The first leather product wasmanufactured in this world, when the primitive man covered himself with theskins of animals he killed. Leather is a natural commodity that is valued allacross the globe. Leathercraft is one of the first manufactured materials, andis a very ancient profession. Products made from leather are always in demandand are quite expensive as well. This is an old and hereditary craft. Raw hidesand skins of animals are tanned and converted into leather. A wide range ofaccessories are being manufactured from leather.
- Leather Bags,
- Furniture,
- Purses,
- Luggage,
- Briefcases,
- Tooled belts,
- Handbags,
- Puppetry,
- Wallets, and
- Address Books are a few to name.
Leather has some majorconstraints. They were damp, putrefying, and lost their flexibility andsoftness upon drying. Tanning helps to overcome these issues. It stopsputrefying, and keeps the leather soft and flexible after drying.
Accessories:
Over the years, leatheraccessories have grown to be an indispensible part of ones everyday life. Initiallyit was used only for clothing purposes. During the lapse of time, it was beingused for making many other things creatively. Leather accessories availabletoday are a gamut of products like; leather skirts, coats, riding jackets,pants, handbags, vests, shorts, tank tops halter and many more. It is beingpreferred in many accessories due to its sturdy and versatile features. Beautifully crafted leatherhandbags and purses for women are available in a wide assortment of colors andprices to suit every ones choice. Portfolios and bags serve as a persons bestoffice and travel partner. A few other desktop items like pen holder, frames,book covers, card holder, laptop bags, and passport holders etc have gainedutmost importance in corporate offices. Leather bags are the first choice ofcompanies who prefer to gift their clients and employees. The main applicationof leather is in the footwear industry.
LeatherPuppetry:
Puppetry is a traditional form ofentertainment, which is being practiced; time immemorial. Puppeteers usedifferent materials including leather dolls to demonstrate this folk art.Usually deer skin and goat hide are used, as they can be easily colored, andlasts for centuries. Hides of donkeys, buffalos, and camels are also used. Leatherpuppets are much in demand in the western countries.
Designer Leathercrafts:
Fashionable, leather, designer accessories made from sheepskin, suede, and snakeskin are now becoming increasingly popular. Fashionable and cozy hand made sheep skin scarves, and hats make a fashion statement adding a touch of luxury. It also makes an ideal gift as there is no question of fitting. Most popular varieties are Toscana, lambskin, Mongolian lamb, and merino. Ornamented belts with gemstones, and oxidized metals etc give a rich look. Mens wallets with attached steel chain give a masculine look. Designer bags, belts, and other accessories are generally very expensive. Still, they have their own faction of admirers who would not mind the cost for product status. These products add luxury to any outfit, and make awe-inspiring gifts as well.
Leather Industry:
Though the history of leather industry is quite long, it took acceleration only during the 20th century. Initially the process of tanning the hide or skin and transforming it into leather was a long and cumbersome process. But currently, with the advancement of technology, the time taken to process the leather and convert them into finished product has minimized to a matter of days. To keep pace with the consumers preferences, and demand, quality, variety and consistency of the leather items are kept in focus. Global leather industry has now launched itself successfully as a money-spinning technology with scientific principles.
The popularity of leather is due to its ability to be shaped into a rugged feel. It gives a two-fold benefit of a soft-feel, as well as long lasting durability. It offers a stylish look for apparels, adds luxury as an accessory to any outfit, protects the wearer from cold weather, and provides a certain extent of safety in times of minor accidents as well. Due to its unhideable virtues, leather continues to be a preferred item all over the world.
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