Types of Leather Hides.
Real leather can be produced using the skin of any animal.
Most commonly this includes cows, sheep, goats and pigs. Cattle is by far the most popular type of hide, making up for over two thirds of the world’s leather production.
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Each produces a slightly different texture and thickness with cow leather being the firmest and sheepskin being the softest.
Tanning Leather
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Tanning is the process that turns animal hides into wearable and durable leather.
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This takes place after the skin has been cleaned and the hair removed.
Chrome tanning is how most manufactured leather is made.
It’s quick, cheap and very efficient but can cause environmental damage if not done carefully. Various acids and chemicals including inorganic metal salts are used to tan the leather, which if released into waterways can result in toxic water pollution.
Vegetable tanning is the only environmentally friendly leather tanning method.
Used for thousands of years, this traditional process uses natural resources from trees including bark, leaves and roots. This is made into a powder and mixed with water in which the hides are soaked for a long period.