Know the characteristics of the different types of leather for shoes with this post that Callaghan Shoes has prepared. Man discovered the advantages of leather thousands of years ago, using it to protect the body and feet. Since then this has become the favorite material for making shoes. Let’s see how far evolution has brought us in terms of the use of this material.
What are the types of leather for footwear?
First, let’s see how leather is classified according to its origin.
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Vaginal skin
It is obtained from cattle. It is characterized by being thick and can be used to obtain several layers of skin. It is very resistant and breathable, it does not wear easily.
Within this classification, we find the box-calf, one of the best types of skin, which has a soft touch and a certain rigidity. In addition, it has a characteristic pattern on the flower side. It is the most used to make elegant shoes.
The resistance of the cow skin also makes it suitable for sports shoes and everyday wear. As well as to manufacture soles.
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Lamb Leather
Another of the most used shoe making materials is lambskin. In fact, it is used regularly in other garments. The leather that is obtained from this animal is very light and thin, which makes it ideal to line the inside of the shoe. It is also very soft to the touch, this being one of the characteristics by which we can identify it.
The lambskin is resistant to treatments with chemicals to get special finishes. For example, this is the material that is used to imitate the suede (antelope) finish, since this animal is protected and can not be marketed with it.
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Deer Leather
The main characteristics of deerskin are its great elasticity and softness. We can say that it is one of the most flexible and is capable of adjusting to the shape of any foot. This makes shoes made with this type of leather perfect for those who suffer from bunions and other foot problems. By adapting to the shape, it reduces the pressure and pain points.
It is also among the most resistant types of leather, so they are used to produce different types of shoes.
On the other hand, we must warn that they are very delicate when it comes to cleaning them. If the right products are not used, the shoe will be damaged.
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Goat Leather
It is a skin of great quality and its structure is very compact. It also has a lot of flexibility and is used in the fine leather industry and in the manufacture of high-priced products.
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Pig Leather
This skin is very porous and at the same time resistant and soft. As for quality, it is lower than the previous ones; however, it is quite durable. In the footwear industry, it is used mainly in the lining of shoes.
Synthetic leather: an alternative to natural leather
There are people who reject the use of animal skin to make shoes and clothing. The influence of these groups has led the fashion industry to experiment with synthetic products.
Many popular brands have added to this alternative, using materials capable of imitating the skin very well. In fact, thanks to the advances, each time the products are closer to the real appearance of leather.
Unlike natural leather, products made from synthetic materials tend to be cheaper.
But if you are one of the people who still prefer to buy natural leather shoes, we recommend that you learn to distinguish between both types of materials. Imitations can be very good and confuse the buyer.
The main characteristics that you have to pay attention to are the touch and the smell. The smell of leather is very characteristic of the material, while the imitations smell like plastic. The texture of both is different. In the real leather, the pores of the skin are noticed and not in the one of imitation.
The next time you go to buy shoes, look at these characteristics very well to know if they are real leather or not.
Are you interested in how to care for your leather shoes? Look at this video that shows how you should clean them according to the type of leather?
We hope that with this post you have learned to differentiate between the different types of leather for shoes and learned about the characteristics of each one. Remember to contact our store if you are interested in knowing more about our products.