Exotic leather: exploring luxury skins
The leather itself is a luxurious material, as we all know, but it does not end there. Some types of leather are even more exclusive, hard to find, and possess unique properties. These leathers are not commonly seen in everyday life and can be exceptionally expensive due to their rarity. In this article, we are going to talk about such rare animal skins that are often called exotic.
Although the common meaning of the word “exotic” in English is something that comes from a foreign country. But, it means something different in the leather world. After reading this article, you will get answers to all your questions, such as: What is exotic leather? Where does it come from? And many more. So let’s dive into the world of luxury leather.
Table of Contents
what is exotic leather?
Exotic leather is a collective term that refers to the skins of animals not typically used for leather production, such as cows, sheep, or goats. These exotic skins are derived from various unusual sources like reptiles, birds, marine animals, and other unique animals.
The term “exotic leather” encompasses all rare and expensive skins. For instance, crocodile leather, snake leather, and even lizard leather all fall under the reptile leather category. Similarly, ostrich leather falls under exotic bird leather, and stingray leather falls under the exotic marine animal leather category.
Types of exotic leather
There are many types of exotic leathers, and they can be classified based on the type of creature they are derived from. Each type of exotic skin offers different appearances and functional properties, contributing to the distinct luxury associated with these exotic types of skin.
1.| Reptiles
reptiles skins such as snake, lizard, crocodile, alligator skins, and Python skin are used for their scales and unique texture. They are popular in high-end fashion for shoes, bags, and accessories.
2.| Birds
Exotic bird skins like ostrich skin are a first choice for many luxury fashion brands. It is known for its distinctive quill pattern and durability.
3.| Marine animals
Fish skins such as stingray skin and shark skins are used for their exceptional strength and surface texture.
4.| mammals
Now comes the mammal leather category, which is not as rare as compared to the above three categories like reptiles, birds, and fish skins, but they are also very distinct when compared to other animal leather types. Some of these skins even command the highest demand and price tag due to their rarity.
Elephant skin
Our list of exotic leathers is incomplete without Elephant skin. It is known for its thickness, durability, and texture. Elephant leather is one of the most controversial leathers of all, as it is extremely rare and expensive. It is highly protected by law, and its trade is strictly regulated. It should only be sourced from a recognized vendor.
Kangaroo skin
Kangaroo skin has become quite popular these days and is known for its durability as well as its very lightweight nature. Its lightweight property is one of the major reasons it is used in performance leather goods such as footwear and accessories.
Camel skin
Camel leather is one of the strongest and most durable types of leather. Its strength is one of the reasons it is often used in protective gear and clothing.
Toad/Frog skin
One of the most uncommon skins are toad and frog skins. They are known for their texture and are used in small or specialty items only.
Hippopotamus skin
Hippo leather is known for its durability and water resistance. It is used in luxury items such as handbags and wallets.
Deer skin
Deer skin is also quite unique when it comes to it softness, flexibility and durability. It is used to make protective gloves, jackets and other luxury accessories
Uses of exotic skins
Exotic skins are a top choice for many high-end luxury brands worldwide. Brands like Hermès, Prada, Gucci, Smythson, Bottega Veneta, and Louis Vuitton use various types of exotic leathers in their products, primarily catering to the elite class.
Exotic leathers can be used to make a variety of items such as shoes, clothing, bags, and upholstery. However, some leathers like toad and snake skin have size limitations, restricting their use to smaller accessories or specific areas.
Why exotic leathers are expensive
There is no single reason why these unique looking skins command very high price in market and some of the reasons are
1.| Rarity
Animals used to extract these skins are typically difficult to breed in captivity and are often rare themselves. This scarcity is one of the primary reasons why exotic hides possess a high price tag.
2.| Regulations by law
Many of these exotic animals are protected by various laws and their trade is also highly regulated which makes it difficult and expensive to obtain legally.
3.| Specialized tanning and finishing
These exotic hides from unusual sources don’t undergo conventional tanning and finishing processes. Instead, highly specialized tanning and finishing techniques are used to preserve their unique texture. These processes are usually complex and time-consuming compared to conventional leather processing, which adds to the cost.
Conclusion
Well, I hope you’ve found answers to all your questions, such as what is exotic leather and Why is it so expensive. However, a common question remains: Are exotic leathers really worth the price? In my opinion, the answer is definitely yes. Considering all its qualities and the craftsmanship that goes into making it, exotic 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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