The profound History of Leather & Its versatile, incredible Uses.

Nothing quite beats a trendy, chic, leather jacket or super, sexy, tight fit leather skirts, but where did it all originate from? Let’s take a look & journey through the history of leather clothing, its first uses & how & where it all began.

Delving deep into history, leather was first established around 400,000 years ago in Hoxne, England. Did you know leather has been a popular material since 3000 BC? The incredible material has been implemented throughout history for clothing & tools. Dating back to prehistoric times, leather has been an essential tool in society & it’s unlikely we’d be where we are today without it. Its evolution can be detected & discovered around the world, tracing through prehistoric periods such as, the iron age, stone age, ancient times, the Middle Ages, the renaissance, the industrial revolution, and now into modern times.

Throughout each period in history, cultures around the world have established valuable uses of leather, which has been utilised for thousands of years as protective & useful material. In order to survive & create better tools for easier quality of life, humans often decided to use many parts of animals, for example leather footwear was implemented for easier walking & exploring. Leather belts & straps have been included into everything, from human clothing to luggage cases, saddlery & machinery. This incredibly versatile material has helped both men & women travel extreme distances on foot & via harness horses. It has also allowed individuals to bottle water, protect our bodies from elements & produce crude tents.

Animals considered large enough, their hides could be transformed into clothing. The term hide is larger animal skin treated for human use. E.g., horsehide or cowhide, however the term “skins” is used to define smaller animals e.g., fish, goat, or sheep. Throughout colder climates, the fur on top of leather provided excellent warmth & comfort. During warmer climates, hides were super valuable & useful as shade, in order to help remain cool during the heat.

Humans progressed & became more advanced therefore as society constructed so did the uses for leather. Leather craft varies into leather Armor, boots, satchels, tents, writing surfaces, harness & jewellery, to some extent leather was perceived as a symbol of high status. Leather is also used to make a wide variety of sex toys such as paddles, whips & more. These could be used when participating in BDSM or any other erotic sexual activities.

To make them more suitable for clothing animal skins & hides were treated with chemicals. Leather craft was becoming more about functions & visual appearances. Further down the line the development of leather became a predominant staple in everyone’s life. Accessories such as gloves, jackets, & more became largely available over the course of time. Leather craft progressed into a full-fledged industry. There were international consumers who were thrilled to buy and make use of leather goods & a global supply chain for the raw materials.

Tanning is a term used to define the process of transforming animal skin into leather, it undergoes a chemical treatment which consists of leather being soaked in a liquid containing tannic acid, or from the use of other chemicals. This then converts putrescible skin to a reasonably balanced stable which is a non-decayable material. The tanning agents which are widely used are vegetable tannin, mineral salts, & animal oil or fish.

Using raw animal hides & tanning them into leather are two very different things. The procedure of learning to make leather took place throughout multiple cultures around the globe over thousands of years.

It is thought that early man discovered tanning of leather through a mix of accidental discoveries. Humans noticed hides drying near smoke from their fire, this lasted longer than hides in other locations, skins that were dried by the sun did not rot the same way untreated skins did. When animal skins were found lying in puddles of rotting leaves & bark most likely from the oak trees, they were found to have cured & stopped decaying. Once they learned how to tan the untreated hides & prevent them from becoming hard & rot away, they then knew how to produce leather which was long lasting & flexible material. Once in a balanced state early man was able to soften hides by using oils & fatty substances & rubbing them into the rawhides which then enabled use of clothing, footwear, weapons & waterproofing.

Further on in time, early man became more sophisticated in his methods. Knowledge grew & as more time passed humans realised that scraping away excess flesh & fat, could refine leather. During these discoveries man developed a process known as liming, which consisted of taking the ash from fires & making up a solution which treats efforts to remove the hair from skins The accurate process by which humans worked out the mechanics & methods of leather tanning is somewhat lost to history however, we do know is that over time people around the globe have discovered advanced, new & novel ways to convert raw animal hides into durable leather goods, & these goods helped change the world.

Evidence suggests that some sort of early tanning process existed as far back as 100,000 years ago. Bone awls used to pierce soft materials have been found and dated to be roughly 80,000 years old. There’s also evidence from around the planet that palaeolithic humans hunted fur-bearing animals, likely not for food but for their hides. Assyrian texts from the fifth millennium B.C, Contain leather tanning instructions, & by the rise of Roman civilisation leather tanning techniques were well developed & highly specialised. The earliest extant leather artefacts we’ve found date to around 2,200 B.C. Leather tanning in the ancient world remained largely unchanged until the industrial revolution, when faster, chemical-based tanning methods were developed.

Leather throughout the ages

Early ancestors started the process of developing leather from more than 7000 years ago with simple techniques. These techniques consisted of sun drying & providing salt to preserve the hides & skins of animals. It’s a testimony to human inventiveness, early ancestors were able to take the raw animal skins & transform them into something so durable & resourceful that leather has lasted for thousands of years.

The Egyptians discovered several uses for leather & there are hieroglyphs & artefacts furthering back to 5000 BC to prove this. These artefacts demonstrate & reveal the great skilfulness that the Egyptians had when it arrived at the process of vegetable tanning the leather, applying uses such as drying & curing techniques, which allowed them to mould & employ the leather for sandals, military equipment & even burial shrouds.

The ancient Greeks are known for leading leather to the forefront. Multiple varieties of leather sandals were produced to suit every occasion, which was astonishing. The most famous reference to leather during this period is featured in ‘Homers Odyssey’. The story of which a leather bag filled with storm winds given to Odysseus which was provided by the gods of winds. This was to help him reach Ithaca. Homer obviously thought highly of the capability & durability of leather material as it withstands great forces.

The Romans embraced leather as the go-to material for military uniforms, as well as saddles & shields which were for horses. The sandals worn by brigades had the responsibility to endure wear for hundreds of miles as they had to march on foot, into the next battles. Roman sites which were excavated found unearthed tannery in Pompei & several articles of leather shoes, clothing, and Vellum (produced for bookbinding) in England. No Roman soldier was properly attired without his leather uniform.

