Today, we are excited to share the remarkable journey of Tan, from its inception to where we stand today.
The story of Tan begins in the heart of Cape Town, where two Capetonian brothers embarked on a mission to find an affordable, locally produced leather bag. Their search was met with disappointment as they couldn’t find the bag they were looking for. Yet, in their dismay, they saw an opportunity that would shape their destiny.
Since 2016, we have been working tirelessly in perfect TANdem, embarking on a thrilling adventure of growth and exploration. We have welcomed more talented team members into our family, each sharing a deep passion for the art of leather craftsmanship.
Our journey started with the import of leather laptop bags made from goat leather in India, facilitated by a friend engaged in missionary work there. These bags were Tan in colour, which is why we marketed the products as Tan Leather Bags(Goods).We were marketing and selling these products in Stellenbosch at the time. However, our pursuit of quality and authenticity led us to a pivotal decision.
Unhappy with the quality of the mass-produced, imported products, we took a bold step forward. We established our own small leather workshop in a humble double garage, situated adjacent to a clothing factory in Brackenfell Industrial. With just two skilled leather craftsmen, we could meticulously control the quality of our products, infuse them with our unique designs, and create them exclusively from South African Bovine leather. Every component and material was sourced from South African companies, a tradition we continue to uphold with immense pride. We are “Proudly South African” in our ethos.
As our brand and our family of clients continued to grow, we moved to a larger space in Okavango Park, Brackenfell, where we continue to operate today. It’s here that we have poured our hearts and souls into creating the unique, rustic, and high-quality leather products that you know and love. In fact, we are so confident in the quality of our products that we offer a lifetime guarantee on all our items. Tan Leather Goods is the first South African leather goods company to offer such a commitment, and we stand by it with unwavering confidence.
Brothers Wynand and Leonard
We are immensely proud to share that all of our leather products are manufactured in our factory in Okavango Park, Cape Town. From here, we empower a large and highly competent team of creative craftsmen who exclusively use top-quality, local materials to fashion our merchandise. Our growth has transformed us into a committed team dedicated to creating premium leather products and offering world-class customer service.
Our designs are a testament to our commitment to uniqueness, chic elegance, and rustic charm. Our values are rooted in simplicity and purity.
Our stall at a tradeshow in Johannesburg
Our story is one of authenticity, growth, and a relentless pursuit of quality. We are proud of our South African heritage, and yet, we hold ourselves to international standards of excellence.
We invite you to be part of our journey, a journey of passion, quality, and a lifetime of craftsmanship. Thank you for being an integral part of the TAN family.
Our stitcher, Morris, working his craft
