Bark Tan Leather – primitive waterproof technology?!?

The ability to make waterproof clothing, footwear, and containers from indigenous materials is an incredible asset for those trying to reduce their dependance on industrial society, survive ‘the collapse’, or deeply connect to their landbase. Using the tannins in local tree barks to preserve skins as leather – bark tanning – is a simple, magical and utilitarian method of providing ourselves these things. Bark tanned leather resists rot, is water repellant to 100 percent waterproof depending on how it’s tanned, and, of course, is extremely beautiful. Several years ago, when thinking about the eventual fall of civilization, I would sincerely worry about how we would survive on this rainy coast without plastic raingear and gumboots when the system that produces them halts, and whatever we have around from before falls apart. Well, turns out we don’t need ‘em (the system, the gumboots). The art of bark tanning has almost been completely lost – it is shrouded in myth and obscurity, but, what we have uncovered so far makes me confident that we can make our own gumboots, rainjackets, and water bottles, independant from industrial society.