Continuing into the Middle Ages it was the Arabs in parts of Spain who brought leather to the next level by designing highly desirable leathers such as the Cordovan. This type of leather was used to create shields & military breastplates, but it was the use of leather in bookbinding which had the biggest value & effect. Leather-bound books contained vital, immense knowledge & stories which were then passed into Europe through trade with the moors. The Arabs decorated leather beautifully with flowers & symbols using specialist tools to create stunning patterns.

During the 19th Century, the Europeans trail-blazed & industrialised the leather making process. It was elaborated & used for wall coverings, furniture & eventually cars. A modern method of applying chemical Chromium salt during the production of the leather resulted in suppleness & softness. The vegetable tanning processes previously used, allowed for mass production & caused traffic for demand in leather for homes, furniture, shoes & clothing.

History of leather in the stone age (prehistory - 3000 BC)

The stone age is one of the longest periods in history, it extends over millions of years, however we begin to see the works of leather & the birth of leather craft develop around 400,000 years ago. Stone tool is a tool which is made of stone, entirely or partially. Stone tools are associated with prehistoric cultures. The earliest stone tools date back to around 3.3 million years ago, flakes of stone which generally had sharp edges, were made useful for cutting, carving & scarping. These stone flakes could have been used to skin hides from animals & scrape them clean in the beginning processes of tanning leather, though it isn’t until around 400,000 BC that we start to see evidence of more leather tools.

First leather tools:

Stone scarping tools were found in modern day Hoxne, England. When experts examined the tools through microscopic wear patterns, they were able to identify & conclude that the stone tools were likely used specifically in scraping hides, this scarping would help them prepare for the next steps of the process such as tanning & use.

Bone tools originated from Africa, about 1.5 million years ago, which was when they were first used. Bone awls which were used as leather punches in sewing hides, which were made from a wide variety of bones. E.g a ulnae of deer, could be cut then polished to form a sharp tip. The awls were likely to be used to pierce the hides of leather materials. This way leather hides could be joined together to create larger clothes & spacious shelter coverages.

Leather culture (sex/BDSM)

Leather was the dominant practise & discussion of gay BDSM from the late 1950s all the way up to the 80s. Leather culture was tied to gay individuals & gay communities since that’s where it was birthed & first discovered, however leather culture has widely opened to, lesbians, trans & straight people since then.

Leather cultures implement styles & designs organised around sexual activities & sexual purposes which involve leather garments such as vests, boots, jackets, chaps, harnesses, bondage masks, & other items. Many individuals associate leather culture with BDSM (bondage/discipline & Dominance/submission, sado/masochism, also referred to as ‘SM’ & S&M) activities. Wearing black leather clothing is an erotic, sexy fashion which expresses & signifies intense masculinity, femininity regarding sexual power. Leather is a material widely used for multiple productions but has developed a topic in sexual context.

Leather is affiliated with sex because of its primal, masculine fabric. It's worn tightly & is super restrictive. It can also be physically used as sex props e.g a leather whip, which can be effectively used for sexual pleasures, it enables usage such as teasing & tickling the skin softly & gently or causing pain if its brought down hard. It doesn’t have to be worn & can be used for all sorts of fun & experiments.

We usually associate & picture dominatrix with pain, pleasure, whipping & wearing leather head to toe. Leather has a strong place in kinky communities. People into bondage or BDSM have used leather restraints or leather props. Kinky garments & fetish leather clothing such as, bondage masks, sexy leather dresses, tight lacing corsets & more were also introduced. The leather within these communities & cultures are considered sexually arousing, but this also allows those individuals to identify each other. Rather than just wearing a leather jacket, people in leather cultures often are seen wearing harnesses or characteristic/distinctive clothing items.

Fetish leather clothing for many people has become the icon of sex, which is kinky, erotic, masculine, feminine & provocative, regardless of sexual orientation. Fetish leather clothing can be found easily on a BDSM online shop. Looking to buy BDSM items? We at leatherotics have you covered! We have multiple items ranging from full grain bondage masks to leather erotic underwear, all from top quality. Ensuring you purchase with confidence & satisfaction. Fetish leather clothing right at your door!

How to style Leather

Every woman knows that the coolest, chic, trendy, & must-have clothing item is, of course, the ultimate leather jacket. We usually associate & link this type of jacket with fashionable, trendy modern-day women; however, it’s fascinating history showcases a different side. Did you know that the leather jacket originated & appeared for the first time during the First World War? Yes, it’s very much true! In the year of 1918 German pilots used the classic, ultimate leather jacket as a protection of their military uniform. Soon, it transformed into a worldwide trend thanks to the first leather motorcycle jacket sold by ‘Harley Davidson’. This was inspired through the history of military uniforms. Now in today’s modern world it's more fashionable than ever. This item is versatile, extraordinary & cool which presents a certain intriguing flair about someone when worn.

From wars to catwalks…

There is something about leather when worn which no other material brings. It portrays a sense of class, strength, coolness & sexiness. It can be both masculine & feminine, when worn it certainly stands out even in black… never failing to be the most eye-catching garment piece out of an entire outfit. It places a sense of uniqueness about a person. The material can be displayed through men’s leather jeans, sexy leather dresses, real leather catsuits, tight lacing corsets, leather gothic clothing & even bondage masks, so now you can see how versatile this material can be, its limitless & unquestionably the most classic material ever introduced into society.

Here are a couple of ideas on how to style leather garments for every occasion.

Is finding that perfect outfit for lunch with the girls difficult? Well, don’t worry we have you covered. We can ensure you’ll turn up in style looking fashionable, cool & comfortable. Opt for a maxi dress with a floral, colourful pattern & combine it with a black crop leather jacket. Throw on your favourite white sneakers & you’re all set to go.

Don’t worry boys, we have you covered too. A great outfit you can try is men’s leather jeans, here at Leatherotics, a shop for leather clothing, we specialise in men’s leather jeans… so what are you waiting for? Grab your pair of mens leather jeans now. Thinking of a night out with the boys, we know just the outfit for you that will pop. Combine those full grain leather men’s soft supple jeans with a beautiful tight white long sleeve t-shirt, put on some leather suede black boots & don’t forget to accessorise with a gold or silver pendant around the neck. Try this classic, cool, masculine outfit & you're guaranteed to stand out amongst the crowd.

