Yupitaze Fischleder

A second life for fish - Unique products made from fish leather!

Making leather from fish skin is an ancient Asian craft. Carp breeder Rudolf Schuh brought this art to the Waldviertel.
A shaman from Manchuria on his way to Ireland stopped off in Austria around 15 years ago. There he met Rudolf Schuh, a long-established sawmill owner who has been working exclusively with the processing of waste wood for over 50 years. The meeting turned into an idea, and the idea turned into the rebirth of an old Asian craft - the art of making leather from salmon skin. After many years of experimentation, Rudolf Schuh finally succeeded in producing high-quality, supple "fish leather" from the waste product fish skin at his family's ancestral home in Reitzenschlag near Litschau, without having to resort to conventional tanning. This preserves the natural color and unique structure of the fish leather.
The fish leather from the Waldviertel - mainly carp leather - is now combined with other types of leather and processed in Austria and Germany into high-quality everyday items such as belts, handbags, purses and much more.

During a guided tour, visitors learn how the idea of making leather from fish skins came about, which types of fish are suitable for fish leather and which processes are necessary to make it soft. You will also receive lots of other interesting information about fish, especially carp in the Waldviertel. Of course, there is also a wide range of fish leather goods available in the store.

The professional is also happy to let you look over his shoulder as he works and passes on his knowledge to interested parties at workshops during the "Waldviertel Craft Days".

Guided tours of the fish leather manufactory

Dates by prior arrangement
from 2 persons
Duration: approx. 1.5 hours
Price: €7 per person

Course "Processing fish leather"
In this course you will get an introduction to the processing of fish leather and can make your own key ring from fish leather.

Dates by appointment
from 2 persons, max. 10 persons
Duration: approx. 2-3 hours
Price: € 55,- per unit + € 25,- material costs