Hello everyone! This is KLD, a second-hand brand clothing store.
This time I would like to talk about the different types of leather.
This leather is often used for bags, shoes, clothes, wallets, etc.
Many people may be wondering, "I know that cowhide is common, but what other materials are there?"
There are many different types of leather, including rare ones, but this time we will introduce some basic leathers from the "common animal" category that are commonly used!
*Leather is called different things depending on how it is processed (suede, nubuck, etc.), but this time we will be talking about the types of animals used to make leather products.
- What is leather anyway?
- Types of animals used for leather products
I will be talking about it in this format, so please take a look!
Read more about rare exotic leathers here
What is leather anyway?
First, let's start by briefly explaining, "What is leather, anyway?"Leather is a material made by tanning and processing animal hides.
As you all know, it has been widely used and loved all over the world for a long time.
The reason we use the kanji "kawa" instead of "kawa" is that "kawa" is often used to refer to something in a raw or unprocessed state, and is used to describe the skin of a living animal or fruit.
To differentiate it from this, "leather" is used in contexts referring to things that have been processed into products or materials.
Therefore, processed leather called "leather" is uniformly written as "leather".
What is tanning?
Tanning is a process in which animal hides are prepared for use in leather products. This process makes the raw hide less susceptible to decay and transforms it into durable, flexible leather.The tanning process is carried out as follows:
- Soaking and dehairing: The raw hides are soaked in water to remove excess fat and protein, and are also dehaired.
- Tanning: The hides are tanned with tannins and other chemicals to soften them and prevent them from warping or decaying.
- Vegetable tanning: This is done using plant extracts (especially those containing tannins), which gives the leather a natural look and the ability to change color over time.
- Chrome tanning: This is done using salts of a metal called chrome. Leather tanned in this way is durable and flexible.
- There are also various other methods, such as oil tanning and aluminum tanning.
- Dyeing and Finishing: The tanned leather is dyed to give it its final color and finish.
Where do animal skins for leather come from?
The animal skin that is used to make leather products is mostly leather, but most of the common leather we will introduce here is produced as a by-product of animals raised for food.(The animals used in the general leather products we will introduce here are prohibited from being killed for their skins.)
This time we will introduce common leather materials such as cow, pig, horse, buffalo, goat, sheep and deer leather. All of these are mainly by-products of retired animals that were kept for food or to collect milk or wool. In addition, by-products from animals that are hunted for food, retired after completing their original work, or died of natural causes are also used to make leather products.
There are various ideas regarding animal materials, but the current general approach to leather products is to make full use of the lives of living creatures without waste.
Characteristics of various leathers
From here, we will introduce the characteristics of various leathers by animal.Cowhide
Cowhide leather is extremely durable and will last a long time if properly cared for.
Compared to other leather products, it has excellent abrasion resistance, tear strength, and elasticity, and is also highly versatile.
It can be used for a variety of purposes depending on the age and sex of the cow, and can be processed in a variety of ways, making it a material that is highly valued around the world.
There are various types of cowhide, as shown below.
Harako
Quote from leathermania.jpFurry material with hair.
Originally, it was called "harako" because it was made from fetuses that had died in the mother's womb, but nowadays "harako" generally refers to any leather with hair from a calf or adult cow.
It is characterized by its short, shiny cowhide fur, and its unique, pleasant sensation when stroked.
Although it is a material that requires some care to avoid scratches and abrasions, it is an attractive leather with a luxurious feel.
calf
Quote brown-leather.ne.jpCalfskin (or calf leather) is the leather of the youngest cowhide, which is about 6 months old, and is a rare and high-quality leather among cowhides.
It features a smooth, fine-grained surface with evenly spaced fine pores, giving it a beautiful texture.
In addition, since it is made from calf leather, it is softer than that made from adult cow leather, and is densely packed with fibers, giving it flexible strength.
This material is often seen in high-end items that are carefully crafted by artisans, such as high-end brand bags and wallets.
There is also a type of leather called "baby calf", which is leather from even younger cows (up to three months old), and is considered even rarer than calf leather.