Heading for a night out with the girls? We got you covered here at leatherotics, being a UK online shop for leather clothing, we sell tight fit leather skirts which will pair beautifully combined with a maroon or black sleeveless crop top. Whichever colour you choose to opt for, be sure to pair with fashionable, knee-high boots in either maroon or black. Combining a mini tight leather skirt with knee high boots will make you look sensational. Don’t forget to accessorise with leather bracelets & a gold plated necklace. You will look sexy & amazing for sure.

Heading to work? Well tight fit leather skirts can be so versatile, increasing your options, making your choices endless. Replace the common, boring blazer & express your personality. Investing in a pair of tight fit leather skirts here at leatherotics will guarantee you shine in any setting. Complete your office wear with a tight fit leather pencil skirt. For this particular case, you can opt for a silk white button blouse. Tuck the blouse into the tight fit leather skirt to present sophistication, finish off with a pair of low classic black heels. This outfit is both sexy & professional.

Looking to spice up your love life? Well tight lacing corsets will compliment you well & you can purchase one right from here at Leatherotics. If you’re looking for a bold, sexy, erotic, hypnotising outfit then this is unquestionably the one for you! Not only will it make you feel powerful, strong & sexy, but it will set the mood & deliver hot results! Corsets are not only for sexually appealing purposes, but it can be used as a foundation garment.

Those were just a few tips on how to style leather clothing, we only just scratched the surface with styling, since leather is so versatile. You can be endlessly creative with your leather garments & let your imagination run wild. From inspiring to being inspired… your options & styles with leather are never-ending.

Leather Tanning Methods:

• Understanding the processes

Leather is a man-made product, so the quality of the fabric you buy will depend on which techniques & methods were used to process the leather. Some of the processing techniques include:

Natural tanning – Finding animals that had been preserved in bogs, likely inspired our ancestors to discover existing ways to achieve the same outcome from the animal hides.

Vegetable tanning – Creates a harder leather using natural plant extracts

Chrome tanning – Leather produced using this method is supple & waterproof so it can be applied to a variety of methods.

Glutaraldehyde/white tanning – This process is considered more environmentally friendly as it does not depend on heavy metals during the tanning process.

• Vegetable-Tanned Leather

Vegetable tanning method is one the oldest, traditional, methods of leather tanning & tolerated as one of the dominant forms of tanning for centuries. It is believed that the ancient Egyptians first began using this method over 5000 years ago as a way of protecting the animal hides. Approximately 10% of all leather is vegetable tanned.

The first step of the method consists of pre-tanning. Hair fat, residue & wool are removed through a process called ‘liming which involves soaking the drums in larger drums of chemical substances which are natural, known as ‘lime’. In order to lower the hides pH level another solution is applied to prepare it for tanning. This method is usually time consuming & requires a highly craftsperson which includes soaking hides in large baths of concentrated tannins over a course of several months, as the hides will absorb more vegetable tanning agents & more advanced physical properties. Once the tanning process is complete the hides then undergo dyeing & drying which consist of the damp hides being removed & oiled with conditioners & waxers to enhance the colour & improve durability, then it gets dried & staked which enables the leather to soften. Finishing touches involve the hide being sprayed with sealant for protection, its then trimmed, measured, & stretched, preparing it for the transformation of leather goods. This process creates a supple, strong, brown-tinted leather.

• Chrome-Tanned Leather

The vegetable tanning structure remained mostly unaltered for thousands of years until 1858, when chrome-tanned leather was invented by the German technologist Fredrich Knapp & Hylten Cavalin. This new system of chrome tanning became vaster & more dominant & generally used. A solution of chemicals, acids, & salts were used for chrome tanning to tan the hide, it is less time consuming then vegetable tanning which takes only about a day to produce a piece of tanned leather. Chrome tanning is a lot more efficient compared to traditional tanning methods which can take between a month & three months. First the hide is ‘limed’ then ‘pickled’ in the acid salt mixture which then gets placed in the chromium sulphate. All the hides then come out looking light blue known as “wet blue”.. Chrome-tanned leather is more supple than vegetable-tanned leather & isn’t nearly receptive towards water damage. Today it’s the most common leather tanning method used in modern production, with 80-90% of leather being tanned through a chrome tanning process. In 2008 around 24 million of chromium was produced.

• Hybrid chrome tanning compared to standard chrome tanning.

It has become increasingly required to produce safer chrome leathers in a sustainable fashion. Innovative hybrid chrome tanning uses a combination of chrome salts & Blancotan CAT which enables the customer to produce a new environmentally friendly ‘wet blue’. advantages of hybrid chrome tanning instead of standard is that it has a very low environmental impact, high percent of Cr2O3 is fixed to the leather fibres, uniform & excellent fulness of leathers, chrome free sludges, extremely light wet blue colours of leather, & leather with more performance dying properties compared to standard wet blue.

• Grades of Leather

Leather has five common basic grains, or qualities. The five common grades of leather are identified as, full grain leather, top grain leather, genuine leather, split grain leather & bonded leather. However, there are many grades of leather material as there are leather tanneries. Each grade is known for its different attributes.

It’s important to know when buying leather goods or in a shop for leather clothing, that you are gaining the best value for your money & that the quality lives up to your expectations.

Quality ranges of leather

The thickness of the leather required will depend on what is going to be made up from it. Usually, quality leather makers will buy the thickness they require straight from the tannery rather than try to split it after purchase. The split leather is also sold by the tannery as Top Grain leather.

Full grain leather - Provides the highest quality. Although it’s more expensive

• Full Grain Leather

Full grain leather is characterised as the best leather. Its natural surface is incredibly unique due to its marks & imperfections. It’s known for its luxurious, smooth surface & its strength. It is categorised as the most popular leather & absorbs moisture & oil. This type of leather has not been sanded, buffed, or snuffed in order to remove any natural marks or blemishes from the surface. This makes its fibres remain durable because its fibres have not been eliminated, unlike top grain leather which has its imperfections removed from its surface. Full grain leather does not wear out easily in fact it has a layer of patina, which defines a thin layer that protects the leather from damage or from wearing. It also develops a lovely patina over time which looks better the longer the item ages. This type of leather is used for making high premium quality footwear or furniture. This is the best leather available known for its maximum strength & resiliency.

