A leather artisan must be respectful and understand the nuances and components of exotic leathers. These skins will range from delicate to coarse. The size of the animal will make a difference in the number of skins needed to produce a product. Many factors go into determining the tanning process; ranging from vegetable tanning to chrome dyeing. Skins that possess certain fleshy textures are thicker and can be split or skived for a thinner and more pliable piece. The grain can range from soft and flexible where a stiffening material may be needed to hold shape; while in other instances, the skin can be dense and rigid with a shell like appearance and texture. And, of course, depending on the product, leather crafters may even select skins with the hair as part of the design.
Exotic Skins come from both water and land and cover a diverse number of species:
-Salmon and Shark
-Arapaia/Pirarucu (a fresh water fish native to Brazil and South America)
-American Alligator, Crocodile, and Caiman
-Stingray and Eel
-Frog and Toad
-Lamb and Goat
-Moose, Bufffalo (Bison) and Wildebeest
-Zebra, Deer and Elk
-Ostrich
-Kangaroo
-Cardovan which is a durable horse hide taken from the hindquarters
-Snakes including the Python, Cobra, Anaconda, Boa, Kurung
-Elephant, Hippopotamus, Anteater and even the Turtle
In future blogs, we will discuss individual exotic skins that may be helpful in selecting your next purchase. Whether you are seeking a stunning handbag, a handsome piece of luggage or furniture wrapped in leather, I look forward to sharing more insight on the world of exotic leather based on the experiences of Beau Satchelle. –AJ
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