Gibier Leather with Low Environmental Impact
What is Gibier Leather?
This refers to leather made from the skins of wild animals such as deer, boars, and bears.
It is characterized by the fact that it is not made by hunting for use in leather products, but rather uses the skins of wild animals that are exterminated as pests or used for meat as a pest control measure.
From the perspective of protecting human life and the environment, we do not simply dispose of animals that have been classified as pests and are exterminated because they cause harm to people or destroy crops, but rather, we are striving to manufacture and popularize gibier leather with the responsibility of using up the lives we have received from wild animals so that it can lead to ethical behavior among consumers.
Initiatives with Suppliers in Hokkaido
Around 2014, agricultural damage caused by Ezo deer escalated in Hokkaido, leading to an increase in news coverage on the issue.
In Hokkaido, primary industry accounts for a large proportion of a large proportion of the economy. At the time, efforts to curb the agricultural damage caused by Ezo deer involved capturing over 100,000 of them annually as pests and disposing of them in the mountains. In response to this current situation, various organizations and individuals, including public institutions, have raised awareness and initiated efforts to establish a recycling cycle, primarily through the use of meat.
Consequently, in order to explore the feasibility of reusing Ezo deer leather, we sought out suppliers in Hokkaido and successfully established connections.
At that time, deerskin in the leather industry was mainly imported leather from countries such as China and New Zealand. We began searching for ways to turn disadvantageous conditions such as differences and difficulties in stable supply into positive ones.
Features of Our Gibier Leather
Sika deer leather
Deerskin is characterized by its supple texture, and is thin and light, yet durable.
Soft-touch smooth and nubuck leathers are suitable for luxurious products, while hard-finished leathers with a vintage feel are suitable for wild products.
Brown bear leather
Brown bear leather, Japan's strongest animal, has a wild, rough texture and finely raised grains that give it a strong presence.
It is highly rare and difficult to obtain, making it a one-of-a-kind product.
New “Choice” Options
The process of making game leather embodies the idea of ”using up precious life”.
The skins of wild animals that have been exterminated as a nuisance that destroys crops can be recycled into society by giving them value as leather. In addition, we are able to contribute to regional revitalization efforts by developing products that take advantage of the characteristics of each type of leather and by using them as local resources.
Knowing this background will give you new options when choosing materials and products.
We believe that by always being grateful for life, we will develop a sense of attachment to it, and this will lead to a change in our mindset to use it with care for a long time.
We will continue in our efforts to bring out the sustainable potential of gibier leather.