• Top Grain Leather

Top grain leather is the second highest grade & the second highest in leather quality. It is more flexible & thinner due to its layer being separated; the outermost layer of the hide has been removed which makes it more pliable & thinner for manufacturers to work with. Both full grain & top grain are made from the best quality part of the hide. The leathers natural surface is sanded away in order to remove imperfections & blemishes. This can result in the hide losing some of its strongest fibres, however this provides a more uniform & smoother appearance. Top grain is applied with a finishing coat which provides protection against stains. It also develops pinna which protects it from corrosion & damage making it durable & last longer. It is less expensive than full grain leather & it has better stain resistance than full grain. Oils & waters do not absorb through top grain leather therefore it can be wiped away since the natural pores of the leather have been sealed during the colouring process.

• Corrected Grain Leather

Corrected grain leather is leather that has been sanded & buffed in order to remove its imperfections from the hide, such as scars from the surface or any visible effects, then an artificial grain can then be imprinted on the leather. Corrected grain leather can be categorised as any leather which has been altered, such as appearance that is not natural to the original hide. This can mean the top layer of leather can be completely buffed off, then be added with an artificial grain. This type of leather is considered just as durable as full grain however the buffing process which results in the surface being completely removed can also remove the surfaces natural softness, meanwhile the patina won’t appear on corrected grain leather like it does beautifully with full grain.

The surface of corrected grain leather is removed in the exact way top grain leather is produced, both cases are similar & require buffing out the scars & blemishes on the hide, but to a greater depth. This is done to correct & remove major imperfections. Corrected grain has a large variety of looks, colours can vary depending on the type of dye & finish used, it has aesthetic qualities & is produced to create pigmented leather.

There is no consistent look for corrected leather however in order to identify if its corrected grain, try scratching it lightly & see if it leaves a mark. If there is no scratch mark visible, then it’s likely to be corrected grain. This leather is widely used around the world & is commonly used for handbags, jackets, bags, footwear, accessories & furniture.

• Split Suede Leather

Suede is a high-quality structured leather, which is created from the underside of an animal hide, its created from separating its underside of the animal hide from the top, this means that suede is a ‘split leather,’ since it’s been split from its original layers which are known to be tougher & less flexible. A more commonly used method is where the leather is split & the upper grain is removed to reveal only the fuzzy, napped underside which will result in becoming more visible on both sides of the material, sueded on both sides. This method creates results of the suede being more pliable & producing greater softness. The ‘nap’ of the fabric which are tiny, raised hairs sitting on the surface can be tougher if the hide comes from older animals such as cows & deer’s, these animals of which have thicker hides. Suede leather can be produced by almost any animal hide however the most common being lamb, deer, pig & calf. The texture of suede is usually smoother when it comes from younger animals. Suede is most definitely popular due to its luxurious smooth feel.

Humans have been utilising animal hides for clothing & accessories for thousands of years, yet the production of suede is somewhat recent. The term suede originates from “Gants de suede” which in translation means “gloves of Sweden”. In the late 18th century during the romantic period in France, importation of Swedish leather was incredibly popular among French noblemen. Artisans of Sweden invented a way & decided to use the soft inner skin, instead of the rough leather made from outer layers of the hide, to create incredibly soft gloves for women. For many decades the use of suede was limited & used for only gloves but eventually, European artisans identified & recognised other possibilities for other uses of suede, then greater wider collections of suede were being produced to make items such as shoes, bags, jackets & more.

Suede gives an elegant appearance & when it's dyed it can obtain more colour which results in a production of richer, deeper colours, plus the ‘napped’ texture generates more depth & variation which is one of the reasons it remains high end luxury. This type of leather can also be moulded easily because it's pliable, meaning it can create different interesting shapes, especially ones that wrap & hug the foot. It’s also versatile meaning it can be used for winter-based styles & summer-based designs. Due to its exceptional softness, it can give more comfort & softness on a wearers foot, which makes styles crafted from suede generous in terms of softness & comfort. This material can be very long lasting when cared for properly

Leather will continue to play a key attribute & symbol in kinky organisations. Suede is often used in sexy industries to produce BDSM toys such as Floggers & whips. If placing items & objects directly onto skin, then full grain & bonded leather are most common & appropriate. BDSM toys can easily be found on a BDSM online shop where you can be able to discover more.

• Bonded Leather

Bonded leather is made from the scraps of genuine leather. It’s a mix of both real & fake leather, is it made from the left-over scraps which are made to process genuine leather. These scraps of leather are mixed with a polyurethane binder, these fibres are then stuck together on a paper backing using adhesives to bond them. It’s coated with polyurethane & embossed to provide the appearance of genuine leather. Most bonded leather consists of 10-20% genuine leather.

The pro with bonding leather is that it's relatively cheaper than genuine leather due to its low percentage of real leather. This leather has a consistently smooth texture unlike genuine leather which has imperfections with its appearance. Bonding leather comes in all different designs & colours. Another pro is that Bonding leather can smell similar to genuine leather then an artificial leather

Its cons can be more over weighed. One being that it's not as durable as genuine leather, second it's easily prone to scratch/peel & can fade in sunlight due to low quality. Thirdly bonding leather can be hard to clean & it may also release some of the chemicals which were used when fibres were bonded together.

Bonded leather is easily mistaken for genuine leather & even manufacturers make the mistake of labelling bonding leather as genuine leather. Being able to segregate the differences & tell them apart will benefit & be helpful in future shopping for leather, especially when purchasing furniture.

The major key point & difference between bonded leather & genuine leather is the price. The cost of bonded leather will be significantly cheaper than genuine leather. Fake leathers are relatively cheap & low quality in material. Bonding leather can also give off that artificial feel & be thinner. It may smell like real leather however the real difference will showcase in how they look. This leather will have a consistent texture whilst genuine leather will have some imperfections.

Overall, the bottom line is that bonded leather is made up of scraps which makes it fake, cheap leather. The cons of this fabric certainly outweigh the pros. Due to the way bonding leather is made, it is prone to scratch, peel & flake over time. If you want furniture & clothing to last a long time, then real leather is your best option. Since bonded leather is not durable.

Leather Uses

There are multiple uses of leather since it’s a very fashionable, durable & versatile material. Its implementations & creativity are endless. Some uses of leather are more common while others are widely historical. There are specific categories of products that use leather more often than others. You are most guaranteed to find the following items in a shop for leather clothing.

