Leather Works

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Leather

For other uses, see Leather (disambiguation).

Modern leather-working tools

Leather is a durable and flexible material created by the tanning of

animal rawhide and skin, often cattle hide. It can be produced through

manufacturing processes ranging from cottage industry to heavy

industry.

Leather is used for various purposes including clothing, bookbinding,

leather wallpaper, and as a furniture covering. It is produced in a wide

variety of types and styles and is decorated by a wide range of

techniques.

Forms

Several tanning processes transform hides and skins into leather: Vegetable-tanned leather is tanned using tannins and other

ingredients found in different vegetable matter, such as tree bark

prepared in bark mills, wood, leaves, fruits and roots and other

similar sources. It is supple and brown in color, with the exact shade

depending on the mix of chemicals and the color of the skin. It is

the only form of leather suitable for use in leather carving or

stamping. Vegetable-tanned leather is not stable in water; it tends to discolor, so if left to soak and then dry it will

shrink and become less supple, and harder. In hot water, it will shrink drastically and partly gelatinize, becoming

rigid and eventually brittle. Boiled leather is an example of this, where the leather has been hardened by being

immersed in hot water, or in boiled wax or similar substances. Historically, it was occasionally used as armorafter hardening, and it has also been used for book binding.

Chrome-tanned leather, invented in 1858, is tanned using chromium sulfate and other salts of chromium. It is

more supple and pliable than vegetable-tanned leather and does not discolor or lose shape as drastically in water

as vegetable-tanned. It is also known as wet-blue for its color derived from the chromium. More esoteric colors

are possible using chrome tanning.

Aldehyde-tanned leather is tanned using glutaraldehyde or oxazolidine compounds. This is the leather that most

tanners refer to as wet-white leather due to its pale cream or white color. It is the main type of "chrome-free"

leather, often seen in automobiles and shoes for infants.

Formaldehyde tanning (being phased out due to its danger to workers and the sensitivity of many people to

formaldehyde) is another method of aldehyde tanning. Brain-tanned leathers fall into this category and are

exceptionally water absorbent.

Brain tanned leathers are made by a labor-intensive process which uses emulsified oils, often those of animal

brains. They are known for their exceptional softness and their ability to be washed.

Chamois leather also falls into the category of aldehyde tanning and, like brain tanning, produces a highly

water-absorbent leather. Chamois leather is made by using oils (traditionally cod oil) that oxidize easily to

produce the aldehydes that tan the leather to make the fabric the color it is.

Rose tanned leather is a variation of vegetable oil tanning and brain tanning, where pure rose otto replaces the

vegetable oil and emulsified oils. It has been called the most valuable leather on earth, but this is mostly due to

the high cost of rose otto and its labor-intensive tanning process.

Synthetic-tanned leather is tanned using aromatic polymers such as the Novolac or Neradol types (syntans,

contraction for synthetic tannins). This leather is white in color and was invented when vegetable tannins were in
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short supply during the Second World War. Melamine and other amino-functional resins fall into this category as

well, and they provide the filling that modern leathers often require. Urea-formaldehyde resins were also used in

this tanning method until dissatisfaction about the formation of free formaldehyde was realized.

Alum-tanned leather is transformed using aluminium salts mixed with a variety of binders and protein sources,

such as flour and egg yolk. Alum-tawed leather is technically not tanned, as tannic acid is not used, and the

resulting material will revert to rawhide if soaked in water long enough to remove the alum salts.

Rawhide is made by scraping the skin thin, soaking it in lime, and then stretching it while it dries. Like

alum-tawing, rawhide is not technically "leather",Wikipedia:Citation needed but is usually lumped in with the

other forms. Rawhide is stiffer and more brittle than other forms of leather; it's primarily found in uses such as

drum heads and parchment where it does not need to flex significantly; it is also cut up into cords for use in lacing

or stitching and for making many varieties of dog chews.

Leatherusually vegetable-tannedcan be oiled to improve its water resistance. This supplements the natural oils

remaining in the leather itself, which can be washed out through repeated exposure to water. Frequent oiling of

leather, with mink oil, neatsfoot oil, or a similar material keeps it supple and improves its lifespan dramatically.

