KREIS Ledermanufaktur

At KREIS, we believe that true luxury is defined by time. Our use of traditional vegetable pit-tanning - a process that takes months - ensures that every belt and wallet we craft in our Obertshausen workshop is built to age with unparalleled character and last for generations.

For centuries, Offenbach am Main in the Hesse region was celebrated as Germany's leather capital, home to over 200 specialized manufactories. However, the arrival of globalization decimated this local industry, as production moved to lower-cost regions in Asia and Eastern Europe. Today, only a handful of authentic workshops remain. KREIS Ledermanufaktur is one of these proud survivors. Founded in 1963 by Erich Kreis in Obertshausen, just outside Offenbach, the manufacture initially specialized in high-quality leather belts. From the start, Kreis utilized full-grain leather subjected to traditional vegetable pit-tanning - a slow, expensive process where hides soak in bark baths for months rather than hours. This results in a dense, supple material that develops a unique patina over time.

The second generation, led by Bernd Kreis, expanded the range, and today the third generation - Sophie and Philip Kreis - continues to uphold these rigorous standards. The manufacture works exclusively with two types of premium leather: classic box calf and German pit-tanned cowhide. Their distribution remains ultra-selective, appearing in high-end venues like Manufactum and Andreas Murkudis in Berlin. With its commitment to hand-stitched construction and historic tanning methods, KREIS is more than just a brand; it is a living witness to a once-great German industrial heritage, producing goods that are designed to last a lifetime.