• Bag and Luggage

Backpacks, wallets, satchels, & purses are all made from leather material.

Leather luggage has been popular since the late 19th century however over recent years it has become more popular due to brands using luxury leather in their collections. Bags like Louis Vuitton & ted baker produce leather luggage bags. Unlike plastic suitcases which are coated, luxury leather bags have durability as well as being timelessly stylish.

Leather bags for women are often associated as a luxury item, this is because these leather handbags are generally more costly than other types of bags, however not all leather handbags are the same good quality. Some are made using high quality whilst others are made using inferior leather fabric. It's important to know the difference when looking for a good quality bag.

Full grain is a great start when ensuring the quality of your handbag is right. Since it’s the highest leather quality. This means when choosing full grain, you are guaranteed long lasting durability & strength. This applies to luggage’s too, since the material is resilient & strong it is best suited for luggage’s.

This leather usage fits several needs & requirements from shopping to travelling. It's safe to say that leather is one of the greatest materials used for bags and luggage because it’s not just chic, stylish & fashionable but it's functional & guaranteed to last you a long time especially if cared for.

It’s important to regularly maintain real leather, so cleaning your leather items & bags will prolong the quality. It's easy to do so which requires a clean damp cloth to wipe down & remove any excess or dust build up. There are also cleaning products for leather you can invest in. Since leather is a porous material which comes from animal skin, this means that the animal skin has pores along the surface that soak up moisture so it's never 100% waterproof & if it is then its most likely been coated with a treatment, however that being said leather is naturally water resistant to the point where it will not be ruined & water will not resonate through the lining, for example, if in conditions of light rain. This factor is mainly important when using leather for bags because it can make it more functional & resourceful to use all year round.

• Clothing

Sexy leather dresses, sexy leather skirts, men’s leather jeans, leather gothic clothing, fetish leather clothing, Jackets, vests, leather trousers, & shoes are all popular & commonly made of leather.

Many of us carry leather on our bodies without even realising we do.

The most common animal species used to produce leather for clothing are mainly cows, sheep, goats & pigs. Leather garments made of cowhide are perfect for making clothing that is stable & solid, this is because cowhide is thicker & more robust than other animal hides. Motorcycle leather commonly consisted of this hide.

Leather garments made from lamb are usually formed as a smooth, lightweight leather. This is commonly used to produce wear such as jackets, tight fit leather skirts, sexy leather dresses, men’s leather jeans or trousers & more. Expensive leather is generally often made of lamb hide.

Leather garments produced of goatskin are usually used to create fabrics such as suede. Especially for jackets, tight fit leather skirts & trousers.

Materials made of pigskin are generally low-cost leather. Pigskin doesn’t possess the same softness as lambskin & goatskin. Accessories such as gloves are made of pigskin & jackets.

Leather is also advance for workwear which requires heavy duty protective clothing. Leather can also provide sensory experiences in sexual activities related to BDSM, from bondage masks to more, fetish leather clothing is very much common…weather opting for sexy leather dresses or even real leather catsuits, the arts of leather run wild & will provide you with unique experiences, ranging towards all different designs fitting for all different niches. This is what makes leather so fantastic, with its materials being highly versatile with great depth.

The history of leather & its relationship with clothing dates back as far as human history can record. Our ancestors took advantage of leather to protect themselves from the elements by producing clothing & weapons. Leather has such varieties of useful qualities which enables it to be used for a multitude of purposes, some being practical & some being stylish, in modern times. We love leather because of its strong & supple qualities & which also offer different dyeing techniques which can result in amazing, eye-catching colours. Leather has a distinctive smell, touch and feel that immediately reflects & demonstrates its purpose as a high quality, versatile material.

• Moving from practicality to style

We have the Victorians to thank, for introducing leather into great styles of clothing which is still considered fashionable & eye-catching. During this period leather gloves signified power & status therefore nobles would have many different pairs for several different occasions. During this time, the Victorians applied a secret ingredient in their leather making processes, this secret was Dog poop. Ranging from handbags to hats contained this special ingredient but thankfully modern times have replaced this. The Victorians inspired designs for outstanding, beautiful tight lacing corsets that compliment & define the female figure to its full potential. Tight lacing corsets make a woman's figure stand out. Varieties of tight lacing corsets were designed. The Victorians really did establish & place their own unique stamp on leather.

In modern times you can find nearly any piece of leather clothing from a shop for leather clothing or even from online shops for leather clothing. Online shopping is so widely used & considered, since individuals would rather pay for efficiency & convenience. If you’re searching to buy leather skirts or even a specific type of leather skirt such as tight fit leather skirts, then buying from online shops for leather clothing is a great option as it will make your shopping experience less time consuming & it will also gather the exact results you’re looking for all in one compartment, which makes shopping for leather so much easier or even shopping in general.

• Furniture Upholstery

During ancient times, long ago furniture was an early discovery. When resources were short on supply, people made use of leather & utilised every material available, this included animal hides. Leather eventually evolved & instead of remaining in common categories, it had become widely popular & luxurious for the wealthy & royals. As tanning processes improved, leather became a popular choice for furniture upholstery.

Over the past 500 years upholstery has travelled from uncomfortable wooden furniture into relaxing leather furniture. Arm rests & cushions were yet to be invented, so before that, rock hard seats & formal benches were the only thing that offered rest in homes. Thankfully the Middle Ages terminated such discomforts. One of the first documented uses of leather for furniture was leather chairs, this dated from 3100-2686 B.C, during the early dynastic period in Egypt. The first initial record in history of a leather couch dates as far back as the late 17th century B.C, in Greece.

Leathers imperviousness & durability made it a popular choice to be utilised for the coverage of dining chairs. By the 14th century the tanning process had become more advanced therefore the nobility & wealthy demanded high quality leather furniture. As the process improved so did the elaboration of styles, buttons, turfing & quilting were known as popular chesterfield designs. The first chesterfield sofa had been engaged by Philip Dormer Stanhope, who was the first earl of chesterfield during the 1700’s. This style has persisted into modern times & is seen on loveseats & chairs. Leather has become a popular common choice for furniture due to its durability. We all know winding down into a leather chair at the end of a long day is both rewarding & comfortable, there is no feeling in the world like it. The warmth & suppleness of leather furniture is widely appreciated.

