The Coldwater Project

Coldwater is a project based in the Faroe Islands exploring how discarded fish skins, specifically salmon and cod, can be transformed into durable, beautiful leather.

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Each year, thousands of skins from the local fishing industry are thrown away. Coldwater investigates how this overlooked material can be cleaned, tanned, and finished without chrome or synthetic chemicals, using methods that blend traditional craft with modern technique.

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The long-term goal is to create a replicable, sustainable tanning process rooted in the North Atlantic.

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The project is currently in early development. We’re learning, testing, and building a foundation.

If you work with fish leather, have experience with tanning, or simply want to exchange knowledge, we’d love to hear from you.

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Contact:
leivur@coldwater.fo