Abstract: An aloe vera re-tanned leather for use in a glove, garment, sandal or shoe. The leather includes tanned leather having an internal fiber matrix. An aloe vera powder of aloe vera particles in a gel carrier is in the tanned leather in a retanning process so that the aloe vera particles in the gel carrier penetrate the internal fiber matrix and are temporarily trapped within the internal fiber matrix. The trapped aloe vera particles in the tanned leather gradually emerge from the inside surface of the leather to be in contact with, lubricate and treat the skin of a wearer of the glove, garment, sandals or shoes, whereby the aloe vera lubricated leather is particularly suitable for use in gloves, garments, sandals or shoes which come in contact with a wearer's skin. The process of retanning the leather to include the aloe vera in the leather and the gloves, garments, sandals and shoes incorporating the aloe vera retaining leather is also described.

Abstract: Leather is tanned by cross-linking collagen with tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine or a condensate of a tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salt with an amide or amine in a main tannage or retannage.