Obviously, you really want to know what types of leather are used in shoes. But to be frank with you, numerous types of leather are used in shoe production, and I will go into their names and details as we proceed.
Let’s look at it from this perspective why are there so many different types of leather for making shoes?
But due to my experience in the footwear industry, most reasons for numerous leather are because of the change in seasons.
Changes in seasons make shoe companies invest a lot in different types of leather due to the availability of raw materials and tools for discovery. All of these were able to get done.
Different types of leather for different types of seasons just like during the rainy season there is a specific leather shoe you can put on without worrying about the materials getting spoiled, and the same goes for other seasons too.
Below Are The Types Of Leather Used In The Making Of Shoes.
1. Calfskin leather: is a type of leather that is made from the hide of young domestic cattle.
2. Cowhide leather: this is leather that is made from a cow’s raw skin and hair.
3. Apache leather: This leather is naturally grained, dry-drummed cow-side leather that is incredibly supple.
4. Bullhide leather: This high-quality leather has robust fiber strength and a smooth, flexible feel.
5. Pigskin leather: pigskin leather is thick leather with a relatively soft feel and excellent durability, comparable to cowhide.
6. Suede leather: suede leather is a soft-surfaced leather made from the underside of animal skin.
Chamois leather: is a split of leather with the grain removed.
7. Nubuck leather: this is a top-grain leather that has had the exterior, or grain side, smoothed or buffed to create a surface that resembles velvet.
8. Shell cordovan leather: shell cordovan is vegetable-tanned leather that receives oil treatments throughout the tanning process, giving it a unique feel.
9. Horsehide leather: naturally, horsehide leather is made from horse skin as opposed to cow skin.
10. Pull-up leather: this is a leather that, before it can produce rich, brilliant colors, aniline dye needed to be applied to pull-up leather in a drum.
11. Chromexcel leather: this leather has been tanned using the chromexcel technique. It is extraordinary because it is a combined tanning procedure.
12. Scotch grain leather: scotch grain leather is used to make shoes. Its had a surface pattern that is very strongly embossed.
13. Patent leather: This type of leather has undergone chemical finishing to create a bright shiny reflective surface.
14. Buffalo leather: this is a tanned buffalo skin from one of the domesticated buffalo species.
15. Exotic leather: Exotic leather is created either using relatively uncommon animal species or from animal skins that are infrequently used to make leather.
16. Caiman leather: caiman leather is made from crocodile skin and is the least expensive crocodilian leather.
17. Camel leather: these are made from camel skin which is hand-buffed and aniline drum-rolled, which preserves their color and uneven shade patterns and makes each one distinctive.
18. Chicken leather: this often refers to thin, fine-grain leather that is whitish-grey in color and typically made from goat or sheep.
19. Eel leather: eel leather has a high gloss, almost glaze-like, an unusual fabric-like texture, and a little elasticity.
20. Sharkskin leather: sharkskin leather is a sort of rawhide made from rough, untanned skin that was historically taken from the back of a shark or a ray.
21. Snake leather: despite being exotic, snake leather is real leather made from snakeskin.
22. Elephant leather: elephant leather is a rare exotic leather with a coarse, ripping texture, thick, and exceptionally durable.
23. Giraffe leather: giraffe leather is a leather that is durable for demanding use, yet it is relatively stiff.
24. Kangaroo leather: kangaroo leather is a strong and lightweight leather that is made from the animal’s skin.
25. Deerskin leather: deerskin leather is one of the strongest leathers that is also one of the softest, and it’s made from the skin of deer.
26. PU leather: This leather is split leather that has a polyurethane coating bonded on top to provide the appearance of top-grain leather.
Which Leather Is Best For Shoes?
Knowing which leather is best for shoes is Full Grain Leather because this is the best quality leather for shoe making.
Just like you and I would prefer quality over quantity. Having many leather shoe designs without any of them being produced from the best materials is like having a number of shoes of no quality.
While trying to get a shoe try and get a shoe that is made from quality leather because that will serve you better and look even smatter on your feet.
Is Cow Leather Good For Shoes?
Cow leather is suitable for shoes and is best in producing sturdy shoes because of its excellent quality (thick but still flexible)
Cow leather is basically used in producing a shoe with a thick and robust shaft because the thickness of the cow leather is suitable for the protection of feet and adds more strength to it.
Cow leather, by the way, also goes through some tanning process before it can be used just like the calfskin.
What Are The Best Leather Shoes?
There are numerous best leather shoes which are stated above. Just like everyone would like to dress and look lovely in their outfit, especially in shoe selection, everybody would like to go for the best quality designed leather shoes.
The best leather shoes are the shoes that are made from full-grain leather due to the quality of this type of leather material makes it more attractive when putting it.
Another good side of full-grain leather is that it supports contact and foot diseases because of its strong quality.