Leather with the hair still attached is called hair-on.

Types

In general, leather is sold in four forms:

Full-grain leather refers to hides that have not been sanded, buffed, or snuffed (as opposed to top-grain or

corrected leather) to remove imperfections (or natural marks) on the surface of the hide. The grain remains

allowing the fiber strength and durability. The grain also has breathability, resulting in less moisture from

prolonged contact. Rather than wearing out, it will develop a patina over time. High quality leather furniture and

footwear are often made from full-grain leather. Full-grain leathers are typically available in two finish types:

aniline and semi-aniline.

Top-grain leather (the most common type used in high-end leather products) is the second-highest quality. It has

had the "split" layer separated away, making it thinner and more pliable than full-grain. Its surface has been

sanded and a finish coat added to the surface which results in a colder, plastic feel with less breathability, and it

will not develop a natural patina. It is typically less expensive and has greater resistance to stains than full-grain

leather, so long as the finish remains unbroken.

Corrected-grain leather is any leather that has had an artificial grain applied to its surface. The hides used to

create corrected leather do not meet the standards for use in creating vegetable-tanned or aniline leather. The

imperfections are corrected or sanded off, and an artificial grain impressed into the surface and dressed with stain

or dyes. Most corrected-grain leather is used to make pigmented leather as the solid pigment helps hide the

corrections or imperfections. Corrected grain leathers can mainly be bought as two finish types: semi-aniline and

pigmented.

Split leather is leather created from the fibrous part of the hide left once the top-grain of the rawhide has been

separated from the hide. During the splitting operation, the top-grain and drop split are separated. The drop split

can be further split (thickness allowing) into a middle split and a flesh split. In very thick hides, the middle split

can be separated into multiple layers until the thickness prevents further splitting. Split leather then has an

artificial layer applied to the surface of the split and is embossed with a leather grain (bycast leather). Splits are

also used to create suede. The strongest suedes are usually made from grain splits (that have the grain completely

removed) or from the flesh split that has been shaved to the correct thickness. Suede is "fuzzy" on both sides.

Manufacturers use a variety of techniques to make suede from full-grain. A reversed suede is a grained leather

that has been designed into the leather article with the grain facing away from the visible surface. It is notconsidered to be a true form of suede.
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Less-common leathers include:

Buckskin or brained leather is a tanning process that uses animal brains or other fatty materials to alter the

leather. The resulting supple, suede-like hide is usually smoked heavily to prevent it from returning to a rawhide

state, if wetted. It will be easier to soften, and will help keep leather eating bugs away.

Patent leather is leather that has been given a high-gloss finish. The original process was developed in Newark,

New Jersey, by inventor Seth Boyden in 1818. Patent leather usually has a plastic coating. Fish Leather : leather popular for its motifs and its pigmentation. Mainly used for making shoes and bags, the

fish skin is tanned like other animal skins.[1]

The species used include salmon, perch, sturgeon, etc.

1. Salmon : farmed in Iceland and Norway, salmon skin has fine scales. Its strength and elegant look make it the

most popular fish leather.

2. Perch : coming from Nile, its skin is recognizable with its large, round and soft scales.

3. Wolffish : its skin is smooth because without scales. We recognize it thanks to its dark spots, and the 'stripes'

which are due to the friction of marine rocks.

4. Cod : its skin has finer scales than salmon, but its texture is more varied, sometimes smooth and sometimes

rough.

5. Sturgeon : fish well known for its eggs (caviar), which make it rare. Its leather is thus quite expensive.6. Eel : fish without scales, its skin has a shiny appearance.

7. Tilapia : its leather is less resistant than salmon and perch but is still exotic. It comes mainly from Africa (Nile).

8. Shagreen is also known as stingray skin/leather. Applications used in furniture production date as far back as

the art deco period. The word "shagreen" originates from France. It's known as the most difficult leather to work

due to dished scales of the animal, and it is one of the most expensive leathers.

