Why Do We Love Leather?

Guide to Everything About Leather

Did you know that one of the most used materials for the creation of clothing and footwear since prehistoric times is leather? Would you like to know how our love for leather has evolved and in which different presentations to find it? Keep reading and you will have a basic guide for those who love leather, in addition we will give you a basic guide to the care of this durable luxurious and timeless material.

Leather through the years

The use of leather and animal skins to make clothing and accessories dates back to prehistoric times. However, the first conclusive use of leather seems to have been by the Egyptians around 1300 BC. However, it wasn’t just the Egyptians who discovered the technique of creating leather, as use of the material has been found in early colonies in Asia, Europe, and North America around the same time. At this time, leather was used in a simple way to create clothing, especially some kind of foot coverings, to protect the body and keep warm. Around the year 1200 a. The Greeks had already begun to use leather more decoratively for clothing and armor. This was furthered by the Roman Empire, who were known for their extensive, and often beautiful, use of leather in clothing, during this period leather went from being a necessity that the colonies needed to survive to a sign of wealth among the communities.

However, in modern times, leather, while expensive and considered luxurious, was used primarily in the military for items such as bomber jackets issued to pilots in the 1920s when it was yet to become a commodity. fashion, in fact, it was not until the 1960s that it became the essential accessory in the wardrobe of any fashionista.

In particular, there was nothing quite as cool as a leather jacket, mainly thanks to actors like Marlon Brando and Steve McQueen, who made the leather jacket a key element of their bad boy look. In later years, Tom Cruise made the leather bomber jacket fashionable after Top Gun.

When the ’80s rolled around, leather was seen as an extension of the popular rock, punk, and new romantic music scenes of the time. Singers like Debbie Harry and Axl Rose made leather the quintessential piece of every fan’s wardrobe, even Madonna, known as a princess of pop at the time, was rarely seen without a leather garment.

Unlike many other fabrics and garments over the years, leather has become a permanent feature of fashion and apparel. Its protective and durable qualities combined with its fashionable appeal mean that leather clothing has become timeless. It doesn’t matter if you’re a movie star, a musician or just like to look good, there’s nothing that makes you look as good as leather!

Keep reading and here we show you the most essential elements for lovers of this wonderful material, as well as teaching you how to take care of it if you already have one of them:

Leather luggage

From travel bags to trunks and suitcases, leather luggage has been popular since the late 19th century. However, leather luggage has become even more popular in recent years due to luxury fashion lines using leather in their products. Brands like Louis Vuitton and Ted Baker produce luggage bags in leather due to its durable and stylish properties. Unlike the common plastic-coated and cloth suitcases often seen hanging around baggage claim, leather is less likely to get scratches and stains. Also, with proper care and attention, any damage can be repaired. Leather is also popular in luggage due to its flexibility, a leather duffle bag will change over time to fit your items rather than a plastic material that doesn’t yield to fabric and breaks easily. Leather luggage is considered a good investment due to its durable nature and timeless look.

Leather in sport

Leather in sports is an extremely lucrative business, perhaps due to the fact that its flexible and durable qualities make it so versatile. From the manufacture of balls, gloves and protective clothing, leather is essential in most sports.

In American football, balls were first made from an inflated pig’s bladder, but with a leather covering on top. These days soccer balls have a rubber or plastic bladder, but most still use a leather cover. This is because leather is a material that can be stretched and shaped into the perfect ergonomic ball known in American football. The leather strips are shaped and then sewn to form the chosen shape.

Most ball manufacturers also specifically tan their leather to provide a tacky grip when used in both wet and dry conditions, which is particularly important in a game. During the NFL Super Bowl each team will receive 108 leather footballs – 54 for training and 54 for play, which will be subject to rigorous testing before a game to ensure authenticity and tampering. British rugby used to be played with leather balls, however the heavy rain combined with the absorbent properties of leather made the ball too heavy. Synthetic balls are now used.

Cricket balls also use leather covers over a cork core, similar to how baseballs were historically made from leather. Baseball gloves are still made from leather, as the material provides the best grip and protection for catchers, especially since these balls can travel at such high speeds.

However, it’s not just ball sports that use leather, many other sports do as well. Formula 1 drivers may be clad from head to toe in a highly scientific flame-retardant synthetic material, but drivers still insist on fine suede leather gloves, as only these provide the sensitivity needed for steering during a race.

