If you are looking for a truly luxury handbag, one of the most exclusive leathers of all is ostrich leather. Soft and luxurious it is also a tough leather that keeps its good looks for many years and its elegantly patterned texture, spotted with the characteristic quill follicle polka dots, is the epitome of restrained chic.
It is no wonder that top designers love to work with ostrich leather. Its suppleness means that they can work it into any design they please, to create innovative handbags and it also takes color exceptionally well, making an infinite range of wonderful colors possible. Above all ostrich leather produces bags of amazing quality that are perfect for the luxury handbag market.
Ostrich is one of the more expensive leathers in the world, as genuine luxury never comes cheap. This is in part due to its excellent quality, but also a matter of supply and demand. There is only a limited production of ostrich leather in the world, as ostrich farming is a highly specialized business and there are many designers and handbag manufacturers who are ready to snap up the top quality leather as soon as it is put on the market.
Find an ostrich handbag that you love, in a timeless style that will not go out of fashion, and it will be an excellent investment. These bags really do last for years, long enough to be passed down to the next generation and treasured by them too! A well-made ostrich bag can last on average 30 years, while the most you can expect from a calf-skin handbag is about 5 years of use. Ostrich leather is naturally water resistant too, which makes it more hardwearing than other exotic leathers such as crocodile and python leather.
Ostriches are sustainably farmed with the traditional centre of production being the Oudtshoorn area of South Africa. There is no wastage in this farming practice, as the feathers are used both in the fashion industry and for making rather more mundane feather dusters, the meat is also used and provides a healthy lean alternative to beef and the leather can all be used to produce luxury goods. Ostriches are raised in the open with plenty of space in their natural habitat, and by their nature cannot be mass produced adding to the exclusivity of their products.
When you are looking at ostrich handbags you will find that some are patterned all over with the quill pattern polka dots, while others use both the patterned skin and smooth skin for different parts of the handbag. The patterned leather is called the crown leather and is the most in demand and therefore the most expensive part of the skin. The smooth skin from the side of the ostrich has all the same qualities of suppleness and resilience but lacking the characteristic spots, it is considerably cheaper.
If you want to find a more affordable ostrich leather handbag, look for bags from reputable companies that make use of this smooth leather, either for the sides of the bags or by alternating it with the patterned crown leather as a design feature. You will be able to get far more bag for your money this way and enjoy all the amazing qualities of genuine ostrich leather for years.
What is it about leather handbags that make them so intriguing? They come in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and styles. Maybe it is the butter soft material they are made from. There is also a fashion status attached to a good leather handbag. Many famous fashion conscious women carry them, making them even more popular. A nice bag that completes an outfit can give someone a little extra confidence as they go about their day.
Leather in its most basic form is made from the hide of an animal. First they are cleaned to remove the hair and any other debris. These hides are stretched and tanned through the use of a chemical process. During this time, depending on the process and chemicals used the type of leather produced is determined. It can be from very soft leather to suede to hard stiff leather depending on how it is treated.
Fashion designers use this leather to make many products, not just handbags. There are also shoes, belts, and hats. So an entire ensemble can be achieved. No one wants to have the wrong shoes with the right bag. Leather is a very durable material that can withstand the every day use, wear, and tear the average person can put on it. It is one of the reasons leather is such a popular material to use in clothing. There are still many vintage leather handbags out there, and rarely do they go out of style.
Leather goods are made to last a lifetime. But you have to take care of them. The best way is to keep them clean and supple with the use of a good leather cleaner. Leather cleaners can smell bad so if you are planning to use your bag on the weekend it would be better to clean it earlier in the week. Before cleaning your bag with any product it is always recommended to test it on an area that won't be seen.
Just in case the cleaner is too harsh and changes the color or texture of the leather. Usually after a good cleaning your handbag will look brand new. There are many animal rights groups that are trying to ban or just discourage people from the use of leather in fashion. Some of these groups are very aggressive and will try to destroy animal goods by throwing paint on them. Or just make the owner feel immense guilt over the use of leather.
What these groups are fighting against is an age old tradition. The earliest man made his clothing from the hides of the animals he killed. In most cases these animals are not killed just for the hide, the whole animal is used for a variety of purposes. Most importantly they are used for food.
Both Kit Heathcock & Gregg Hall are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kit Heathcock has sinced written about articles on various topics from Audio Books, Photography and Cooking Tips. Kit Heathcock is a freelance writer contributing to , the Italian luxury handbag maker's website. Read more on or start looking for y. Kit Heathcock's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Gregg Hall has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lingerie, Desserts and Mortgage. Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as at http://www.apparelaccessoriesboutique.com. Gregg Hall's top article generates over 3350000 views. to your Favourites.