9. Shark : its skin is covered with small, close-set tubercles, making it very tough. The handbags made of shark

skin used to be in vogue but this keen interest has since fallen as the costs of production and of the leather itself

are very high. Moreover, this skin is more difficult to work. Should not be confused with traditional "sharkskin", a

woven textile product.

Vachetta leather is used in the trimmings of luggage and handbags. The leather is left untreated and is therefore

susceptible to water and stains. Sunlight will cause the natural leather to darken in shade, called a patina.

Slink is leather made from the skin of unborn calves. It is particularly soft and is valued for use in making gloves.

Deerskin is a tough leather, possibly due to the animal's adaptations to its thorny and thicket-filled

habitats.Wikipedia:Citation needed Deerskin has been used by many societies, including indigenous Americans.

Most modern deerskin is no longer procured from the wild, with deer farms breeding the animals specifically for

the purpose of their skins. Large quantities are still tanned from wild deer hides in historic tanning towns such as

Gloversville and Johnstown in upstate New York. Deerskin is used in jackets and overcoats, martial arts

equipment such as kendo and bogu, as well as personal accessories such as handbags and wallets.

Nubuck is top-grain cattle hide leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side, or outside, to give a

slight nap of short protein fibers, producing a velvet-like surface.

Russia leather is a particular form of bark-tanned cow leather. It is distinguished by an oiling step, after tanning,

where birch oil is worked into the leather to make it particularly hard-wearing, flexible and resistant to water.

There are two other types of leather commonly used in specialty products, such as briefcases, wallets, and luggage:

Belting leather is a full-grain leather that was originally used in driving pulley belts and other machinery. It is

found on the surface of briefcases, portfolios, and wallets, and can be identified by its thick, firm feel and smooth

finish. Belting leather is generally a heavy-weight of full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather.

Napa leather is chrome-tanned and is soft and supple. It is commonly found in wallets, toiletry kits, and other

personal leather goods.

The following are not "true" organic leathers, but are materials that contain leather fiber. Depending on jurisdiction,

they may still be labeled as "Genuine Leather", even though the consumer generally can only see the outer layer of
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the material and can't actually see any of the leather content:

Bonded leather or "Reconstituted leather" is an economical type that uses leftovers of organic leather (often from

leather tanneries or leather workshops) which are shredded and then bonded together with polyurethane binders or

latex on top of a fiber sheet. The varying degree of organic leather in the mix (between 10% and 90%) affects the

smell and the texture of such product. Due to its reduced cost it is becoming a popular choice for furniture

upholstery, especially for commercial use, where durability is needed; however durability can vary widely,depending on the formulation.

Bycast leather is a split leather with a layer of polyurethane laminated to the surface and then embossed. Bycast

was originally made for the shoe industry and later adopted by the furniture industry. The original formula created

by Bayer was strong but expensive. The result is a material that is slightly stiffer but cheaper than top-grain

leather but has a much more consistent texture. Because its surface is completely covered in plastic, is easier to

clean and maintain, but is not easily repaired.

From other animals

Phone cases in Ostrich leather

Today most leather is made of cattle skin but many exceptions exist.Lamb and deerskin are used for soft leather in more expensive apparel.

Deer and elkskin are widely used in work gloves and indoor shoes.

Pigskin is used in apparel and on seats of saddles. Buffalo, goats,

alligators, dogs, snakes, ostriches, kangaroos, oxen, and yaks may also

be used for leather.

Kangaroo skin is used to make items which need to be strong but

flexibleit is the material most commonly used in bullwhips.

Kangaroo leather is favored by some motorcyclists for use in

motorcycle leathers specifically because of its light weight and

abrasion resistance. Kangaroo leather is also used for falconry jesses, soccer footwear, and boxing speed bags. At

different times in history, leather made from more exotic skins has been considered desirable. For this reason certain

species of snakes and crocodiles have been hunted.Wikipedia:Citation needed

Although originally raised for their feathers in the 19th century, ostriches are now more popular for both meat and

leather.[2]

There are different processes to produce different finishes for many applications, i.e., upholstery,

footwear, automotive products, accessories, and clothing. Ostrich leather is currently used by many major fashion

houses such as Herms, Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. Ostrich leather has a characteristic "goose bump" look

because of the large follicles from which the feathers grew.

