As a company that constantly strives to offer ‘more’, we see it as a matter of principle that we source all our materials direct from the producers. We visit all our suppliers personally to ensure that we not only have access to the best quality skins and hides but that all our manufactures operate in an environmentally friendly manner.

We use full-grain ultra premium calf leather sourced directly from our tannery in Fucecchio, Italy, which is a small town situated half way between Florence and Pisa.

What is full ‘grain-leather’?
Full-grain leather is the best leather that you can buy. The term ‘Full-grain’ refers to the upper section of a hide that previously contained the hair of the animal. This is the strongest and most durable part of the leather as it receives the least amount of chemical treatment, which in turn helps it to retain its natural strength and moisture.

Quality
There are many factors that affect the quality of leather from the type of animal skin used, to the feeding habits as well as the production techniques used by the tannery.

We insist that all Mark Charles boots are made of calf leather that has been allowed to feed on grass out in the open rather than corn-fed calves that have been raised in cramped enclosed spaces. This is a small but important detail as the animal’s diet and living condition has a huge affect on the quality of the skin that it produces.

If you look closely you can distinguish between calf and cow leather by the smoothness and density of the grain of the calf’s skin. We also use sheep skin as apposed to pig skin to line our boots as this is a much more durable and luxurious leather.

For information on how leather is made, please click here.