Irish saddle leather sought after

Already a world-class horse producer, Ireland is becoming more important as a raw material source for saddle leather, according to Bord Bia.

Sabrina King, in the Food Board’s Paris Office, has reported that France no longer has the level of calfskin quality that French leather manufacturers are looking for, and French saddle manufacturers such as CWD and Devoucoux are importing calfskin from Ireland or Germany on a regular basis, due to the high Irish and German reputation for leather quality.

“In a country that follows the ‘made in France’ ethos, one would think France would be a haven for French leather produce,” said Sabrina.