In Thailand sting ray leather is used in wallets and belts. Sting ray leather is tough and durable. The leather is often

dyed black and covered with tiny round bumps in the natural pattern of the back ridge of an animal. These bumps arethen usually dyed white to highlight the decoration. Sting ray rawhide is also used as grips on Chinese swords,

Scottish basket hilted swords and Japanese katanas.
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Environmental impact

Leather is a product with some environmental impact, most notably due to:

the use of chemicals in the tanning process (e.g. chromium, formic acid, mercury and solvents, ...)

air pollution due to the transformation process (hydrogen sulfide during dehairing and ammonia during deliming,

solvent vapors).

Leather biodegrades slowly; it takes 25

40 years to decompose. Wikipedia:Citation neededHowever, vinyl and

petro-chemical derived materials will take 500 or more years to break down and return to the

earth.Wikipedia:Citation needed

One ton of hide or skin generally leads to the production of 20 to 80 m3

of wastewater including chromium levels of

100400 mg/L, sulfide levels of 200800 mg/L and high levels of fat and other solid wastes, as well as notable

pathogen contamination. Pesticides are also often added for hide conservation during transport. With solid wastes

representing up to 70% of the wet weight of the original hides, the tanning process comes at a considerable strain on

water treatment installations.

Tanning is especially polluting in countries where environmental regulations are lax, such as in India, the world's

third-largest producer and exporter of leather. To give an example of an efficient pollution prevention system,chromium loads per produced tonne are generally abated from 8 kg to 1.5 kg. VOC emissions are typically reduced

from 30 kg/t to 2 kg/t in a properly managed facility. A review of the total pollution load decrease achievable

according to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization posts precise data on the abatement achievable

through industrially proven low-waste advanced methods, while noting that "even though the chrome pollution load

can be decreased by 94% on introducing advanced technologies, the minimum residual load 0.15 kg/t raw hide can

still cause difficulties when using landfills and composting sludge from wastewater treatment on account of the

regulations currently in force in some countries."

In Kanpur, the self-proclaimed "Leather City of World" with 10,000 tanneries as of 2011 and a city of 3 million

people on the banks of the river Ganges, pollution levels were so high that despite an industry crisis, the pollution

control board has decided to seal 49 high-polluting tanneries out of 404 in July 2009. In 2003 for instance, the maintanneries' effluent disposal unit was dumping 22 tonnes of chromium-laden solid waste per day in the open.

Scientists at the Central Leather Research Institute in India have developed biological methods for pretanning as well

as better chromium management.

In the Hazaribagh neighborhood of Dhaka in Bangladesh, chemicals from tanneries end up in Dhaka's main river.

Besides the environmental damage, the health of both local factory workers and the end consumer is also negatively

affected. Besides local sales of products made with leather from the Hazaribagh neighborhood of Dhaka, the leather

is also bought by huge Western companies and sold in the developed world.[3][4]

The higher cost associated to the treatment of effluents that to untreated effluent discharging leads to illegal dumping

to save on costs. For instance, in Croatia in 2001, proper pollution abatement cost 70-100 USD/t of raw hides

processed against 43 USD/t for irresponsible behavior.

No general study seems to exist but the current news is rife with documented examples.Wikipedia:Please clarify In

November 2009 for instance, it was discovered that one of Uganda's main leather producing companies directly

dumped its waste water in a wetland adjacent to Lake Victoria.
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Role of enzymes

Enzymes like proteases, lipases, and amylases have an important role in the soaking, dehairing, degreasing, and

bating operations of leather manufacturing.

Proteases are the most commonly used enzymes in leather production. The enzyme used should not damage or

dissolve collagen or keratin, but should be able to hydrolyze casein, elastin, albumin, and globulin-like proteins, as

well as non-structured proteins which are not essential for leather making. This process is called bating.

Lipases are used in the degreasing operation to hydrolyze fat particles embedded in the skin.

Amylases are used to soften skin, to bring out the grain, and to impart strength and flexibility to the skin. These

enzymes are rarely used.

