About leather. Part 1

Recently I read a book about leather. How leather is produced, how to distinguish different kinds of leather, how to care leather. I will pass-on some of the leather knowledge I acquired to you during this tiny post-series called “About leather.”

Today’s topic is:

Which animals’ skin is used to produce leather ?

Traditionally mammals’ skins are used for leather production. Mostly herbivores’ skins (cow, goat, sheep) but as well omnivores’ skins like pigs are used for the leather fabrication. What is important for me as an animal friendly person is that usually animals are not killed for their skins. They are slaughtered for the meat and their skin is a left-over in the meat production. That helps a lot for my clear vegetarian conscience.

But as well more exotic animals like krokodiles, snakes and some fish skins are used for leather production. I am really not sure if they are not killed for their skin. Hopefully they are not, but I really doubt of it.

Which parts of the skin are used for leather production?

The skin (human and animal) consists of three parts:

1. Epidermis with corneal and mucous layer

2. Dermis with roots of hair, sebaceous and perspiratory glands

3. Subcutis with meat, vasculature and fat tissue

For leather production epidermis and subcutis are removed. Very thick dermis like calf leather can be split horizontally in 2-3 different layers, whereby the upper layer is called grain leather and the lowest part is called split leather. Grain leather is made into nappa, boxcalf or nubuck leather, whereas the split leather is processed into suede leather. Splitting the true skin reduces its strength, but it can’t be avoided when manufacturing different types of leather that must have an even thickness (such as upper shoe leather or bag-maker leather).

(pic from WikiBooks: Anatomy and Physiology of Animals/The Skin; linked to its source)

3. Splitting: The remaining true skin is divided mechanically into 2 – 3 layers, whereby the upper layer is called grain leather and the lowest layer is called split leather. Grain leather is made into nappa, boxcalf or nubuck leather, whereas the split leather is processed into suede leather. Splitting the true skin reduces its strength, but it cannot be avoided when manufacturing different types of leather that must have an even thickness (such as upper shoe leather or bag-maker leather).

Tags: about, dermis, epidermis, grain leather, herbivores, kill, knowledge, leather, mammals, omnivores, produce, skin, split leather, subcutis