Tusting & Burnett • Sokoto Bookbinding
Tusting & Burnett • Sokoto Bookbinding
These 100% vegetable-tanned Sokoto Goatskins feature an aniline, hand-tipped finish that highlights their distinctive shrunken grain pattern. Known as the classic bookbinding leather used for centuries, these rare Nigerian goatskins embody tradition and craftsmanship.
Sustainably sourced and hand-tanned by a farming cooperative in Africa, these goatskins reflect Tusting & Burnett’s dedication to eco-conscious practices. Tanned using Begaruwa seeds from Nilotica trees, each hide is carefully twisted during the tanning process to create its signature natural grain. Every part of the animal is utilized by the cooperative, with proceeds supporting the local community and their way of life.
Size: 6-8 sq ft
Weight: 1-1.2 mm
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Article: Sokoto Bookbinding
Tannery: Tusting & Burnett
Hide Type: Goat
Tannage: Vegetable Tanned
Grain: Full Grain
Finish: Aniline dyes
Cut: Whole Hide
Firmness: Light-Med
Customization: Can be polished, burnished, distressed
Weight: 1-1.2 mm
Size: 6-8 sq ft
End Usage: Bookbinding, Footwear, Accessories
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Established in 1938, this fifth-generation, family-run British tannery is based in the scenic English countryside of North Bedfordshire. It specializes in producing both classic and high-fashion bespoke leathers, tanned and finished entirely in England on goat, cow, buffalo, and deer hides. Their leathers are highly sought after globally for luxury goods, handbags, small leather goods, footwear, and bookbinding.
The tannery was founded by Harrold Tusting and his Scottish wife, Bessie Burnett, on September 21, 1938, in Odell, Bedfordshire, marking the birth of the Tusting and Burnett name and legacy. Since then, it has remained within the family, evolving into a renowned fifth-generation English business. Robert Tusting, a graduate of the prestigious Northampton Leathersellers program and one of the first students at the Moulton Park Leathersellers’ Centre, continued the family tradition. With a longstanding focus on art, design, and fashion, the tannery is celebrated for its innovative leathers, including the pioneering vintage, antique look now widely admired in fashion and décor. A prime example of their craftsmanship is their trademarked Mad Dog® goat leather, a product frequently imitated yet unmatched in quality and distinctiveness.