Kip
Quote brown-leather.ne.jpKip leather is the leather of calves between 6 months and 2 years old.
Its characteristic is that it is thicker than the calfskin mentioned above, and is also known as "medium cowhide."
Normally, as the cow grows, the fibers of the leather expand and it becomes softer.
Therefore, because this kid leather is made from calf leather, it is firm at first compared to steer leather, which will be discussed later, and the more you use it, the more character it develops, making it a material that you can enjoy aging.
Kip leather has a thickness and texture that is intermediate between that of calf leather and adult cow leather, making it the second most luxurious material after calf leather.
Steerhide
Citation craftmansgarden.comSteerhide (leather) is the leather of a castrated bull (steer).
Bulls raised for meat are castrated within a few weeks to a few months of birth to improve the quality of their meat.
Steer leather is obtained from cows that are over two years old.
They are castrated shortly after birth and grow slowly, so their leather is apparently soft.
It is also thick, making it a versatile material that is used for a variety of items such as wallets, bags, and baseball gloves.
Bullhide
Source: phoenix-shop.jpIn contrast to the steer mentioned above, this is the leather of male cows over two years old that have been raised primarily for breeding purposes without being castrated.
It is the hardest, thickest and strongest of all cowhides, and although it is not very versatile, it is rare, and there are even leather brands that specialize in bullhide (leather).
Because they are not neutered, they have a rough temperament and are prone to scratches on their surfaces.
cowhide
Citation leather-reform.comCowhide (leather) is the leather of a female cow that has given birth and is not castrated.
Because it is made from female cows, the leather is relatively soft and thin.
Since it is made from adult cows, it is thicker and more durable than calf leather. Since it has given birth, the leather in the belly area tends to stretch easily.
Along with the steerhide mentioned above, it is a highly versatile and widely distributed standard material.
Bridle
Source: kawamuraleather.comBridle leather was originally made for the harness called a "bridle," which is worn on a horse's head.
Strictly speaking, as mentioned above, the term refers to leather that has been processed for making horse tack, but bridle leather generally refers to leather made from cowhide.
Its distinctive feature is that it is extremely hard and durable, as it was made for horse tack.
When unused, it is as hard as a board, so its uses are limited, but it is a very popular material for wallets and accessories.
Bridle leather gets its hardness from the infiltration of oily components such as wax into the leather fibers, so when unused a white oily substance called "bloom" appears on the surface.
As you use it, the bloom will fall off and the leather will become softer, but this initial bloom is also one of the joys of bridle leather.
Although it is not completely waterproof, the fibers are saturated with oil, making it an attractive material that is resistant to water.
Pigskin
Pig leather is a common material that is widely distributed as it is made from leather from animals raised for meat.
Citation dete-diary.comIts characteristics include a relatively loose fiber structure and softness.
Another attractive feature is that it is not too thick, lightweight, and breathable.
Another characteristic of pig leather is the small pores that can be seen on its surface, which is one of its unique charms.
Pork consumption is high in Japan, so domestic pork production is thriving and it is available at low prices.
On the other hand, it is considered a rare leather overseas and is often traded at a relatively high price.
Because it is soft and lightweight, it is often used for jackets and coats, and because it is also fairly durable, it is often used for accessories such as bags.
There are no particular types based on age, and depending on the processing method, the main types are "Amebuta" which is tanned and finished in a amber color, or "pig suede" which is a suede material.
Sheepskin
Generally speaking, there are the following types of sheepskin:
Sheepskin
Citation leather-reform.comThe typical sheep leather is this sheepskin (leather).
It is a highly versatile leather that is breathable, soft, and has a strong surface, making it widely used for gloves, jackets, coats, bags, shoes, and more.
It also works well with dyes and is suitable for printing patterns on its surface.
Sheepskin refers to the leather of sheep that are over one year old, and is divided into two types, "wool sheep" and "hair sheep", depending on the area where the sheep live.
Wool sheep are sheep that live mainly in cold regions and have dense, fine hair and subcutaneous fat; because of these characteristics, they are often used for leather materials such as mouton.