Furniture back in the day was very traditionally styled & oversized with strong colours implemented such as, oxblood, burnt orange, walnut, burgundy, other colours like turquoise, blackberry & navy were also among the popular. These colours were strong & bold & ruled the days. In terms of style, they were usually glazed with a shiny finish. Since then, designer colours have emerged into modern times, alongside great styles & designs. Modern leather furniture allows us to have more of a say in the creative sides. This means customers can personalise & customise options to suit their personal tastes & requirements. This enables interior décor to be more sentimental, fun, valuable & unique.

• Sports

Leather balls have existed for over hundreds of years. The leather fabric is inevitably shaped & cut so it can be sewn into a ball. Manufacturers use leather for sporting good equipment because it adapts to the distinctive specific requirements needed for each product. Multiple tanning & mechanical methods make this possible. Hide selection & manufacturing processes are taken into accountability. Leather in sports is an extremely profitable business due to the fact that leather is pliable & durable, resulting in extreme versatility. From making baseball gloves to protective garments, leather is a must have in the sports industries.

There are several sporting products made from leather which include, baseballs, baseball gloves, footballs, cricket balls, golf gloves & more. Many sports all over the world use leather for reliable & durable purposes however the most well-known sports including, baseball, cricket, football in the US or commonly known as American football.

In American football, balls were originally made from an inflated pig bladder, placing a leather cover over the top. Modern times provide a rubber or plastic bladder but most still use a leather cover. This becomes resourceful because leather can be stretched, shaped into the perfect ball known as an ergonomic ball in American football. In order to form the structure & shape of the ball, leather strips & shaped & stitched together. Majority of ball manufacturers tan their leather in order to provide a tacky grip when used in wet conditions & dry. This is an important consideration & factor in a game. During NFL Super bowl games each player receives around 108 leather balls. Before the games begin the balls endure rigorous testing to ensure reliability & authenticity. In British rugby leather balls were used, however heavy rain incorporated with the absorptive properties of leather meant that the ball became too heavy during games, instead synthetic balls are now used.

Baseballs are historically created from leather & baseball gloves are still made from leather material as it provides the best possible grip & protection for catchers, particularly because balls can travel at such high speeds. Ball sports are not the only common uses for leather, F1 races also specialise in thin suede leather driving gloves, as they are the only required material which provide sensitivity for steering during a race. Motorcycle racers also dress in leather suits which are required for safety purposes in case of falling off their bikes during high speeds. Every suit is made from high quality leather to ensure abrasion protection. The use of real good quality premium leather is required for high league sporting games.

• Equestrian goods

Equestrian goods are products such as saddles, reins, harnesses, bridles, breastplates & martingales which are horse tack equipment. The leather used for tack is structured to endure difficult weather conditions such as mud, sand, rain, dust. Sweat can also play a factor which can affect the leathers quality. For example, a build-up of dust can become abrasive over time. The acidity of sweat can leave marks & rust/tear on the tack. To maintain the durability of leather it is vital to clean it on a regular basis. Saddles & bridles have particularly sensitive areas which are subject to common friction which are more prone to abrasion. Saddles are a vital part of tack & one of the most expensive pieces. They need to be adjusted correctly & cared for appropriately. From regular use saddles will be put under a lot of stress. Conditioning leather tack & maintaining leather care is a must for longevity. It's essential to choose high quality leather tack to ensure its long lasting & can also lower chances of injuries for both horse & rider. The higher quality & strength of the leather tack the more reliable, resilient/safer for the rider & horse. A saddle in a bad condition will become dry & crack, it can also become fragile resulting in danger.

Around 2000 BC, early man began to ride horses, however they rode mostly bareback or sat on a piece of animal hide or cloth. They did not have saddles nor stirrups for their horses however evidence of bridles, harnesses & reins have been found in the iron age period & bronze. Ancient Greeks also often rode bareback. It was not until the late iron age period were saddles first began to appear. The early people began to recognise that riding for long periods of times was discomforting so then early saddles began to emerge which attributed towards a padded barrier between the rider & the horses. As with all inventions, they start premature & simple then evolve into more elaborate & decorative ideas.

Around 700 BC in the middle east, the Assyrian warriors went into battle using decorative saddle cloth which had strips which embodied griths. From evidence found from the 5th century BC in a Scythian tomb there was witness of a saddle cover which was decorated in detailed manner with animal motifs made from felt, hair, gold & leather. The Scythians used cushioned saddles & griths & were likely to even have leather stirrups back then.

The developments of leather tack continued & were to only get better as more people began to use horses for battles, they created new advanced ways to balance on a horse more easily whilst in battle. Being able to balance more easily meant they could use a spear more effectively. During the 3rd century AD the Sarmatians created & discovered a leather saddle & are credited with the development overall, this also included developments of a mental stirrup & a spur.

Different types of saddles are implemented for different equestrian events, for example a horse racing saddle & a show jumping saddle will not be the same although the structure of the saddle is similar but different equestrian events require a different weight, shape & size. Every base of a saddle is called a saddle tree which consists of fibre glass or wood. This should be appropriately fit for every individual horse because every horse will have a different shape & size, once consisting of glass or wood, it's then covered with leather. Real leather for saddles is the best & will often be used professionally for the best grip & performance.

• Body Armour

Protective leather wear for armour was one of the earliest & long-lasting types of leather wear. It’s existed since humans have needed clothing & protection. Leather armour is developed in order to protect a wearer from injury. These garments were specially worn in historical times. They were worn by knights & warriors during battles, they were either worn alone or accompanied underneath metal armour. Early soldiers wore leather armour to additionally plate armour in areas where metal plate armour was unsuitable & impractical, areas such as elbows & knees. It was also occasionally used as a protective layer around the neck & face. This provided lightweight daily protection & a generous amount of warmth. During battles & hunting, it was worn by many men in the medieval period.

Traditionally the earliest Armour was made from thick, layered leather, which protected a wearer's skin from scrapes, slashes & falls. Cuir bouilli, the French process, which is a boiled leather, was a historical material common in the Middle Ages. This type of leather was developed to be tough & rigid, which is hardened through the tanning process, it was used for body armour which was generally cheaper & lighter in weight than plate armour. However boiled amour was not tough enough to withstand a gunshot or stabbing.