Preservation and conditioning

The natural fibers of leather will break down with the passage of time. Acidic leathers are particularly vulnerable to

red rot, which causes powdering of the surface and a change in consistency. Damage from red rot is aggravated by

high temperatures and relative humidities and is irreversible.

Exposure to long periods of low relative humidities (below 40%) can cause leather to become desiccated,

irreversibly changing the fibrous structure of the leather. Chemical damage can also occur from exposure to

environmental factors, including ultraviolet light, ozone, acid from sulfurous and nitrous pollutants in the air, or

through a chemical action following any treatment with tallow or oil compounds. Both oxidation and chemical

damage occur faster at higher temperatures.

Various treatments are available such as conditioners, but these are not recommended by conservators since they

impregnate the structure of the leather artifact with active chemicals, are sticky, and attract stains.Wikipedia:Citation

needed Saddle soap is used for cleaning, conditioning and softening leather. Leather shoes are widely conditioned

with shoe polish.

Book binding

A set of leather bound books

Leather used in book binding has many of the same preservation needs:

protection from high temperatures, high relative humidity, low relative

humidity, fluctuations in relative humidity, light exposure, dust

buildup, pollution, mold, and bug infestation.

For books with red rot, acid-free phase boxes and/or polyester dust

jackets (Dupont Mylar Type D or ICI Mellinex 516) are recommended

to protect the leather from further handling damage and as well as to

prevent the residues from getting on hands, clothes, the text block, and

nearby books.

The debate on the use of dressings for preservation of book bindings

has spanned several decades as research and experimental evidence

have slowly accumulated. The main argument is that, done incorrectly,

there are multiple disadvantages and that, done correctly, there is little to no preservation advantage. Pamphlets and

guidelines give numerous downsides to dressings use, including: the dressing becoming increasingly acidic and will

discolor and stain the leather, oxidize (penetration and expansion of oils including displacement and weakening of

fibers) and stiffen, leave a sticky surface, collect dust, wick into adjacent materials, form unstable surface spews,

encourage biological deterioration and mold growth, block surface porosity, impede further treatment, wet and swell

the leather, affect surface finishes, and desiccate or dry out the leather. Meanwhile, scientific experiments have

shown no substantial benefits. The main authorities on the subject therefore discourage it, with a caveat for special
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Book_bindinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3ADelphine%2C_Madame_de_Sta%C3%ABl%2C_Paris%2C_1803_03.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shoe_polishhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saddle_soaphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation_neededhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation_neededhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Art_conservationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Conditioner_%28chemistry%29https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Red_rot_%28leather%29https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Globulinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albuminhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elastinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caseinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Keratinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Collagenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amylasehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lipasehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Proteasehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Enzyme


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Leather 8

cases done under the direction of a conservator.

Leathercrafting

Main article: Leather crafting

Leather can be decorated by a variety of methods, including pyrography and beading.

Cordwain and Cuir de Cordoue

Fragment of Cuir de Cordoue

Cordwain, once a synonym of cordovan (through Old French

cordewan) meaning "from Crdoba" describes a certain kind of fine

leather, originally from Crdoba. Cordwainer is still used to describe

someone in the profession of shoemaking.

The related term Cuir de Cordoue refers to painted and gilded (and

sometimes embossed) leather hangings manufactured in panels and

assembled for covering walls as an alternative to tapestry.

Main article: Cuir de Cordoue

In modern culture

A motorcycle-style leather jacket.

Due to its excellent resistance to abrasion and wind, leather found a use

in rugged occupations. The enduring image of a cowboy in leather

chaps gave way to the leather-jacketed and leather-helmeted aviator.

When motorcycles were invented, some riders took to wearing heavy

leather jackets to protect from road rash and wind blast; some also

wear chaps or full leather pants to protect the lower body. Top-quality

motorcycle leather is superior to any practical man-made fabric for

abrasion protection and is still used in racing. Many sports still use

leather to help in playing the game or protecting players; its flexibility

allows it to be formed and flexed.

The term leathering is sometimes used in the sense of a physical

punishment (such as a severe spanking) applied with a leather whip,

martinet, etc.

