There are various forms. Some of the forms are vegetable-tanned, alum-tanned, rawhide, boiled, chrome-tanned, and brain-tanned, are mainly of three types namely Full-Grain, Corrected-Grain, and Suede.



The Full-Grain type are made from the finest raw material, are clean natural hides. The natural state allows strength and durability. The ability to breathe, and furnish with comfort are features of this form. The natural Full-Grain surface wears better. Furniture and foot wear are made from Full Grain.

Corrected-Grains are fuzzy on one side and smooth on the other. Hides made from inferior quality raw materials have an artificial grain applied. Suedes are an interior split of the hide, fuzzy on both sides, and are less durable.

Other uncommon forms include Patent, Shagreen and Buckskin. Glossy hides are known as Patent. The modern patent usually has a plastic coating.

The rough and grainy types are known as Shagreen and were formerly made from the back of a horse, or that of a wild ass. Skins of sharks and rays are now common in the making of Shagreen.

The tawing technique uses animal brains or other fatty materials to alter hides. Supple suede-like hides are usually smoked heavily, and are known as Buckskin.

Animal skins and hides commonly used in the manufacture of briefcases, wallets and luggage, are made from Belting, and Napa.

Beltings are full grain animal skins that were formerly used as pulley belts and in other machinery. Found on the surface of briefcases, portfolios, and wallets, Beltings have a thick, firm feel, and smooth finish. Napas or Nappas are extremely soft and supple, and are commonly found in higher quality wallets, and other applications.

Bicast and Bonded are not true leathers, but contain similar material. Bicast contains some amount of animal skin. The Bonded type are a combination of ninety percent to hundred percent fibers bonded together with latex binders.

Most leathers are made out of cowhide. Lambskins are used for soft materials in expensive apparels. Kangaroo hides are also used to make strong but flexible motorcycle gloves. Motorcyclists favor lightweight Kangaroo skin.

Exotic skins are considered beautiful. Certain snakes and crocodiles continue to be hunted for the exotic. At a certain point in time farming of ostriches for feathers became popular and thus the availability of Ostrich skin.

Rugged occupations, cowboys, and leather clad aviators have been synonymous. With the invention of motorcycles, heavy animal skin jackets and trousers to protect the body from road rash came about to be used.

Footwear, baggage, and other accessories are commonly used. Knife cases, guitar straps, gloves, and coasters are also common. Purses and wallets, business card holders, and credit card holders are indeed popular. Portfolio bags, brief cases, executive duffle bags, backpacks, and tote bags are other important things today. Gifts of accessories are also not uncommon.

Some sections of society particularly animal rights activist are against the use of leather. This section considers the wearing of skins as not only unnecessary but also vulgar. Yet the use continues.

People for the ethical Treatment of Animals have urged the British high commissioner to end the killing of Canadian black bears for the headpieces of Royal Guards headpieces and to switch to faux fur instead. Canadian rocker Peaches wants Canada to can the bloody seal hunt. Ralph Lauren has announced a decision to stop using fur in any apparel or home collections.

A synthetic form made out of plastic called Pleather or plastic leather has now found uses as an inexpensive substitute. Lighter and warmer, the use of this form as an alternative to animal skin has increased. Pleathers are made out of polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride. An animal rights activist might like this. Talk about Pleather spiked dog collars and the the animal has bigger bark that the bite.

The most well known pleathers are Naugahyde made from a fictional animal called the Nauga whose hides are supposedly the natural source of all the Naugahyde manufactured. According to the story the Naugas are nocturnal aquatic mammals without hair that live in the Naugatuck River, and can be made to come to the surface at night by shining a flashlight into the water. The Naugas are then captured and sorted to make Naugahyde. The seams between the Naugas disappear resulting in a seamless, leather-like Naughyde. The save the Naugas campaign continues.