Tempesti Elbamatt Liscio

Elbamatt Liscio is produced on single butts using full-grain vegetable tanning. The leather receives an oil and grease treatment during drum-dyeing, resulting in a soft, supple material with no protective finish layer. This aniline treatment allows the natural grain structure to remain visible and creates the characteristic pull-up effect where the leather lightens when bent or stretched.

The leather combines medium firmness with exceptional flexibility, making it suitable for applications requiring both structure and movement. Available in weights of 1.0-1.2 mm (2.5-3 oz) and 1.8-2.0 mm (4.5-5 oz), the material can be used for various leather goods including footwear, bags, and belts.

The Elbamatt tannage process is patented by Tempesti and represents a closely guarded proprietary method. Elbamatt was the original vachetta-type leather developed by the tannery. The vegetable tanning process is followed by drum-dyeing and greasing treatments that penetrate throughout the leather rather than just coating the surface.

The tannery specializes in producing 2mm shoulders specifically for the bag, footwear, and belt industries. Founded in 1946 by brothers Tullio and Osvaldo Tempesti, the company is located between Pisa and Florence and has specialized in vegetable-tanned leathers for over seventy years. The tannery is currently operated by the fourth generation of the Tempesti family.

Vegetable-tanned leather naturally darkens as the pores absorb oils from hands and exposure. The leather also oxidizes when exposed to air, causing changes to the hue over time. The hand-burnished finish characteristic of Elbamatt Liscio evolves distinctly as the leather ages, developing a patina that reflects the leather's use history.

Elbamatt Liscio is available in multiple colors. The Ambra coloration is lightly dyed for subtle refinement, appearing as an amber or brown tone. A separate Brown color option is also available. The light dyeing approach allows the natural leather characteristics and grain patterns to remain visible while providing color depth.

Oak Street Bootmakers uses Elbamatt Liscio in Brown for their Cap-Toe Field Boots. Viberg has featured the leather in their Tempesti Collection for Service Boots. Tricker's has used the Ambra variation for their Stow Boots. The leather's combination of vegetable tanning, flexibility, and patina development makes it suitable for boot construction where both durability and aesthetic evolution are valued.