Leather fetishism is the name popularly used to describe a fetishistic attraction to people wearing leather, or in

certain cases, to the garments themselves.

Many rock groups (particularly heavy metal and punk groups in the 1980s) are well known for wearing leather

clothing. Leather clothing, particularly jackets, are common in the heavy metal and Punk subculture. Extreme metal

bands (especially black metal bands) and Goth rock groups have extensive leather clothing, i.e. leather pants,

accessories, etc.

Many cars and trucks come with optional or standard "leather" seating. These days most car manufacturers due to

consideration of durability and cost use synthetic PU leather, including luxury car brands like Mercedes-Benz,

BMW, and Audi.Wikipedia:Citation needed

Leather is used exclusively by publishers like The Easton Press to bind books, for both practical and aesthetic

purposes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Easton_Presshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation_neededhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Audihttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BMWhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mercedes-Benzhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Polyurethanehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goth_rockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Black_metalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Extreme_metalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Punk_subculturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heavy_Metal_musichttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rock_grouphttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sexual_fetishismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leather_fetishismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Martinethttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Whiphttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spankinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Physical_punishmenthttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Physical_punishmenthttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Road_rashhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jacketshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Motorcycleshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aviatorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chapshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cowboyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3ANew_118.jpghttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cuir_de_Cordouehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tapestryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Embossing_%28leather%29https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gildinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shoemakinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=C%C3%B3rdoba%2C_Spainhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Old_Frenchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shell_cordovanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3AKurdyban.JPGhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cuir_de_Cordouehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Beadinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pyrographyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leather_crafting


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Leather 9

Religious sensitivities

In religiously diverse countries, leather vendors are typically careful to clarify the kinds of leather used in their

products. For example, leather shoes will bear a label identifying the animal from which the leather was taken. In

this way, a Muslim would not accidentally purchase pigskin leather,Wikipedia:Citation needed and a Hindu could

avoid cow leather. Many Hindus who are vegetarians will not use any kind of leather.

Such taboos increase the demand for religiously neutral leathers like ostrich and deer.

Judaism forbids the comfort of wearing shoes made with leather on Yom Kippur, Tisha B'Av, and during mourning.

Jainism prohibits the use of leather since it is obtained by killing animals.

Alternatives

Some vegetarians, vegans and animal rights activists boycott the use of all items made from leather, believing the

practice of wearing leather to be unnecessary. Animal rights groups such as PETA have called for boycotts and

encourage the use of alternative materials such as synthetic leathers.

Many pseudo-leather materials have been developed, allowing those who wish to wear leather-like garments to do so

without actually wearing leather. One example of this is vegan microfiber, which claims to be stronger than leather

when manufactured with strength in mind. Polyurethane materials, pleather, Naugahyde, Durabuck, NuSuede,

Hydrolite, and other alternatives exist, providing some features similar to leather.Wikipedia:Citation needed

References

[1] http://www.dailymotion. com/video/

xrwvtf_rtl-tvi-i-comme-islande-processus-de-fabrication-du-cuir-de-poisson_shortfilms?search_algo=1

[2] Henrylito Tacio," Why You Should Raise Ostrich (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/why-you-should-raise-ostrich)," Sun.Star 18

January 2010.

[3] Hazaribagh neighborhood of Dhaka poisoning staff, local villagers and planet (http://www.hrw. org/news/2012/10/08/

bangladesh-tanneries-harm-workers-poison-communities)[4][4] Documentary by Upside Tlvision

External links

Lefroy, George Alfred (1884). The leather-workers of Daryaganj. Delhi: Cambridge Mission to Delhi.
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_leather-workers_of_Daryaganjhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Lefroyhttp://www.hrw.org/news/2012/10/08/bangladesh-tanneries-harm-workers-poison-communitieshttp://www.hrw.org/news/2012/10/08/bangladesh-tanneries-harm-workers-poison-communitieshttp://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/why-you-should-raise-ostrichhttp://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrwvtf_rtl-tvi-i-comme-islande-processus-de-fabrication-du-cuir-de-poisson_shortfilms?search_algo=1http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrwvtf_rtl-tvi-i-comme-islande-processus-de-fabrication-du-cuir-de-poisson_shortfilms?search_algo=1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation_neededhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Naugahydehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pleatherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Microfiberhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Artificial_leatherhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=PETAhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Boycotthttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Animal_rightshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Veganhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jainismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tisha_B%27Avhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yom_Kippurhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Judaismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Deerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ostrichhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Taboohttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cowhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hinduhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation_neededhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pigskinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muslim


