Tucked away in a historic five-story factory along Chicago’s North Elston Avenue, Horween Leather Company has been crafting some of the world’s finest leather since 1905.
Founded by Isadore Horween, the family-run business has become a symbol of American craftsmanship, quality, and tradition. The fourth-generation boss, company president Skip Horween, is adamant the company will stay in Chicago and continue to follow the traditions that made it great—whatever pressures come from the outside world.
Image credit: horween.com
He told RLSD: “Recently, one of the big real estate developers who bought up a bunch of property around us called me. I said I’d be happy to take him for a tour but we’re not selling. I took him for the tour and we came back to my office and we’re having a coffee. He said, ‘You’re not going anywhere. This place is part of who you are.’”
Horween is part of the very fabric of Chicago, and its leather is used to make some of the things at the very heart of US culture. If you’ve held an NFL football then you’ve experienced Horween’s handiwork. Horween is the exclusive supplier of leather for NFL footballs and also provides leather for NBA basketballs.
It is not just leather that links American football and Horween. After Isadore laid the foundation, his sons Arnold and Ralph Horween took over. Both were all-American football players at Harvard and both played in the NFL before stepping into the family business.
Image credit: horween.com
But the magic doesn’t stop at the field or the court. Horween leathers are also the go-to choice for high-end bags, belts, wallets, footwear, jackets and more. Famed for their signature Shell Cordovan and Chromexcel leathers, Horween’s craftsmanship combines durability with beauty — a rare blend in today’s fast-paced, disposable world.
This is important to Skip. He explains: “If you step up and pay more for a better product, it lasts longer and you don’t have to buy as many of them. I have a pair of old boat shoes that I bought from Timberland 40 years ago. If I spent much less and I had to buy a new pair every other year, obviously the footprint would be much higher.”
The link between American football and Horween goes deeper than the leather used to make the balls. After Isadore laid the foundation, his sons Arnold and Ralph Horween took over. Both were all-American football players at Harvard and both played in the NFL before stepping into the family business.
Image credit: horween.com
Horween mostly works with cowhide, but also makes calf, horse and bison leathers. The company’s dedication to quality and traditional techniques has kept the Horween name synonymous with excellence for over a century. Skip is always looking to innovate, but he won’t make change just for the sake of it.
He says: “The critical point is that we do it without compromising quality, because the minute we’re not as good as we can be, our reason to exist is very much in question. I don’t make it faster or cheaper than lots of the market. My goal is to make it better.”
With roots that grow deep and a reputation built on authenticity, Horween Leather Company isn’t just a Chicago institution — it’s a living piece of American history that continues to shape the future of premium leather goods. One hide at a time.
Read the full interview here
Josslyn Shi from California College of Art has been crowned Overall Winner of the Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition at a glittering final event held at the U.S. Embassy in London.
From ancient Greek armour to sophisticated homeware – moulded leather has a thousand uses
There’s no better way for a man to make a sartorial statement than with a leather suit and Wonka star Timothée Chalamet managed two different ones as the film’s premieres rolled out around the world.
The circular economy is a sustainable and innovative economic model that seeks to redefine the traditional linear model of production and consumption. Instead, it promotes a system where resources are used for as long as possible, and then recovered and
We know just how stressful it can be trawling the internet trying to choose the perfect gift for friends and family! Let us take the stress out of gift giving and rather than racking your brain why not take our simple quiz?
