Leather supplied by S.B. Foot Tanning Co is the choice of many classic styles of Red Wing.
This tannery was founded in 1872 in the city of Redwing, Minnesota. You read it right, the city is called Redwing.
The founder Silas Buck Foot has many identities, such as farmer, inventor and shoemaker.
Since 1905, Tannery S.B.Foot has been supplying a big boss named Charles Beckman, who is the founder of Red Wings Shoes Company.
Although Tannery S.B.Foot, as an independent company, experienced various twists and turns in the Great Depression, World War I and World War II, in 1986, it finally sold itself to Red Wing Company.
At present, there are 8 or 9 varieties of products in this tannery, but the most focused is the oil tanning process.
Like Horween Chromexcel leather, it is also a two-step tanning or mixed tanning scheme.
First, chrome tanning, then put it in wooden barrels, add oil and oak liquid for oil tanning.
The leather produced by this process has natural waterproof and antifouling effects, but its air permeability is poor.
After tanning, many Finishing processes are not needed or carried out, the natural texture of leather and the taste brought out by oil tanning.
Oil tanned leather is very durable, which is why many work boots choose this leather.
Red Wing named this leather Oro Russet Portage.
The most iconic models 8166 and 8131 both use this leather.