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Article Sources and Contributors 10

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Americanson, Andrewpmk, Andy Dingley, Angela, Ann112358, Ans, Antandrus, Apatterno, Arcarius, Arny, Arrkhal, Avatar, BD2412, BRAD GRIFFIN86, Bacchus87, Bardsandwarriors,

Barticus88, Beeshoney, BenFrantzDale, Benc256, Benhgcool, Benjiboi, Bgag, Bilginu, Billinghurst, Blaxthos, Blobbones, Bob98133, Bobblewik, Bobo192, Bodnotbod, Bogdangiusca,

Bongwarrior, Bonus Onus, Boomshadow, Brat32, Burnman, C colorado, C6541, CALR, Candleabracadabra, Canthusus, Caydel, Cente, Chameleon, Charles Matthews, Charlie Wiederhold,

Charvex, Chowbok, ChrisGualtieri, Closedmouth, Comparable2Allah, Conversion script, Courcelles, Coverorange, Crazynas, Crolidge, Cst17, Cynicism addict, Cyrius, DARTH SIDIOUS 2,

DMCer, Dan100, Danmickla, DarrenChallisismyidol, DaughterofSun, David Latapie, DavidGC, Davux, Debouch, Denisarona, DesuDesuDesuDesu3, Diep.nguyen0411, DigbyDalton,

Discospinster, Dismas, Djfriendly, Dkalweit, Dlloyd, Dmitri Lytov, Docbug, Dogosaurus, Don4of4, Donarreiskoffer, Dontopenyoureyes, DoomsDay349, DoriSmith, DotSlashSteven, DoulosChristos, Dr somboon, Dragonleather, Dramartistic, Dricaurte, Dublat4219, E00cz1, Ec5618, Edison, Effid, Efrafra, Eivind F yangen, Elagatis, Elcobbola, ElectricValkyrie, Ellywa, Emote,

Epbr123, Escape Orbit, EternalRays, Eu.stefan, Excirial, Eyrian, Farosdaughter, Femto, Ferkel, Fieldday-sunday, Firien, Fish and karate, Fluffernutter, Fraggle81, Fratrep, Fungusblimp, Future

Perfect at Sunrise, Fwgoebel, Fxhomie, GB fan, GRAHAMUK, Gaius Cornelius, Galloping Moses, Gamma, Gigemag76, Gilliam, Girlwithgreeneyes, Glacialfox, Glen, Gnomus, Gogo Dodo,

GoingBatty, Gorlingor, Gpia7r, Gr8white, Grafen, Graham87, Grattan33, Greenslate, Ground, Groyolo, Harald Hansen, Hellbus, Hermitstudy, Heron, HiDrNick, Hiddekel, Hogyn Lleol, Hohum,

Holahunter, Hongthay, Hooperbloob, Husond, I love animals62, Ida Shaw, Improbcat, Indium, InfoCan, Inkowik, Iridescent, It Is Me Here, J Di, J-stan, J. Patrick Fischer, JNW, JPotgieter, JaGa,

Jack Greenmaven, Jackollie, Jake19200, JamesBWatson, Jarble, Jas The Bass, Jecyoung27, Jhamez84, Jim1138, Jjmcphee, Jni, Joaquin008, Jobrogal, Johnian144, JohnsPass, Johnteslade,

JonRichfield, Jordiferrer, Josve05a, Joyous25, Jrun, Juliashair, Jusjih, Kapilthakur79, Kayla99, Kazvorpal, Kelisi, Kinkyturnip, Kleon3, Klilidiplomus, Knife Knut, Koavf, LOLO Concept,

