[Different textures!?] Parts of cowhide and their characteristics
Hello, this is Nakajima from HushTug.
As many of you may know, HushTug uses cowhide from Mongolia to make its products. Because we use natural leather, you can enjoy the unique texture of natural leather, such as scars (scars made when the cow was alive) and blood vessels.
Some brands use only the clean parts, excluding any scratches or blood vessels, but at HushTug we value the unique texture of natural leather and strive to use as much of the cowhide as possible.
To do this, it is essential to understand the characteristics of each part of cowhide!
So, this time we will introduce the names and characteristics of the parts of cowhide.
table of contents
1. Characteristics and types of leather
(1) Shoulder
(2) Bends (Back)
(3) Butt
(4) Belly
2. Summary
1. Characteristics and types of leather
This image shows uncut cowhide, called "one piece leather." Because it has not been cut, the cow has been opened up from the belly. Leather that has been cut in half down the back of the cow is called "half cut," and most of the leather sold in retail stores is half cut. Some of you may have seen it before.
The surface area of leather is counted as 1ds (deci), which is 10cm long x 10cm wide. For natural leather, half a piece is roughly 200-300ds, depending on the item.
Even when it comes to "cowhide," the texture of the leather varies greatly depending on the environment in which it was grown and individual differences.
Furthermore, even within the same cow, the texture and characteristics vary depending on the part, so let's take a look at the characteristics of each part!
(1) Shoulder
The shoulder is the part that combines flexibility and strength.
Since it is a part of the body that is moved frequently, it is very durable and is highly valued when making leather products. Also, the "tiger pattern" that is often seen on the shoulder part, which is a characteristic of natural leather, is often seen on the shoulder part and is popular as something that enriches the look of the leather.
At HushTug, this is a part that is often used on the surface of leather totes and business bags.
(2) Bends (back)
Along with shoulder straps, the part of cowhide that is most commonly used is the "Bends."
The bends are characterized by their large surface area and high fiber density compared to other parts. They are fine-grained, strong, and uniform with little variation.
It is often used for leather belts and bag shoulder straps where you do not want to use seams.
(3)Butt
The "Butt" is the part that has fewer wrinkles and is firmer than the shoulder.
This part of the skin, which is strong and wrinkle-resistant, is used as a high-quality leather material, including cowhide and other animals. In particular, horsehide is called "cordovan" and is famous as a high-quality leather material.
This leather is moderately soft and pleasant to the touch, and is often used when making wallets.
(4) Belly
The "Belly" is a thin and relatively soft part.
Its surface area is very small, only extending to the stomach and the base of the legs, and its uses are limited. It is thin and stretchy, and is often used for lining bags and making small items.
2. Summary
What did you think?
This time we introduced the characteristics of each part of leather and the types of products they are used for.
Each part has its own characteristics and is used for a variety of purposes. Leather craftsmen make bags while thinking about "using strong leather" for parts that will be particularly subjected to stress.
When you understand the thoughts of the maker of the bag, you will feel even more attached to it, even though you use it every day without thinking about it!
When you pick up a genuine leather product, be sure to enjoy the difference in texture.
Thank you for reading to the end.
HushTug
Kenta Nakajima