Leather footwear is provided having an inorganic antimicrobial material to attack bacteria and prevent odor. The inorganic material contains an antibiotic metal in particle form, such as antimicrobial zeolite, that is embedded in the leather at least on the surface of the footwear that encases the foot. In a method of manufacturing the leather footwear a solution of antimicrobial solids is prepared and applied to the leather either by soaking the leather in the solution or by topically applying it to one or both surfaces of the leather. The solution of antimicrobial solids can be mixed with a solution for treatment, such as stain resistant coatings, moisture retaining compounds designed to prevent the leather from drying, and water repellent coatings, etc. The leather is dried to embed particles of the antimicrobial into the leather and the footwear is made from the leather with the embedded antimicrobial particles.