Laggedbehind, Larry laptop, Lascorz, Laurap414, Learn-it-explore-it, LeaveSleaves, LessHeard vanU, Lestath, Linkspamremover, Lir, Listor1989, Loggie, Loodog, Lotje, Luk, MC MasterChef,

MER-C, Madden08, Magioladitis, Malcolm Farmer, Marchije, Massimo Gotti 74, Materialscientist, Mattcarl, Matthew Desjardins, Mattjm, Mattpav, Maximus Rex, Max, Mayor mt, Mdwh,

Medieval furrier, Mehrunes Dagon, Mentifisto, Mercutio.Wilder, Mermaid from the Baltic Sea, Metahacker, Mhazard9, Michael Frind, Mike Dill, Mintrick, Mkhan25, Mkmk, Mmdavis,

MortimerCat, Mr Stephen, Mromaine, Msbles, Mucaeman, Mufka, N5iln, N6, Nanopico97, NathanoNL, Natkeeran, NaveedAhmed217, Ncmvocalist, NellieBly, Neparis, Nick Number,

Nick7281, Nono64, NotWith, Npeters22, Nuaryolcay, Number 57, Number seven, Nuttah, O^O, Oda Mari, Old Moonraker, Omjeremy, Opspin, Orange Suede Sofa, Ovy, Oxfordwang,

Oxymoron83, Ozzieboy, P30Carl, Padajtsch-kall, PassionOrPain, Peachyapples21, Persian Poet Gal, Peter James, Pigman, Pinethicket, Pipedreambomb, Plugflower, Pol098, Polyparadigm,

Potatoswatter, Prof Wrong, Prolog, Puds666, PurplePiers, Quadell, Quebec99, RJN, Rabidsquirrel45, Raggy big man, Rajkiandris, Ram4eva, Randomview, Ranveig, Rdavout, Realdel, RedWolf,

Reify-tech, Reinsarn, Rgamble, Rich Farmbrough, Richardjames444, Rjwilmsi, Rkmlai, Rmhermen, Romanm, Rosser1954, RoyBoy, Ryanloveswilly, Saasywriter, Sahim, Sastryi98, Sbrools,

Scaife, Scepia, Sceptre, Sciurin, Scm5mrjn, Scottinglis, Seaphoto, Sejtam, Sevenzzs, SheepNotGoats, Shieber, SineWave, Sjakkalle, Skunkboy74, SkyMachine, Slowking Man, Smhall1205,

Smile a While, Snek01, SoCalSuperEagle, Solarra, SomeHuman, Sometimes somethings, SouthernHides, Spartan-James, Starlite KNight, StaticGull, Steel, Strom, Suede, Superbeecat, Suppjcs,

Susfele, TAG.Odessa, TKD, Tacllews, Taco Mon, Tahc, Tassedethe, TastyPoutine, Tatterfly, Taxman, Tbone, Tedder, Teej, Tempodivalse, Tezero, TheHerbalGerbil, TheLeopard, Thebirdlover,

Thepriestofcomo, Thumperward, Timmytoast22, Tmystd, Tolly4bolly, Tom Gibbs, Tom Morris, Tooki, Topbanana, Tosh.brice, TravelinSista, TrentonGB, Treyp, Trijnstel, Troy 07, Trusilver,

Turlo Lomon, TutterMouse, Ucanlookitup, Ulterior19802005, Una Smith, VMS Mosaic, Vanished User 004, Varco, Vary, VasilievVV, Vasuzambare, Velella, Versageek, Very Input,

VinceBowdren, Vipinhari, Vrenator, Vsmith, Wakazmi, WeeGoose2, Wetman, Whitebox, Why Not A Duck, Wikieditor06, Wikisgm, Wikiskirt, Willking1979, Wilson44691, Wizard191,

Woohookitty, X.Maddogs Bone.x, XL2D, Yahooter, Yomangani, Yvwv, ZIon2456, Zahid Abdassabur, Zakronian, Zandperl, Zentomologist, Zzorse,..24, 754 anonymous edits

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Patrick Fischer, Jcb

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Leather Works

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