Vegetable-tanned leather is made using tannins extracted from plants, while chrome-tanned leather is made using chromium sulfate. The tanning process plays a significant role in the characteristics and properties of the resulting leather.
Vegetable-tanned leather is known for its natural look and feel, as well as its ability to develop a patina over time. It is also biodegradable and eco-friendly. However, it is more expensive to produce and can take longer to tan than chrome-tanned leather. It is also not as flexible or water-resistant as chrome-tanned leather.
Chrome-tanned leather is known for its strength and durability, as well as its ability to be molded into a variety of shapes. It is also less expensive to produce and can be tanned more quickly than vegetable-tanned leather. However, it is not as eco-friendly as vegetable-tanned leather and may have a more synthetic look and feel.
In general, vegetable-tanned leather is considered to be of higher quality and is often used in higher-end products, while chrome-tanned leather is more commonly used in mass-produced products.