| Material made out of the tanning of | | | | Exotic skins are considered beautiful. |
| hides, pelts and skins, of animals, are | | | | Certain snakes and crocodiles continue |
| known as leathers. Leathers with the | | | | to be hunted for the exotic. At a |
| furs still attached are called furs. | | | | certain point in time farming of |
| This together with wood formed the basis | | | | ostriches for feathers became popular |
| of much ancient technology. | | | | and thus the availability of Ostrich |
| There are various forms. Some of the | | | | skin. |
| forms are vegetable-tanned, alum-tanned, | | | | Rugged occupations, cowboys, and leather |
| rawhide, boiled, chrome-tanned, and | | | | clad aviators have been synonymous. With |
| brain-tanned, are mainly of three types | | | | the invention of motorcycles, heavy |
| namely Full-Grain, Corrected-Grain, and | | | | animal skin jackets and trousers to |
| Suede. | | | | protect the body from road rash came |
| The Full-Grain type are made from the | | | | about to be used. |
| finest raw material, are clean natural | | | | Footwear, baggage, and other accessories |
| hides. The natural state allows strength | | | | are commonly used. Knife cases, guitar |
| and durability. The ability to breathe, | | | | straps, gloves, and coasters are also |
| and furnish with comfort are features of | | | | common. Purses and wallets, business |
| this form. The natural Full-Grain | | | | card holders, and credit card holders |
| surface wears better. Furniture and foot | | | | are indeed popular. Portfolio bags, |
| wear are made from Full Grain. | | | | brief cases, executive duffle bags, |
| Corrected-Grains are fuzzy on one side | | | | backpacks, and tote bags are other |
| and smooth on the other. Hides made from | | | | important things today. Gifts of |
| inferior quality raw materials have an | | | | accessories are also not uncommon. |
| artificial grain applied. Suedes are an | | | | Some sections of society particularly |
| interior split of the hide, fuzzy on | | | | animal rights activist are against the |
| both sides, and are less durable. | | | | use of leather. This section considers |
| Other uncommon forms include Patent, | | | | the wearing of skins as not only |
| Shagreen and Buckskin. Glossy hides are | | | | unnecessary but also vulgar. Yet the use |
| known as Patent. The modern patent | | | | continues. |
| usually has a plastic coating. | | | | People for the ethical Treatment of |
| The rough and grainy types are known as | | | | Animals have urged the British high |
| Shagreen and were formerly made from the | | | | commissioner to end the killing of |
| back of a horse, or that of a wild ass. | | | | Canadian black bears for the headpieces |
| Skins of sharks and rays are now common | | | | of Royal Guards headpieces and to switch |
| in the making of Shagreen. | | | | to faux fur instead. Canadian rocker |
| The tawing technique uses animal brains | | | | Peaches wants Canada to can the bloody |
| or other fatty materials to alter hides. | | | | seal hunt. Ralph Lauren has announced a |
| Supple suede-like hides are usually | | | | decision to stop using fur in any |
| smoked heavily, and are known as | | | | apparel or home collections. |
| Buckskin. | | | | A synthetic form made out of plastic |
| Animal skins and hides commonly used in | | | | called Pleather or plastic leather has |
| the manufacture of briefcases, wallets | | | | now found uses as an inexpensive |
| and luggage, are made from Belting, and | | | | substitute. Lighter and warmer, the use |
| Napa. | | | | of this form as an alternative to animal |
| Beltings are full grain animal skins | | | | skin has increased. Pleathers are made |
| that were formerly used as pulley belts | | | | out of polyurethane or polyvinyl |
| and in other machinery. Found on the | | | | chloride. An animal rights activist |
| surface of briefcases, portfolios, and | | | | might like this. Talk about Pleather |
| wallets, Beltings have a thick, firm | | | | spiked dog collars and the the animal |
| feel, and smooth finish. Napas or Nappas | | | | has bigger bark that the bite. |
| are extremely soft and supple, and are | | | | The most well known pleathers are |
| commonly found in higher quality | | | | Naugahyde made from a fictional animal |
| wallets, and other applications. | | | | called the Nauga whose hides are |
| Bicast and Bonded are not true leathers, | | | | supposedly the natural source of all the |
| but contain similar material. Bicast | | | | Naugahyde manufactured. According to the |
| contains some amount of animal skin. The | | | | story the Naugas are nocturnal aquatic |
| Bonded type are a combination of ninety | | | | mammals without hair that live in the |
| percent to hundred percent fibers bonded | | | | Naugatuck River, and can be made to come |
| together with latex binders. | | | | to the surface at night by shining a |
| Most leathers are made out of cowhide. | | | | flashlight into the water. The Naugas |
| Lambskins are used for soft materials in | | | | are then captured and sorted to make |
| expensive apparels. Kangaroo hides are | | | | Naugahyde. The seams between the Naugas |
| also used to make strong but flexible | | | | disappear resulting in a seamless, |
| motorcycle gloves. Motorcyclists favor | | | | leather-like Naughyde. The save the |
| lightweight Kangaroo skin. | | | | Naugas campaign continues. |