• Book Binding

Book binding is another common & traditional use for leather however it isn’t quite as common in the period of mass-produced paperbacks, but it’s still provided for some premium editions. The most used animals for book binding are goat, calf, sheep skin & kangaroo, these hides are great uses for which can provide the best possible durability for book binding. However, the process of how the leather is tanned, dyed & whether it’s had any pigmented & embossed finishes on the surfaces will really determine durability & workability. When choosing leather for a book repair or new book binding it's vital to have a good understanding of the material when deciding on the best leather.

There are several varieties of book binding however nothing is quite so unique & durable as leather bond books. In Circa 400, leather appeared for book binding, the earliest evidence is from an edition of “Acts of the Aposties” written in Coptic. Leather has a long history in the western book binding tradition. The oldest surviving book in the world is endured from ‘Nag Hammadi library which consists of 13 Coptic papyrus codex bound in leather. During some of the early periods in western book binding, a book including loose pages covered by wooden boards, those boards were developed in order to protect the pages & the addition of leather cords made it easier to use, the leather hinges were expanded to cover the whole area of the wood surface. Until the 19th century books were being published in either binding development from a book seller or temporary bindings which were then later to be replaced by a professional binder.

• Accessories

The popularity of leather in fashion is widely known & appreciated however leather is also extremely popular in accessories. From growing high demand in handbags & shoes to watches, jewellery & even phone covers. In today’s market, leather handbags serve as one of the most luxurious & fashionable & must have accessory items. Top designer’s brands like Gucci & Burberry will sell their high quality leather bags for premium prices.

If you’re looking for fashion accessories which are eye-catching with great texture, colour, shape & durability then several materials can correlate to your personal tastes & requirements however the main & best one is leather material of course. This is used traditionally by craftsmanship dating from years back. To strengthen brand value, many famous designers use this material primarily to make a bold, fashionable, luxurious, statement. For producing extremely high-quality leather, the following animal skins such as goat, sheep & cow are great for longevity purposes for creating handbags & other accessories.

Leather belts date all way back in the bronze age from 3000 BC – 1050 BC) however it took quite a while for the leathering processes to elaborate & become more advanced. In the latter stages of the 19th century belts were used as part of military uniform, commonly among officers. In the beginning belts were used for utilitarian purposes which meant they would place tools & weapons in their belts, they were worn around the waist & designed to keep weapons in place. These were the first belts in history. Women started wearing belts much later in history but for the same purposes… utilitarian reasons. Women during the Middle Ages carried their purses & fans on their belt, the belt served almost as a modern bag. Waist belts became popular in fashion & were more of a style statement, women wore them with their blouses & dresses. Waist belts remain a popular accessory to this day, so ladies if you’re thinking about styling ones with your sexy leather dresses or even complimenting a tight, fit leather skirt around the waist then go right ahead because this accessory is widely versatile & fashionable, you can’t go wrong. Belts are one the oldest accessories & played a major role in society & civilisation, therefore it should be greatly credited.

Leather jewellery was quite prominent even during the ancient times it played a key role in the development of society. Leather jewellery can range from bracelets, earrings to necklaces. Methods like cutting the leather, using leather punches & rolling & covering wire with leather are the processes of general leather craftsmanship. Leather bracelets are particularly a huge fashion statement in todays modern world & worn by both men & women. They can be a sophisticated piece of jewellery & are often even worn with suits. Adding a leather bracelet to a suit & trouser combo delivers a sense of sophistication & elegance. Women’s options are also just as versatile, ladies you can consider accessorising a leather bracelet with almost anything, from pairing it with tight lacing corsets to even a dressed down attire like sweats. Options are endless, because either way you are guaranteed an elegant finish to your outfit.

Watches are also a great accessory & another style item crafted from leather. Almost every person owns a watch, they arrive in all different colours of leather & designs making outfits look smart, sophisticated & unique. Men’s leather jeans with a white sweater or t-shirt would complement a black leather watch beautifully, adding a final touch of elegance to almost every outfit. Accessorising with high quality leather is always a great way to arrive in style.

Caring & cleaning for your leather products

Real leather can easily absorb liquid due to it being naturally absorbent. This can make it easily prone to staining & can be somewhat difficult to clean. Real leather generally needs to be cleaned twice a year, so it remains soft & avoids drying out. It's vital to stay away from abrasive cleaners when caring for your leather items. Artificial leather will be more adaptable to cleaning because it doesn’t absorb liquids, if you maintain proper care for your faux leather, you will get longer use out of it. Bonded leather should be avoided when it comes to abrasive cleaners, this is because the surface is prone to wear, peel & crack.

Most will use soap to tackle stains however this is not a good approach for leather since it can leave residue which can prevent the leather material from breathing. This may cause cracking & patches. Instead mix lenient mild soap or clothing detergent with clean warm water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. When needed, spray the mixture onto a soft cloth & gently remove the stain. Once the stain has dissolved, allow the leather item to dry. To protect leather, leather moisturisers are a handy investment.

Purchasing Leather protectant is great for avoiding bad weather conditions & ensuring your clothing will not be stained during the time you’re wearing it. Different types of leather will require different types of cleaning methods so its important to check the inner side pocket of clothing to find manufactures cleaning instructions. Leather wipes are highly recommended. When cleaning through original methods such as washing machine it's important to make sure detergent is minimal & it's set on a delicate wash cycle. This is ensuring your garment won’t be damaged.

Real leather vs Fake leather

If you’re in a shop for leather clothing or any kind of shop that sells leather items then you may have noticed that there can be a variety of leathers to choose from & sometimes it can be hard to tell the differences. Segregating the differences between these leather types can be difficult. Leather ranges from ‘100% real’ to a ‘real & artificial’ mix to just being ‘artificial’. When shopping for leather products there are three main types of leather you may come across, this includes real, bonded & faux. If you can identify the differences, then it will guarantee help you make better purchasing decisions & also help you find the right leather material best suited for you.

Real leather which can also be identified as full grain leather is the most expensive & highest quality leather. Full grain is the top layer of the animal hide which has natural imperfections. Due to its thickness, it can be hard to work with, but it is the most durable type.

