Throughout the years we tested and used different materials, selected trustworthy suppliers, creating a flowing map of contacts that is constantly evolving, in search of excellence, perfectly mixed with the demanding green environmental approach. We created a detailed knowledge platform spacing from the definition of the raw hides to be used per each specific need, their tanning techniques, the diecasting and galvanic process for the metal parts.
Our focus is on the vegetable-tanned leather as we find it better to meet the sustainable and green approach Kepa pursues, following our DNA. We love the veg-tanned leather coming from the Santa Croce sull'Arno (Tuscany) area, for the capabilities of the artisans and masters, for the centennial tradition and knowledge, for the attention to the environment and the recycling and disposing of the waters and by-products. Lately, we further restricted our selection of partners, focusing on tanneries that obtain the LWG certification (Leather Working Group) or tanneries belonging to the Consorzio Vera Pelle Italiana Conciata al Vegetale - www.pellealvegetale.it/en/
For buckles and metal parts, we restricted our cooperation to a group of suppliers sharing our same approach to products and sustainability, with situations that could arrive to obtain the Oeko-Tex certification on certain finishing. Talking about packing materials, we based our decisions on the most environmentally friendly approach possible, choosing to use post-industrial recycled and recyclable plastic bags and cardboards that balance at best the recycled part with the need to respect transportation resistance standards and yet coming from FSC forests.
