HERITAGE
Family tannery roots since 1960
Karim Tanneries' heritage spans five generations in Gujranwala, Pakistan, from raw-material purchasing to leather production, export trade and design through Tanbark. “Quality is our commitment” guides this work.
DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
From Family Trade
to Factory Registration
The family's raw-material purchasing began before 1960. Tannery operations started in 1960, and the factory was registered on 26 December 1968.
DOCUMENTED
Factory Registration Dated 26 December 1968
THE KARIM TANNERIES JOURNEY
A Family Enterprise Across Five Generations
From raw-material trade to tannery production and export, each generation has contributed to the family business.
01
Ch. Karim Bukhsh
His raw-material purchasing before 1960 began the family's work in the leather trade, before the tannery itself was established.
02
Sh. Haji Abdul Karim
Started the tannery's leather-production operations in 1960, building on his father's raw-material purchasing.
03
Sh. Muhammad Munir
Named the business Karim Tanneries in 1968 and grew the early operations his father had established.
04
Muhammad Shoaib
Expanded production through additional machinery and developed the tannery's international export trade. He continues to lead the business alongside his sons.
05
Muhammad Abubakar & Muhammad Umer
Work alongside their father, with Muhammad Abubakar leading sales and raw-material control and Muhammad Umer leading production and chemical procurement.
THE TANNERY TODAY
A Working Tannery in Gujranwala
Muhammad Shoaib personally inspects, selects and grades the leather, and oversees exports, packing and finance. He leads Karim Tanneries alongside his sons, Muhammad Abubakar and Muhammad Umer, combining his decades of production experience with their active roles in the business.
At its factory in Gujranwala, Pakistan, Karim Tanneries produces vegetable-tanned goat and sheep leather in natural crust state for professional buyers. The tannery has supplied buyers in Japan over several years and welcomes inquiries worldwide.
Tanbark and the Move Into Design
Explore Tanbark
THE TANBARK Chapter
Established in 2024 as Karim Tanneries' own design brand, Tanbark brings the family's knowledge of vegetable-tanned leather into pieces for interiors. Its range includes hair-on rugs, engraved calligraphy, artwork and custom work, extending the family's activities from material production into finished design.
Tanbark uses vegetable-tanned leather sourced from Karim Tanneries. Muhammad Abubakar leads Tanbark's sales, while Muhammad Umer leads the connection between the design brand and the tannery. The Tannery to Design page explains the brand's name, collections and how its pieces are made.
Tannery to Design
Tanbark, Karim Tanneries' design brand for interiors: hair-on rugs, engraved calligraphy, artwork and custom work.
Vegetable Tanning
Three-stage vegetable tannage in wooden drums: pretanning, principal tanning and retanning.
Leather
Assess grain, body and handle in vegetable-tanned goat and sheep leather supplied in natural crust state, and explore grading and samples.
EXPLORE KARIM TANNERIES
The Knowledge Behind the Leather
Production & Quality
From raw-material selection to natural crust preparation, inspection, grading and storage, followed by individual measurement and packing after order confirmation.
Surface Development & Applications
Material handling guidance, plus buyer-led dyeing, finishing and trials to assess natural crust leather for its intended use.
Resources
Materials and processes, buyer-led development and Tanbark design, company and family history, buying and sourcing, plus photographs inside the tannery.
