When talk about premium tanneries, most shoe lovers call the name of Annonay and Du Puy, both French tanneries belong to Hermes Group.
The second tier (fame wise, not quality) would be the English ones, Charles F. Stead and J.F.Baker, the former one focuses on suede and kudu leather, and latter oak bark veg tanned sole and replica Russian deerskin.
Then it is the big amount of Italian tanneries and several French ones. The most famous Italian ones should be Museum calf inventor Ilcea and crust leather provider Bounado.
Recent years, another prestigious one came to the front stage, and it is Conceira Zonta。
Its rise had to link with the bankruptcy of Ilcea, at that time Zonta followed to release Museum calf and almost grab every client from Ilcea.
Zonta’s leather is thinner and more supple. Zonta’s main business is shoes, while furniture leather is also supplied.
Zonta locates Bassano del Grappa town in province Vicenza.
Comparing with other tanneries, products from Zonta are limited, but the best part is every product is premium and well received.
Such as suede collection Castorino is on par with Janus collection from Charles F. Stead which is regarded as the best suede leather. They are both Full Grain Reverse Suede with short fibre and velvet like sheen.
As an English shoemaker, Edward Green chooses Castorino over Janus which is very strange but certainly has a point.
And the most loyal follower of Edward Green, Sons of Henrey follows suit without second thought.
Another collection from Zonta is Goldanil which uses traditional dye rather than pigment to make leather coloured. So the leather seems to have a transparent layer on the top and can be seen through to the substrate.
The museum collection needs no introduction.