The aim of this study deals with the modification of the chrome tanned collagen (leather) by in situ grafting with 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate (2-EHA) and methacrylic acid (MAC) to improve its dyeability using Amecid Floxine 2GN (C.I. Acid Red 1) and Remazol Black B (C.I. Reactive Black 5). The optimum condition of in situ grafting has been evaluated. FTIR spectra of the ungrafted and the in situ grafted chrome tanned collagen showed that the corresponding band of the acrylate carbonyl ester occurs at 1730-1735 cm(-1) when compared with the ungrafted ones. The colorimetric data of the in situ grafted and dyed samples exhibited improvement in color shade, dye bath exhaustion, wash and light fastness relative to the ungrafted and dyed ones. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.