Bonded leather is leftovers/scraps of genuine leather, mixed with a polyurethane binder. Bonded leather consists of mostly 10 – 20% real leather.

Faux leather (fake leather) is an artificial leather made from thermoplastic polymer.

Let’s delve deep into how to spot the differences of leather materials & how to avoid purchasing the fake.

• Identifying the label

Looking at the tabs or labels will reveal if a leather item is real or not, a leather item will proudly note on a label that it is “100% real leather” & if its “full/top grain leather”. If this is stated then you’re headed in the right direction towards purchasing real leather.

• Spotting fake leather.

If the label states “man-made material” then it's most likely synthetic which is flexible polyvinyl chloride, in abbreviation (PVC). If it doesn’t note anything at all about the material of the leather then it’s likely its PVC or some other synthetic polymer, otherwise real leather will always be proudly stated. Real leather is also a lot more expensive than faux leather so check the price & if it's too good to be true then it's most likely fake leather. Real leather is going to be the most expensive as it’s hard to manufacture & it’s made up of real leather. Faux leather is cheaper than real but will cost a little more than bonded leather. Bonded leather is generally the cheapest of all leather types because it’s the thinnest, produced up of scrap leather with a thin paper backing adhered.

• Look at its appearance

Real leather has the most natural appearance, its surface structure will include blemishes & imperfections, imperfections in leather are a good sign. The texture of real leather is smooth & soft, unlike faux leathers.

Faux leather is uniformed in terms of structure. An even consistent texture pattern is an immense sign that its machine made. Fake leather gets its real leather look by having a polyvinyl chloride surface applied. That’s how fake leather gets its real leather look, though it can sometimes look synthetic, it’s the closest in appearance to real leather, it may even look or feel like it, however in order to avoid the faux, the texture differences should be identified. Remember real leather has the most natural look, & its texture is inconsistent unlike artificial.

• Get a good feel of the leather

Again, real leather is a natural material therefore when you run your fingers over the fabric it won’t feel completely, perfectly smooth, & if you press a finger into the leather's surface it will stretch & wrinkle a little, similar to skin.

With faux leather, it will feel cold & unnaturally even. When you press your finger into the material it won’t react like skin. Instead of stretching & wrinkling it will depress under your finger & retain its previous shape instead.

• Smell it

You’ll notice if you’ve smelt real leather before that it obtains a distinctive smell. Its scent is natural, organic with fragments of skin.

Faux leather smells like plastic & chemicals, so if you smell a leather item which smells plasticky, with hints of chemical undertones then it is most definitely synthetic. Bonded leather on the other hand also possesses an artificial smell but with its real leather material added, it may smell like real leather.

• Durability differences

The longevity of real leather is great over time because it does not peel or crack, rather than wearing out it will instead develop a patina on its natural surface over time.

PU leather or faux is not as durable as real leather but compared to bonded leather it’s slightly more durable. PU leather isn’t a breathable fabric & is guaranteed to crack over time. Unlike bonded leather PU leather can be resistant towards stains. Bonded leather has a short life span & the colour can possibly fade in the sunlight. Since bonded leather is made from scrapes of real leather with polyurethane mixed & has a paper backing, therefore it is much like paper which can easily be scratched, flaked off or peeled over time. Fake leather doesn’t have pores so it restricts it from breathing properly which can result in a build of sweat when being worn as clothing. Real leather is a much better choice for breathable, long-lasting clothing or items.

Benefits to the environment.

Since real leather is not a vegan material it can sometimes be a put off to some customers. Pu/faux leather is the best option when looking for a vegan product because it will last longer then bonded leather. 100% PU leather is another great option for customers who don’t want to purchase real. PU leather is also cheaper. Bonded leather is not a vegan product since it contains 10 to 20 % real leather. However, since vegan leather is made up of plastics & toxins it’s extremely harmful for the environment therefore it doesn’t conduct itself as being environmentally friendly. Vegan leather can be slightly misleading.

Studies & evidence shows that vegan diets are less harmful for our planet, most individuals are quick to consider this. This behaviour & attitude may often lead to the assumption that we should be implementing the same approach when it comes to our clothing wear, particularly leather can raise suspicions.

With the rise of fake leather pervading the modern market & masquerading itself as genuine leather, the impact & effects on the environment has significantly increased. Especially since there’s a high demand & popularity for vegan alternatives, therefore brands are catering to this, however it has a bad impact on our environment. Most of the low-grade bonded leather is associated with plastics & toxic fibres. Clothing made from plastic poses a threat, when being manufactured & towards the end of its lifespan. This is because it can end up in water & landfill causing it to take years to degrade. This results in the release of dangerous chemicals in both soil & water. This then releases toxic chemicals into the environment. Studies show that nearly 13 million tonnes of synthetic fibres invade our oceans each year. Turning skin into fake leather requires an immense amount of energy & dangerous chemicals which also include mineral salts. Micro plastic pollution is a big threat to the environment as it uses large amounts of water, chemicals & energy in order to transform it into material, this can be damaging to the planet. Real leather takes on a more natural approach without harsh chemicals & disposes easier. Leather can be eco-friendly when the products are tanned through a natural process without the use of chemicals.

A major key & unknown benefit of natural leather is that it is brilliant for adding to a compost mixture. Real leather can break down over time & therefore can be recycled as garden fertiliser unlike fake leather. This correlates back to the original outdated history of humans using all parts of an animal for natural, organic, well-intentioned purposes.

Although artificial/fake leather also known as vegan leather is cut down on animal cruelty, it still plays a huge environmental risk factor & is not the best material for environmentalism. It requires a considerable amount of fossil fuels & to add to that, it also releases dioxins which is not only bad for humans but harmful for animals too. The dioxins linger through the environment even after it’s been manufactured. Real leather is of course more eco friendly & better for the planet therefore it should be more considered & favoured than fake leather.

leatherotics

We at Leatherotics are a UK online shop for leather clothing. We introduce the best, high quality, leather garments, ranging from Tight fit leather skirts, Sexy leather dresses, Tight lacing corsets & more.

We take pride in manufacturing, designing & supplying full grain leather (the highest quality leather). We produce exceptional, fine, textured leather for all our products. You are more than welcome to order a free leather sample before purchasing. Ensuring you purchase with confidence & satisfaction.