The Randoline leather
Randoline now manufactures all the leather harnesses for its range of packsaddles.
This choice required heavy investment, but it’s the price of quality and independence.
The first step was to go to a very old tannery in the south of Larzac and choose the skins we wanted, in terms of thickness, colour and strength. At that moment, you realise just how complex the tanner’s trade is and how much know-how has been built up over generations. It’s always a pleasure to enter these places where leather smells so good, and to see these huge, respectable machines at work.
Curiosity
Certain operations in this profession are still carried out in square feet, and the machine that calculates the surface area of a skin gives its result in both units, square feet and square metres. So, 230 years after the French Revolution that introduced the new metric system, it’s not so easy to change traditions that go back dozens of centuries.
History of our leathers
There are two tanning options:
– Vegetable tanning, using oak bark (which contains tan, hence the word ‘tannage’). This is the traditional tanning process that gives the leather its brown colour. The various stages take several weeks, which explains the higher price.
– Tanning with chromium salts, which has been around since the mid-19th century. This tanning process is more effective than the previous one, takes less time and produces stronger leather. While tanneries in Western countries are now equipped with filters and purifiers, the same cannot be said of certain exotic countries, where the ecological footprint of this type of tanning is disastrous.
Vegetable tanning gives the leather a beautiful amber colour, which can be enhanced with dyes. It wins the majority of users’ votes, despite its higher price.
Chrome tanning gives the leather a slightly bluish colour, which makes it dirtier. But at the same time, chrome leather is less fragile and lasts longer… But many donkey drivers and riders prefer the other leather…
The switch from chrome to vegetable
In 2023, with the arrival of Claire, our leather specialist in the team, and at the request of our customers, we took the decision to transition all our leathers to vegetable tanning. Given our different models and sizes, this is not something that can be done in a month… Today, in mid-2025, we are nearing the end of the process.
Please note: we still have some chrome-tanned leather harnesses. The option between the two leathers is offered at the time of purchase in the online shop, at a more attractive price. As soon as stocks are exhausted, the option will disappear.
The details of Randoline leather
Working with leather isn’t just about the material used. It’s also about the little stitching tricks that make it easier to insert the straps. It’s also the little details in the stitching and cutting that denote a style that’s both traditional and refined.
As built, if regularly oiled, a Randoline leather harness will last for many decades.
Randoline leather buckles
Since we became independent in the leather sector, we’ve also been on the lookout for the best buckle specialists.
We finally opted for a Czech company that makes solid stainless steel buckles in a country with a very old metalworking culture. Unfortunately, there is no French company capable of offering such quality.
The advantage of stainless steel buckles is that they don’t attack the leather, they don’t oxidise and they withstand the many opening and closing cycles for an infinite time.
Cleats on Randoline packsaddles
Long before we switched to our own plant-based leather, we discovered a German company based in Bremen that works in the nautical sector. For a long time now, we’ve been ordering all the bridges to which the leather straps are attached.
Depending on the application, these bridges are made of marine stainless steel or nickel-plated brass.
The big machines
You can’t sew leather straps like elastic waistbands… You need big, strong sewing machines and excellent know-how.
Randoline has three of these monsters, each adapted to its own use.