Motorcycle racers dress in leather suits. to protect themselves if they fall off the motorcycle at high speed. Every rider has a suit that is tailor made as this is vitally important in a crash to ensure the right amount of protection is on the right areas of the body. This includes protection built into the suit’s knees and elbows, which are used for impact protection when cornering and during crashes. Each suit is made with high quality leather as this will provide the most protection against abrasion. Gymnastic equipment is also traditionally made of leather, including vault boxes and pommel horses.

Cuero en Accesorios

Similar to the popularity of leather in fashion clothing, leather is also an extremely popular material for accessories. From handbags and even high-end fashion shoes, leather is also popular in jewelry, watches, and phone cases.

Leather handbags are considered to be the most luxurious on the market and many top designers such as Gucci and Burberry will sell their leather handbags for a price that is hard to believe Leather is particularly popular as a material for handbags due to its distinctive feel, longevity and beautiful smell. If cared for correctly, these bags will last you a lifetime.

In fact, anything made from leather is considered a luxury in the world of fashion accessories, which is why you’ll see jewelry designers like Thomas Sabo selling leather chains and bracelets alongside jewelry versions, with very little difference in price. price. Similar to the idea of a leather jacket or leather pants evoking a sense of rebellion, leather accessories can do the same. It is an incredibly diverse material that can be marketed in many walks of life. Of course, it’s not just the fashion industry that uses leather for accessories. Leather is also a popular material due to its lightness, longevity, and strength. Therefore, it is popular in boots used for activities such as hiking, driving gloves due to its natural grip, and is the most popular material for men’s belts.

Types of leather and it's care

Proper maintenance and care of leather is essential for your leather accessories to stay alive, as without proper maintenance and care the leather will begin to crack and appear dry and dull in color. Do not worry, it is not difficult to maintain that appearance and quality, but you have to know what type of leather we are talking about in order to adequately prolong the useful life of any of the aforementioned accessories.

First of all, you should know if your accessories are waterproof since they tend to be made with extra-durable leather, which makes it more resistant and will make cleaning easier.

In case it is not waterproof, you only need to use a soft brush and moisten it a little in water with a little soap to remove residue and remaining dirt. Then you just have to rinse with warm water and let it dry for a whole day. Be sure to purchase a leather conditioning cream and apply it to all exterior areas of your accessory’s leather.

Suede

With this type of fabric you have to be extremely careful since it is very easy for it to be damaged or change color if we apply water, for which it is very important that you use warm and clean water without soaps or alcohol or other cleaners that can damage the delicate texture of this material. Then you must let the small remains dry on the material and with a semi-rigid brush comb the debris from the boot, then with a cloth clean the remaining ones trying to preserve the color

Exotic Skins

This type of leather is normally quite delicate and should be treated with the most thorough cleaning methods as this type of exotic leather must be treated with a more delicate and gentle technique than typical leathers to prolong its useful life, but like all it is important that we keep them hydrated with special moisturizers, conditioners or special quality oils

The type of leather you have determines the care you should give it. Here we leave you a basic guide in case you have any of these materials:

Ostrich leather

Use a cloth for delicate skins and dampen it a little to gently clean the surface, ostrich leather is very sensitive to oils so you must first make sure if the type of skin you have does not react in a counterproductive way to your accessory, try it on a small area, before carefully applying it to the rest of your piece.

Reptile leather

If you own any of those accessories that are very popular in Australia and currently popularized by brands like Chanel, you should use a soft bristle brush to clean this type of leather and then apply a moisturizer.

Fish leather

Currently it has become popular for brands such as Dior and Ferragamo, making it an essential attraction and if you have this type of leather in your accessories, carefully brush the leather of your accessory to remove dirt in this way and then apply a moisturizing conditioner

Shark Leather

If you get to own this type of leather you will realize that it is one of the most durable, but it still requires special care, if it has been stained you should only use a cleaner for exotic leathers, but if you do not have this product you should only apply Mild soap for baby skin and to remove imperfections. Once clean, generously apply a conditioner.

Stingray Leather

This type of leather has become popular in eco-friendly sneakers like the popular Ryfish Footwear. You don’t have to apply water to this type of leather, but you can apply moisturizer, but make sure it’s top quality in a bag, your favorite boots, your jacket. winter or the decoration of your house, you already know that your investment will last for many years if you give it the necessary care, dare to acquire accessories in this material that, in addition to being considered luxury, will be super resistant over the years and will undoubtedly be an essential element in your life.

So now you know, if you are thinking of purchasing a leather accessory soon, do not forget these simple tips to preserve it for generations and generations with minimal wear, since it is what leather offers us: durability, luxury, beauty and a amazing quality.