Billy Tannery started with a discovery
Due to decades of decline in the British leather industry, many thousands of goatskins leftover from the food industry were being thrown away or burned each year. Believing there must be a better way, we set out to find a solution.
So in 2016, after unearthing centuries of local leather knowledge, we transformed a farm building in the Midlands into our own small-batch tannery - the first of its kind to be built in this country.
Nearly a decade on and our small revolution is gathering pace. Building on our original range of handmade goat leather goods, we've added deer leather to our repertoire and a thriving line of bespoke products for the hospitality trade.
Leather as it should be
Leather is a beautiful natural material, but it's much misunderstood. Instead of being tanned locally, hides circle the globe to be tanned as cheaply as possible. Trading price for often shocking environmental and ethical practices. Millions are simply burned.
At Billy Tannery, we produce leather as it should be. Sourced and tanned entirely in Britain from a previously wasted food by-product. We use bark extracts and an pioneering process that recycles 90% of the water and turns waste into compost.
All of our leather is full-grain and free from the plastic coatings and pigments found on the majority of mainstream leather goods. Our way restores the connection with the animal and the land. It's leather to be proud of.
Purposeful design
Goat and deer leather have an especially pronounced grain that varies from piece to piece. So rather than cover up natural markings and variations we celebrate them, ensuring each of our products is unique.
Our design philosophy is to let our leather speak for itself. Clean lines and large uninterupted panels keep the focus on the leather itself. Timeless, seasonless designs allow us to focus on creating products that will last a lifetime.
Proudly British made
Britain has a proud manufacturing heritage and from the start we were determined to make all of our leather goods here.
We spent years searching the country to find the best production partners. We work mainly with two workshops in Somerset and Leicestershire. Both carefully chosen for their passion, craftsmanship and consistency.
Over the years we have discovered a thriving community of British makers. United in a love for proper leather and keeping leatherworking skills alive.
From waste into worth
In recent years goat dairy products have seen a boom in demand, but what happens to a male billy goat born on a dairy farm? Sadly the conventional answer was to end their lives at birth, but now thanks to pioneering goat meat companies, dairy billies have a value.
The story with deerskins in the UK is also one of waste. Despite the hundreds of thousands of deer culled each year to prevent damage to native ecoystems nearly all of the skins were going in the bin.
We believe that a sustainable future lies in returning to regenerative and inter-connected systems. Leather plays a vital role in completing this circle.
Our team
Billy Tannery founder Jack Millington grew up on a farm in the Midlands. Despite heading to London for a career in marketing, he returned seeking a more fulfilling and hands-on life. After discovering that so many goatskins were going to waste - and despite knowing nothing about leather production - he decided to act.
As well as throwing himself into the challenge of learning how to tan leather, Jack joined forces with creative director and childhood friend Rory Harker to launch the brand and initial range of British-made leather goods in 2017. Today our small team includes our tannery trainee, Mark, design and project manager Martha, commercial lead Jonny and customer supremo, Matt.
Together with our network of artisanal makers across the UK, Billy Tannery is here to prove that there is life in the British leather industry yet.
