Types of Leather | Top Dog Design

Types of Leather

If you are in the market for a new leather handbag, you have your work cut out for you and want the best leather available, you are facing quite a challenge. It seems there are as many types of leather available as there are handbags.

For example, if you want a soft, pliable handbag that is, at the same time rugged, the types of leather you would consider include kidskin. This is a type of leather that is made from the soft leather provided by the cattle used for veal (baby cows) and which is tanned and softened so that it is smooth and supple, yet rugged – it is, after all, still cow leather.

Another type of leather to consider is plain, ordinary cow leather or cowhide. Not only is it the most durable type of leather you will find, but it also the most plentiful. This type of leather is not only put through several tanning and softening processes so that the bags it yields will be soft and durable. The bags made from this highly softened leather usually are more expensive, costing anywhere from $200 to $35,000, depending on the label.

Cowhide that is only tanned and readied for relatively quick use – that appears in bags costing from $75 to $200 – tends to be stiffer and will hold its shape no matter what happens to it. This is also the type of leather that appears in bags that use a single outer piece and an inner liner.

If you want to go to the more esoteric leathers available, you will find that you can have handbags made of:

Snakeskin – Durable, soft and shiny. The key problem is that it takes several snakes to make one bags and it is tough to match grain.

Alligator – Durable and soft, yet easily prepared. One alligator can provide enough skin for several bags, but when you get to the smallest pieces you will have a tough time matching the grain.

Doeskin – A naturally soft skin, this is the product of the deer hunting season. Doeskin bags tend to be soft, slouchy bags that will last if treated correctly however, it is also easily damaged.

Goatskin – Though not considered for handbag use, goatskin can make excellent soft and durable bags that need attention to ensure the bag remains supple.

Faux leather – This is made of a manmade material that looks like the real thing, but is animal friendly.

With the number of endangered species in the world today, you must be wary of some of the hucksters and poachers who are willing to provide you with any material you want for your handbag. Since cowhide is so prevalent and easy to maintain, if you must have an animal-skin bag, then go for cattle and leave the rest of the animal world alone. There just isn’t enough to go around. And, if you are caught with this skin, you face stiff penalties.

Reference: Leather Products – Men > Leather Handbags for Men