On the other hand, hair sheep are sheep that live in relatively warm regions. They have short wool and little subcutaneous fat, making them suitable for leather.
lambskin
Quote ogasawara-leather.jpThe leather of lambs that are younger than the sheepskin mentioned above and are less than one year old is called "lambskin (leather)".
It is treated as a luxury material because it is small in size and rarer than sheepskin, even in terms of the amount that can be harvested.
Its features include small pores, a fine surface texture, and softness.
Because they are light and comfortable to wear, rider jackets made from lambskin are popular among people who say, "Genuine cowhide rider jackets are heavy and stiff, but I want to enjoy the fashion."
The lambskin referred to here is from sheep less than one year old, but leather from even younger sheep, less than six months old, is called "super lambskin" and is treated as an even more luxurious material.
Goat Leather
The leather is only about half as thick as cowhide, but it is densely packed with fibers and is strong.
A major attraction of goat leather is the naturally occurring grain (wrinkled pattern).
It is common for cowhide and other leathers to have a grain, but in fact, in order to create the grain, a shrink process (a process that shrinks the leather) is usually used during the manufacturing process.
Goat leather is characterized by the beautiful natural grain on its surface, without the need for shrink processing.
Goatskin (leather)
Quote ogasawara-leather.jpGoatskin is a material made from the leather of adult goats.
As mentioned above, its characteristics are that it is lighter than cowhide, softer, thinner, and easier to handle.
Another attractive feature is that its fibers are dense and scratch-resistant, which is why it is used in a wide range of products, from shoes, bags, and clothing to furniture.
Kid Skin (Leather)
Quote creema.jpKid skin, as the name suggests, is the leather of a baby goat less than six months old.
It has a higher fiber density than the goatskin mentioned above and has a supple, soft texture.
Since it is made from baby goat leather, it is smaller than usual and rare in terms of the numbers produced, making it a high-quality material.
Horse Leather
However, on the other hand, it is vulnerable to water, so care must be taken when using and caring for it.
Rather than being classified by age, horse leather is called different names and has different uses depending on which part of the body it comes from.
Horse Front
Quote leathercraft.jpThis refers to the leather from the neck of a horse. It often has a fine texture and is used for jackets, but it is somewhat sensitive to friction, so care must be taken to prevent wear on bags, etc.
Horsehide
Quote from ogbros.jpThis leather is obtained from the torso of an adult horse, and because it has a large surface area, it is sometimes used for furniture such as sofas.
The leather is smooth to the touch and easy to handle.
Cordovan
Source: amazon.co.jpCordovan is leather from the horse's buttocks.
It is particularly strong among horse leathers and is treated as a luxury material.
It is characterized by its dense fiber and firmness.
What makes it different from the leather used for other parts is that the back side is mainly used.
After vegetable tanning, the leather surface is gradually scraped away to reveal the finer layer on the surface.
Because it is a rare part and requires a lot of effort to process, it is called the "jewel of leather."
Pony Leather
Citation cartolare.eime.co.jpWhen you hear the word pony, you may think of a specific breed such as a miniature horse, but the pony referred to here is a small horse that only stands about 140cm tall when fully grown.
Pony leather is often processed while leaving the fur intact, giving it a texture similar to that of pony hide.
It is characterized by its light weight and soft texture, making it a popular material for accessories such as bags and wallets.
Buffalo Leather
Quote leather-miyata.jpSince it is made from buffalo leather, it is a type of "cowhide," but it has a slightly rougher surface than regular cowhide.
However, as their name suggests, buffalo live near water such as rivers and swamps, so they have a rare property for leather products: they are resistant to getting wet.
In addition, the surface is particularly strong compared to other types of leather, and it also contains a lot of oil.
It is widely used for jackets, bags, furniture, etc., and is popular as a material that changes significantly over time.
To those who have read this far
Thank you for reading this far!The leather products we use every day are made from the skins of various animals.
Knowing the characteristics of each type of leather will be helpful when shopping.
Please feel free to use this article as a reference.
thank you very much!
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