knowledge in leather production ensures consistent quality standards across all Oro-Iginal leather production runs.

Oro-Iginal 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 extended use.

Oro-Iginal leather is used extensively in Red Wing Heritage footwear, appearing in multiple iconic styles. The women's 6-Inch Classic Moc in Mocha Oro-iginal features the leather paired with the signature Traction Tred outsole and moc toe silhouette. The Gloria tall boot showcases Mahogany Oro-iginal with a 15.5-inch shaft, stacked leather heel, and brass speed hooks. Additional applications include the Work Chukka and various women's heritage styles that benefit from the leather's combination of durability and aesthetic appeal.

Beyond Red Wing's production footwear, Oro-Iginal leather is available to independent bootmakers and leather craftspeople through S.B. Foot's distribution network. The leather's consistent quality and distinctive appearance make it suitable for custom footwear, leather goods, and specialty applications where oil-tanned leather performance is required.

Oro-Iginal 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. The Leather Guy has maintained a business relationship with S.B. Foot for over 25 years, providing access to more than 25 oil tan leathers in various colors and finishes.

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.