Leather: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 14:14, 21 February 2025

Leather[edit]

Leather is a durable and flexible material created by tanning animal rawhide and skins, often cattle hide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from traditional methods to modern techniques.

History[edit]

Leather has been used by humans for thousands of years. Early humans used leather for clothing, shelter, and tools. The process of tanning, which involves treating the skins and hides of animals to produce leather, has evolved significantly over time.

Tanning Process[edit]

The tanning process is essential in transforming raw hides into leather. There are several methods of tanning, including vegetable tanning, chrome tanning, and aldehyde tanning.

Vegetable Tanning[edit]

Vegetable tanning is one of the oldest methods, using tannins found in plant matter. This process is environmentally friendly and produces leather that is firm and durable.

Chrome Tanning[edit]

Chrome tanning is a modern method that uses chromium salts. It is faster than vegetable tanning and produces softer, more pliable leather.

Aldehyde Tanning[edit]

Aldehyde tanning uses glutaraldehyde or oxazolidine compounds. This method is often used for making "wet white" leather, which is chrome-free.

Modern Leather Production[edit]

Modern leather production involves several steps, including preparation, tanning, and finishing. The preparation stage involves cleaning and soaking the hides, while the finishing stage includes dyeing and surface treatment.

Uses of Leather[edit]

Leather is used in a wide range of products, including clothing, footwear, accessories, furniture, and automotive interiors. Its durability and aesthetic appeal make it a popular choice for many applications.

Leather in Fashion[edit]

Leather is a staple in the fashion industry, used in the production of jackets, bags, shoes, and belts. It is valued for its texture, durability, and timeless style.

Environmental Impact[edit]

The leather industry has a significant environmental impact, particularly in terms of water usage and pollution. Efforts are being made to develop more sustainable practices, such as using eco-friendly tanning methods and recycling leather products.

Related Pages[edit]

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-'''Leather''' is a durable and flexible material created by tanning animal rawhide and skins. The most common raw material is cattle hide. It can be produced at manufacturing scales ranging from artisan to modern industrial scale.
+== Leather ==
-==Types of Leather==
+[[File:Leathertools.jpg|thumb|right|Traditional leatherworking tools.]]
-Leather is used to make a variety of articles, including footwear, automobile seats, clothing, bags, book bindings, fashion accessories, and furniture. It is produced in a wide variety of types and styles and decorated by a wide range of techniques.
-===Vegetable-tanned Leather===
+'''Leather''' is a durable and flexible material created by [[tanning]] animal rawhide and skins, often [[cattle|cattle hide]]. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from traditional methods to modern techniques.
-[[Vegetable-tanned leather]] is tanned using tannins extracted from vegetable matter, such as tree bark prepared in bark mills. It is supple and brown in color, with the exact shade depending on the mix of materials and the color of the skin.
-===Chrome-tanned Leather===
+== History ==
-[[Chrome-tanned leather]], invented in 1858, is tanned using chromium sulfate and other chromium salts. It is more supple and pliable than vegetable-tanned leather and does not discolor or lose shape as drastically in water as vegetable-tanned.
-===Aldehyde-tanned Leather===
+Leather has been used by humans for thousands of years. Early humans used leather for clothing, shelter, and tools. The process of tanning, which involves treating the skins and hides of animals to produce leather, has evolved significantly over time.
-[[Aldehyde-tanned leather]] is tanned using glutaraldehyde or oxazolidine compounds. It is referred to as "wet white" due to its pale cream color. It is the main type of leather used in chrome-free leather often seen in cars and baby shoes.
-==Leather Production Processes==
+[[File:Bodleian_Libraries,_Imaginary_Portrait.jpg|thumb|left|Imaginary portrait of a leatherworker from the past.]]
-Leather production processes include: [[preparatory stages]], [[tanning]], and [[crusting]]. All true leathers undergo these processes. A further subprocess, [[finishing]], can be added into the leather process sequence, but not all leathers receive finishing.
-==Environmental Impact==
+== Tanning Process ==
-The natural fibers of leather break down with the passage of time. Acidic leathers are particularly vulnerable to red rot, which causes powdering of the surface and a change in consistency. Damage from red rot is aggravated by high temperatures and relative humidities.
-==See Also==
+The tanning process is essential in transforming raw hides into leather. There are several methods of tanning, including vegetable tanning, chrome tanning, and aldehyde tanning.
-* [[Artificial leather]]
-* [[Bicast leather]]
-* [[Bonded leather]]
-* [[Vegan leather]]
+=== Vegetable Tanning ===
+Vegetable tanning is one of the oldest methods, using tannins found in plant matter. This process is environmentally friendly and produces leather that is firm and durable.
+=== Chrome Tanning ===
+Chrome tanning is a modern method that uses chromium salts. It is faster than vegetable tanning and produces softer, more pliable leather.
+=== Aldehyde Tanning ===
+Aldehyde tanning uses glutaraldehyde or oxazolidine compounds. This method is often used for making "wet white" leather, which is chrome-free.
+[[File:Leather_tanning,_Fes.jpg|thumb|right|Traditional leather tanning in Fes, Morocco.]]
+== Modern Leather Production ==
+Modern leather production involves several steps, including preparation, tanning, and finishing. The preparation stage involves cleaning and soaking the hides, while the finishing stage includes dyeing and surface treatment.
+[[File:Modern-day_tannery.jpg|thumb|left|A modern-day tannery.]]
+== Uses of Leather ==
+Leather is used in a wide range of products, including clothing, footwear, accessories, furniture, and automotive interiors. Its durability and aesthetic appeal make it a popular choice for many applications.
+[[File:«PhoneCases».png|thumb|right|Leather phone cases.]]
+== Leather in Fashion ==
+Leather is a staple in the fashion industry, used in the production of jackets, bags, shoes, and belts. It is valued for its texture, durability, and timeless style.
+[[File:Rajasthani_style_Leather_Jooti,local_artwork_Jaipur_India.jpg|thumb|left|Rajasthani style leather jooti from Jaipur, India.]]
+== Environmental Impact ==
+The leather industry has a significant environmental impact, particularly in terms of water usage and pollution. Efforts are being made to develop more sustainable practices, such as using eco-friendly tanning methods and recycling leather products.
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Tanning (leather)]]
+* [[Leather crafting]]
+* [[Leather jacket]]
+* [[Leather shoe]]
+* [[Leather furniture]]
+[[Category:Leather]]
 [[Category:Materials]]
-[[Category:Leather]]
+[[Category:Fashion]]
-[[Category:Animal products]]
-[[Category:Goods (economics)]]
-{{stub}}
-<gallery>
-File:Leathertools.jpg|Leather tools
-File:Leder trocknung in Suai.jpg|Leather drying in Suai
-File:Leather tanning, Fes.jpg|Leather tanning in Fes
-File:Tanned leather.JPG|Tanned leather
-File:Modern-day tannery.jpg|Modern-day tannery
-File:Bodleian Libraries, Imaginary Portrait.jpg|Imaginary portrait
-File:«PhoneCases».png|Phone cases
-File:Rajasthani style Leather Jooti, local artwork Jaipur India.jpg|Rajasthani style leather Jooti, local artwork Jaipur India
-File:Tuska 20130630 - Amaranthe - 20.jpg|Amaranthe performance
-</gallery>