Wickett & Craig Tan English Bridle

The leather is vegetable-tanned, then fat-liquored with conditioning oils and waxes before being hot-stuffed with additional waxes and tallows. This multi-stage process produces a durable leather with rich color and patina development.

Available in weight ranges from 2.5-3 oz to 10-12 oz, tan English Bridle is supplied in both Standard and Utility grades for applications including belts, bags, leather goods, and heritage footwear.

The tan color in Wickett & Craig English Bridle leather exhibits a more uniform color distribution across the hide compared to traditional harness leather, with the top side displaying rich color and the back side refinished in tan with gum paste application. The leather presents a matte finish rather than the glossier surface characteristic of traditional harness leather, with a flawless, even surface achieved through the tanning and finishing process.

The gum paste applied to the flesh side provides a smooth, uniform look and feel, while the hot-stuffing process with waxes and tallows contributes to enhanced color depth and durability. The tan color accepts additional dye readily and reveals the natural grain of the hide.

Wickett & Craig produces tan English Bridle leather at their Curwensville, Pennsylvania facility. The leather is drum dyed to achieve the tan color, then fat-liquored with conditioning oils and waxes. English Bridle undergoes an additional hot-stuffing process that infuses waxes and tallows throughout the leather for enhanced color concentration and greater durability.

The tan color is available in multiple weight ranges: 2.5-3 oz (1.0-1.2mm), 3.5-4 oz (1.4-1.6mm), 4.5-5 oz (1.8-2.0mm), 5.5-6 oz (2.2-2.4mm), 8-10 oz (3.2-4.0mm), and 10-12 oz (4.0-4.8mm). Sides average 24-27 square feet, with backs averaging 18-20 square feet. The leather is offered in Standard grade (#1) and Utility grade (#2).

Tan English Bridle leather is characterized by a smooth and flexible texture with a waxy feel, achieved through the combination of fat-liquoring and hot-stuffing processes. The leather exhibits firm temper while maintaining flexibility.

The hot-stuffing with waxes and tallows creates weather resistance and contributes to the leather's durability. The leather retains significant strength despite its flexibility and becomes soft and supple with proper care and break-in time, though it begins as initially stiff material.

The waxy texture results from the conditioning oils and waxes applied during fat-liquoring combined with the additional waxes and tallows infused during hot-stuffing. This combination creates the characteristic smooth, waxy feel while maintaining the leather's ability to accept dye and reveal the natural grain structure of the hide.