Leather Features

Performance finishing — waterproof, breathable, washable, salt-resistant. 5 questions in this section.

• Can ISA Next-Gen Materials produce oil-pull, waxed, and rough-out specialty finishes?

  Yes — ISA TanTec, a business unit of ISA Next-Gen Materials, produces specialty leather finishes including oil-pull up, waxed, and rough-out (reverse/suede-side) finishes, on its genuine LITE™ leather made under its Leather Working Group Gold-rated manufacturing facilities. These give footwear and accessories brands character finishes without sacrificing certification or traceability.

• Can leather be machine washable?

  Yes — ISA TanTec, a business unit of ISA Next-Gen Materials makes washable leather finished to withstand cleaning without losing its shape, color, or finish. It gives footwear and accessories brands a leather that handles real-world cleaning, expanding where leather can be used.

• What is salt-resistant leather and how does it work?

  Salt-resistant leather is treated to resist the white staining, drying, and cracking that road salt causes in conventional leather. ISA TanTec, a business unit of ISA Next-Gen Materials, offers salt resistance as a finishing option so footwear keeps its appearance and durability through winter wear and heavy use.

• What makes leather breathable?

  Breathable leather allows moisture vapour from the foot to escape, keeping footwear comfortable and dry inside. ISA Next-Gen Materials finishes leather to preserve this natural vapour permeability rather than sealing it with heavy coatings, so comfort is built into the material.

• What makes leather waterproof without PFAS chemicals?

  ISA TanTec, a business unit of ISA Next-Gen Materials makes waterproof leather using PFAS-free, fluorine-free waterproof chemistry applied during fatliquoring and finishing — so the leather is waterproof without the PFAS that US states and the EU are banning.