Newest offer from Forestal Mimosa is Mimosa CR which is a modified mimosa (wattle) extract which has been reacted with a chrome salt to give a water soluble veg/chrome powder. Mimosa CR is ideal for waterproofing processes and for retannages requiring fullness and softness. The resulting leather also has good lightfastness.
Mimosa CR is a completely soluble complex offering a tighter and finer grain. Mixed tannages have traditionally involved an initial veg tan followed by a chrome retan but this is a difficult leather to make and Mimosa CR offers an easier solution.
At Tanning Tech, Dr Neville Slabbert spoke of the disappearing market for sole leathers. Unlike most industries which are vanishing from the rest of the world and relocating to China, sole leather is simply being superceded by other materials.
Collective action such as the vero cuoio campaign in Italy sadly did not get universal support and fizzled out. Now the challenge comes in finding alternative, niche markets.
