Ostrich leather: all you need to know about this luxury skin
The leather world is full of amazing things like elegance, luxury, durability, beauty, comfort, and so much more. These qualities are magnified when it comes to exotic skins. In this blog, we’ll dive into one such exotic leather: ostrich leather.
Table of Contents
what is ostrich leather?
As the name suggest, ostrich leather is sourced from the largest living bird on Earth that is called ostrich. Skin is typically derived from their large legs and back area.
Ostrich skin is known for its unique texture, it has distinct bumps on its surface. Ostrich skin texture is so high in demand that other leathers are often embossed in ostrich leather print artificially.
Despite being beautiful, Ostrich leather is also highly durable and flexible. Due to the presence of natural oil, ostrich skin can resist cracking and easily withstand various elements of nature. Hence, used for products intended to harsh usage.
Ostrich leather is used by high end fashion brands to make items like luxury handbags, shoes, wallets, boots, belts and many more.
Origin of ostrich leather
In ancient times, ostriches were indeed hunted for food and their feathers. However, it wasn’t until the mid-19th century that ostrich leather gained recognition as a valuable material for crafting luxury goods.
Ostrich farming first started in South Africa, followed by countries like the United States and Zimbabwe as demand increased. During the late 19th and 20th centuries, the popularity of ostrich leather increased significantly in Europe, where it became a status symbol for the elite.
Up until today, due to advancements in farming and tanning techniques, ostrich leather remains in high demand and is used by many high-end luxury fashion houses like Hermès and others.
How to tell if it is real ostrich skin
It’s not possible for counterfeiters to copy such beautiful skin like ostrich and you can easily tell the real ostrich skin
1.| Price
The first thing to note is the price. Exotic leathers like ostrich are known for their high prices due to their exclusivity. If the price seems unusually low, it’s a red flag and worth investigating further.
2.| Touch and feel
when you run your hand along the leather you will be able to feel the distinct quill bumps on the real ostrich skin, each quill bump will form a unique diamond-shaped pattern. On the other hand, you can easily see the uniformity in the embossed ostrich print.
3.| Brand
You should always check the brand of the leather goods you are buying, as some brands only use genuine ostrich leather. It’s important to consider purchasing luxury leather goods, such as ostrich leather items, from reputable vendors.
Is ostrich leather expensive?
Yes, ostrich leather is expensive as it is one of the most exotic skins and cannot directly be compared to other mainstream leather such as cow skin, goat leather, etc. Due to the presence of follicles and less skin area, the production process becomes complicated and expensive.
It is one of the biggest reasons why some of the big iconic luxury fashion houses like Prada, Gucci, Smythson, Bottega Veneta, and Louis Vuitton use ostrich leather to make it luxurious.
Grades of ostrich leather
The value of ostrich skin depends on the overall size of the skin and crown area.
The ostrich skin is categorized based on size and grade of skin. The size of ostrich skin is typically measured in square feet.
The size and thickness of the skin, as well as follicle area is depends on the maturity of the birds at the time of slaughter.
The grade of ostrich leather depends on the part of bird skin called crown area. It is categorized into Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C.
Grade A
Grade A leather has no or little defect on the edges of the crown area and the whole crown portion is usable. It is the most expensive part of ostrich leather.
Grade B
Grade B leather has 1-3 small defects on the crown area and 3/4th of the crown area is usable.
Grade C
Grade C has over 3 defects and only half of the crown area is usable.
Conclusion
Well, I hope you’ve found answers to all your questions, such as what is ostrich leather and Why is it so expensive. However, a common question remains: Is ostrich leather really worth the price? In my opinion, the answer is definitely yes. Considering all its qualities and the craftsmanship that goes into making it, ostrich is worth the extra investment.
For more information on leather products, you can check our other articles or you can contact us. LeatherBlues is known as one of the best stores for real leather products. Explore our amazing collection of leather garments and services.
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