GUJRANWALA, PAKISTAN · FAMILY TANNERY ROOTS SINCE 1960
Vegetable-Tanned
Goat and Sheep Leather
Karim Tanneries is a family-led B2B tannery and material manufacturer in Gujranwala, Pakistan. It produces goat and sheep leather through mimosa-based vegetable tanning and supplies both in natural crust state.
Leather
Goat and Sheep: Grain, Body & Handle
Karim Tanneries supplies goat and sheep leather in natural crust state. Goat typically shows more pronounced grain; sheep generally has finer surface grain. Buyers assess grain, body and handle for their intended application and can request samples within the tannery’s 9-grade system, grouped into 3 tiers, before ordering.
Goat Leather
Sheep Leather
VEGETABLE TANNING
Mimosa Tannage, Pelt to Leather
Karim Tanneries carries out its three-stage vegetable tannage in wooden drums. Pretanning prepares the pelt for controlled tannin penetration. Principal tanning uses liquor prepared chiefly from solid mimosa extract. Retanning with quebracho, chestnut and oak extracts develops the leather's body and character.
PRODUCTION & QUALITY
From Selected Skins to Natural Crust Leather
Production begins with hand-selected skins and proceeds through beamhouse, tanning and wet-end operations to natural crust preparation. Muhammad Shoaib personally inspects, selects and grades the leather. It is stored by grade until an order is confirmed, then individually measured and packed for supply.
SURFACE DEVELOPMENT & APPLICATIONS
Dyeing, Finishing and Intended Use
Buyers check delivered natural crust leather against their order and keep it adequately ventilated before development. Through dyeing, finishing and material trials, they assess suitability for leather goods, footwear uppers, interiors or garments.
Tanbark: Karim Tanneries' Leather Design House
Founded in 2024 as Karim Tanneries' own design brand, Tanbark applies the tannery's leather-making knowledge to interiors. Its vegetable-tanned leather work includes hair-on rugs, plus calligraphy and artwork engraved on either hair-on goat leather or natural crust leather. For custom work, customers supply the design for Tanbark to engrave.
TANNERY TO DESIGN
HERITAGE
The Family Behind Karim Tanneries
The family's raw-material purchasing under Ch. Karim Bukhsh began before the tannery's own operations started in 1960, led by his son, Sh. Haji Abdul Karim. Sh. Muhammad Munir named the business Karim Tanneries in 1968 and grew its early operations. Muhammad Shoaib expanded production through additional machinery and developed its export trade. Today, he leads the business alongside his sons, Muhammad Abubakar and Muhammad Umer, who represent the fifth generation.
