Who We Are
Wildfibre Organic Tannery exists at the intersection of skill, sustainability, and self-reliance.
This is not hobby tanning. This is real work—built from the ground up through hands-on experience, thousands of hours on hides, and a commitment to doing things the right way, not the easy way.
Founded by Cher Reynen, Wildfibre has become known for producing high-quality, brain-tanned and naturally processed hides while also leading a growing movement of women reclaiming lost skills and building income from home.
Built on Real Experience
Every process taught and every hide produced through Wildfibre comes from direct, lived work—not theory.
This includes:
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Processing raw hides from start to finish
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Brain tanning deer, elk, and other game hides using traditional methods
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Developing repeatable systems for consistent, high-quality results
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Navigating the physical, seasonal, and logistical realities of tanning in rural environments
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Building a working tannery while raising a family and managing land-based responsibilities
This isn’t content pulled from books or pieced together online. It’s earned knowledge—refined through trial, error, and persistence.
Why This Work Matters
We are living in a time where usable materials are being discarded, traditional skills are disappearing, and many rural women are searching for ways to create income without leaving home. Hide tanning sits at the center of all three.
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Waste: Thousands of hides are thrown away every year. These are valuable, usable materials being lost.
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Reconnection: Tanning reconnects people to the land, the animal, and the full cycle of use and respect.
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Rural Skill-Based Income: This is a practical, scalable skill that can be turned into real income—without needing a storefront, large capital, or outside employment.
Wildfibre exists to bring this work back into hands, and back into relevance.
Wildfibre is not just a tannery—it is also a training ground.
Cher has developed clear, structured systems that take what is traditionally seen as an unpredictable craft and make it teachable, repeatable, and scalable for real-life use. Through programs like Hide Hustle, women are learning:
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How to confidently tan hides from start to finish
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How to avoid common mistakes that cost time and materials
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How to price, sell, and build a business around their work
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How to integrate tanning into an already full life
This combination—doing the work at a high level while also teaching others to do the same—is what sets Wildfibre apart.
Cher Reynen
Founder
Cher is known for her expertise in traditional hide tanning and leatherworking. She has been involved in teaching and sharing techniques related to brain tanning and other historical leatherworking methods, often emphasizing the cultural significance and sustainability of these practices. Her work often focuses on hands-on workshops and educational programs, allowing participants to engage directly with the materials and techniques.
Ishia Mackinaw
Executive Assistant | Apprentice
Ishia Mackinaw is a valued member of the Wildfibre Organic Tannery team, supporting the daily flow of the tannery with care, adaptability, and commitment. She assists across many areas — from organizing and setting up the tannery, to ensuring customer hides move smoothly through each stage of the process, to supporting Cher in educational programs.
Her steady presence and willingness to step in wherever needed help keep both the work and the learning environment grounded and running well.
Rooted in a deep desire to reconnect with ancestral knowledge, Ishia is actively cultivating tradition passed down from her Kokum and weaving those teachings into her work and learning. Through tanning and mentorship, she is reclaiming old ways with intention — focused on healing, breaking cycles, and sharing knowledge so it can carry forward to future generations. At just 21, Ishia brings purpose and heart to the tannery, with a vision of using these skills to create meaningful change.
Hide Hustle Tanners
Independent Hide Tanners Trained with Wildfibre Organic Tannery
These Independent hide tanners have their own independent businesses offering tanning services privately and are fully endorsed by Wildfibre Organic Tannery, having completed full year long training and mentorship with Cher.
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