AMERICA’S PIGSKIN SOURCE

There are very few things more patriotic than an American sports game. But where is much of the professional sports equipment we see day after day made?

In none other than the Horween Leather Co., located in Chicago.

The company was founded by leather worker Isidore Horween in 1905. Initially the company focused on the production of leather strops to sharpen straight razors with. It wasn’t until the second generation owners that it shifted into making their most famous product: the NFL’s footballs.

Isidore’s two sons, Ralph and Arnold Horween, were members of the Harvard Crimson football teams who later became players for the Racine and Chicago Cardinals (who moved on to St. Louis, then Arizona). After retiring from professional football, the brothers became the assistant coach of the Cardinals, and a football coach for Harvard, respectively. After their coaching careers, both took over their father’s leather tannery. It is likely that this is where the Horween tannery built their connections to the NFL.

In addition to making footballs, Horween is also the exclusive producer of basketballs for the NBA, through Spalding.

There does not seem to be any interesting origin story, compared to its NFL connection, but that doesn’t dilute the fact that the NBA still believes that the Horween is still a premier leather producer and so continues to help source the balls for their games.

Finally, Horween is also the largest producer of gloves for the MLB – Major League Baseball. The MLB does not seem to be a major customer compared to the NFL or the NBA, as they consume comparatively little sports equipment. Still, Horween is considered the largest U.S. glove maker and business does not seem like they’re going to halt production anytime soon.

While Horween is one of the largest leather tanneries and producers of leather goods for professional leagues, sports goods only make up of about 40% of the firm’s production. The other 60% is comprised of footwear, clothing, and other leather accessories.

Beyond their sports clients, Horween is primarily famous for its use of two special leathers on top of its standard calf leather: Chromexcel leather and shell cordovan leather. Chromexcel is the proprietary leather developed by Horween famous for its “greasy”-like qualities. Shell cordovan is a leather (technically a membrane) that comes from the rear end of a horse, of which Horween is the world’s largest producer.

In an age when so many products are labeled “Made in China,” it might be a surprise that the balls and gloves of major American sports are still provided by an American leather tannery. It’s important to acknowledge that production of the NFL and NBA balls and many gloves in the MLB still supports proud American leather, and that is perhaps something that can be met with as much patriotism as the actual sport itself.