As Gabor continue to provide shoes and boots for their customers that promise to be of the highest quality, one of the most important components to be used within these shoes is the leather material. Equally, just as everyone along the manufacturing chain within Gabor has a specialised role, this is no more so than in the leather acceptors role. They are responsible for looking at all the leather hides Gabor are to use within their shoes and boots and guarantee its quality. Once assessed, the leather acceptor will punch the leather with a special tool in approval, ready for shipping to the Gabor factories.

As one of the worlds most expensive commodities, the quality of this leather needs to be assured, which is what makes the role of the leather acceptor so specialised and integral to the Gabor company. The leather needs to be technically perfect as well as visually perfect in order to meet the high expectation of Gabor customers. Equally, with 65 different leathers (some are available in various colours) the need to assess and approve the leather for the following qualities is imperative:

• Visual Appearance

• Softness

• Colour

• Strength

• Hide Size

• Grip

The leather acceptor's role doesn't just stop there as even if these qualities are met, they will need to assess whether the leather will be both fashionable and suitable enough for the type of shoe it is intended for. As with any shoe, various leathers will be more practical and suitable than others, which is why this is an important part of the assessment. Furthermore, around 70% of leather in the market is styled leather, which could affect the standard that Gabor expect.