Leather tanning is one of the oldest human activities. The first rudimental tanning process is mentioned in Assyrian texts and in Homer's Iliad. In the beginning, skins obtained from hunting and livestock breeding could be used for clothing or tents, but they became stiff at low temperatures and rotted with heat. It was probably then that attempts were made to render them more flexible and stronger by rubbing in animal fats.

Another process was smoking, which almost certainly started by accident, and which later became formaldehyde tanning, as this substance is found in the vapors produced by burning green leaves and branches. It was soon discovered that the rotting process could also be stopped by drying, carried out by exposure to the sun ,or by the dehydrating action of salt. Vegetable tanning was also known in very ancient times, although it is not clear how the tanning action of the tannin contained in the bark of some plants (especially oak) was discovered. Another method known since the earliest times is tanning, based on the use of alum, a mineral which is fairly widespread in nature, particularly in volcanic areas.

These methods, which gradually became more refined and efficient, allowed skins to be used in the ancient world and continued to do so for century after century up to the present day. The fact that the use of these techniques was widespread is witnessed by numerous written documents and paintings as well as archaeological finds. In Mesopotamia between the fifth and the third millennium B.C., for example, the Sumerians used skins for long dresses and diadems for ladies. The Assyrians used leather for footwear but also for liquid containers and as inflated floats for rafts. The ancient Indian civilization first processed the type
of leather known as the "Morocco" today.

The Egyptians also achieved considerable skill in processing leather, which they used for clothing (even for gloves), tools, arms, or simply for ornament. The historian Strabo tells of an interesting use developed by Phoenicians who made water pipes from it. During Roman times, leather was widely used in all the provinces of the empire, and more efficient tanning techniques were introduced where they had not been developed locally.

The Romans used leather for both footwear and clothing and for making shields and harnesses. A tannery was uncovered amid the ruins of Pompei and the same equipment of the kind (still in use for centuries thereafter) was found in it. Skipping forward to the 8th century of Spain, then under the dominion of the Moors, we have the development of the production of "Cordovan",a type of leather famous throughout Europe for centuries, thanks to important progress in tanning. That skill in leather tanning was
not a prerogative of the western world as recounted by Marco Polo. In his "Travels" he tells us that the Mongols used leather flasks, covers, masks, and caps decorated artistically, and it was him who coined the expression "Russia Leather" to indicate a type with a
characteristic fragrance.

In the fourteenth century, leather was being used in combination with wood in chairs, arm-chairs, and settees with craftsmanship that reached the levels of an art-form. This was also the case later on with tapestries, (especially in Venice in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries), with chests and cases, and of course, with book bindings, perhaps the most lasting and refined use of the material. Going back to tanning techniques, it is more or less in the Middle Ages that the depilating action of quick lime was discovered, a technique which is still valid and normally used today.



[ more.. ]

Skins and hides are rarely used in their natural state as they are subject to rotting and temperature variations (hard and rigid when the temperature is low,too soft and flaccid when it is high).The purpose of tanning is to eliminate these problems using suitable agents of animal,vegetable,mineral,or synthetic origin.

[ more.. ]

Making of Leather

[ more.. ]

Leather Glossary

[ more.. ]

Since the dawn of the age of motorcycling, it was apparent that something was needed to protect the exposed human body from the elements. The natural solution was leather. The leather motorcycle jacket, a style made popular by such movie icons as James Dean and "the Fonz", not only serves as a fashion statement, but is an essential piece of equipment to any serious biker for keeping warm, dry, and in one piece. A good "riding grade" leather jacket combined with motorcycle chaps or leather pants, will act as a second skin between you and the road, and can quite literally "save your hide". With all this in mind, lets explore the things to consider when purchasing motorcycle leathers.

[ more.. ]

CellKeeper™, at the forefront of modern fashion accessories, is pleased to announce the addition of high-end fashion industry sales rep veterans, Road Warriors, as the company’s new West Coast regional sales rep team.

[ more.. ]

April 16, 2006 was the 3rd Anniversary of last played NBA game for Michael Jordan. The "Dunkadelic" shoe worn by Iverson symbolized the ending and, begining of a new era in the "Basketball and Hip-Hop" culture fusion. XBox College Hoops 2K6 360 introduces new game feature "Dunkadelic University".


[ more.. ]

Seax Leather Exports Ltd has informed BSE that the Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held on May 12, 2006, has unanimously decided to set up a wholly owned subsidiary in Rak Free Trade Zone, Dubai, UAE and further decided to acquire the entire business of Al Sabri Steel Works LLC, a Company incorporated in Dubai, UAE through the above wholly owned subsidiary.


[ more.. ]

There are a number of processes whereby the flesh of a dead animal can be formed into a supple, strong material commonly called leather.


[ more.. ]

The clothes (call clothes , also atuendo or indumentaria ) are generally textile the article set made with diverse materials and used to get dressed, to protect themselves sometimes of the adverse climate and by pudor ( underclothes ). In his ampler sense, it also includes the gloves to cover the hands, the footwear ( shoes , slippers and boots ) to cover the feet and caps , caps and hats to cover the head. The objects as purses and umbrellas consider complements more than articles to dress.

[ more.. ]

here is no an accepted unit of measurement universally for the data of the production, the commerce or the use of leathers and skins. In the statistical series of the countries they appear of diverse ways, by number (pieces) or weight, whereas the derived products, that is to say, the tanned leather, is expressed by surface or weight. The number of leathers can induce to confusion, since the size of leathers and more common skins differs considerably. Nevertheless, if the weight is chosen continues being a considerable variation, due to the ways to cure leathers and skins. Although one is not absolutely a universal practice, the most normal state of leathers and skins when they are sent seems to be salty humid for leathers of bovine and the skins of calf and goat, although determined types of leathers and skins are commercialized salty in dry or brine.


[ more.. ]

Leather Types

In general, leather is sold in three forms...

[ more.. ]

Leather from other animals

Today, most leather is made of cow hides, but many exceptions exist. Lamb and deer skin are used for soft leather in more expensive apparels. Kangaroo leather is used to make items which need to be strong but flexible, such as motorcycle gloves. Leather made from more exotic skins has at different times in history been considered very beautiful. For this reason certain snakes and crocodiles have been hunted to near extinction.

[ more.. ]

Alligator is a genus of the Alligatoridae family of crocodile-like reptiles. It includes two known species:

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Chinese Alligator (Alligator sinensis)

[ more.. ]

With the vertical integration of the empacadoras of meat to an equal one I number of tanneries, I number of skins of bovine available for the tanneries but small it has diminished in drastic form, which has brought like consequence a noticeable diminution of the activity of these, in some cases leaving them until 25 % of its installed capacity. An alternative for these tanneries is to dedicate itself to the elaboration of nontraditional skins like skins of ewe, skins of goat, skins of pig and skins of fish. Of between fish, one of the appropriate skins but, they are those of the sharks since in many countries they are operated near thousands of tons of shark to the year, that represent many tons of skin which at the moment they lose to the thrown ones to the sweepings. With the skin of the sharks all types of leather shop articles can be made, zapatería and clothes. In the past they were tried to apply formulations without obtaining no positive result, all these formulations failed in their application because they do not eliminate chagrín that are the skin dentículos that cover the body of the shark and which they are of sílico-calcareo origin, which causes that this armor arrives to do in some cases as hard as the steel.


[ more.. ]