UK micro tannery sector to convene at new conference
The first UK Micro Tanners Conference will take place from June 15 to 17 at Great Cotmarsh Farm, bringing together a growing community of small-scale and craft-focused tanning practitioners.
The three-day programme begins with a pre-day on June 15 featuring farm and Cotmarsh Tannery CIC tours, followed by a session on “The great spread of leathers”. The evening will include a social gathering with food at The Hop Chapel & Gardens.
Day one, on June 16, opens with talks on the design and build of Cotmarsh Tannery, contemporary approaches to leather and sustainability in production systems. Speakers include James Allen, Jack Millington and Kerry Senior, alongside contributions from Karl Flower and Nina Conrad. A panel discussion will explore hide and skin sourcing and traceability, before the day concludes with a screening of Skin of The Land and a catered evening meal.
The final day, June 17, focuses on specialist techniques and regional material sourcing. Sessions include hair-on tanning, UK tannin sourcing and traditional Finnish bark tanning methods, with speakers such as Matt Richards, Jane Robertson and Hanna Nore. Further talks feature Sofie Kleppe on reindeer skin design applications and Jessie Watson Brown reflecting on more than a decade of small-scale bark tanning in Devon. The conference will conclude with an open discussion on the future of the micro tannery sector in the UK and beyond.
Tickets can be purchased here
